THE NINE WINS TWO AXIOM AWARDS

PHIL SIMON

Award-winning author, dynamic keynote speaker, trusted advisor, & workplace tech expert 

THE WORLD’S FOREMOST INDEPENDENT WORKPLACE COLLABORATION AND TECH EXPERT

Book #13

Low-Code/No-Code

Citizen Developers and the Surprising Futureof Business Applications

Book III: The Future of Work

About the Book

Publication Date: November 1, 2022

Formats: Hardcover, paperback, and ebook

Pages: 278

Publisher: Racket Publishing

Translations: Korean and Chinese so far. More are probably coming.

For decades, our relationship with workplace technology has been, in a word, complicated. The pandemic only made it more so.

The stats are astonishing. Two in three employers can’t find qualified candidates to fill their open IT positions. By 2024, the deficit of software developers in the US alone will hit 500,000. Supply and demand for techies are out of whack and, most alarmingly, there’s no end in sight.

The effects of this labor market imbalance are profound and difficult to overstate. Nearly three in four technology leaders cannot focus on their strategic priorities. Countless other firms, departments, teams, and leaders have struggled because IT can’t deliver the tools they so desperately need. Adding salt to the wound, business units now need new applications to address the logistical challenges posed by pervasive remote and hybrid work.

Organizations are at a crossroads. They need to solve these thorny tech problems. Now. But how?

Supply and demand for techies are out of whack and, most alarmingly, there’s no end in sight.

In Low-Code/No-Code: Citizen Developers and the Surprising Future of Business Applications, I square this circle. My thirteenth book deftly illustrates how, thanks to powerful new tools and a new breed of employees, organizations are finally fulfilling critical business needs and reducing their reliance on pricey software developers.

Low-Code/No-Code is an invaluable treasure trove of insightful analysis, synthesis, examples, and advice. At the risk of being immodest, it will be arriving at the perfect time.

Excerpt

Enjoy Chapter 1 in both written and audio formats.

Trailer

FAQ

Who are the intended audiences for the book?

In no particular order, eight cohorts readily come to mind:

  1. IT leaders, such as CIOs and directors.
  2. Heads of business units frustrated that IT can’t deliver the tools they need in a timely manner
  3. Team leads.
  4. Small business owners.
  5. Millennials who want to up their skills.
  6. Freelancers and solopreneurs who need to track different projects and clients.
  7. Project managers.
  8. Proper coders who want to expedite their own development efforts.

How much coding prior knowledge do I need to benefit from this book?

Precisely zero.

Praise & RECOGNITION

The book was a finalist in the Business: Technology category for the International Book Awards. Read the press release here.


"I read all of Phil's books. As a software developer coming of age in the 1980s and early 1990s, I fondly remember tools like DataFlex, Microsoft Access, and Clarion. Phil shows how today's citizen developers can use low-code/no-code software in amazing ways while honoring the trajectory that got us here."

—Brad Feld, partner at Foundry, cofounder of Techstars, author, runner, reader, hermit, and nerd

Low-Code/No-Code could not have arrived at a better time. Simon systematically identifies the most pressing issues that tech execs, app developers, and IT professionals face—and adeptly shows how to resolve them.”

—Gerald C. Kane, C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry chair in business administration at the University of Georgia and coauthor of The Transformation Myth


"Take it from me: The demand for new internal apps and tech has only intensified, but software engineers are more difficult to recruit and retain than ever. Something has to give. Fortunately, Low-Code/No-Code shows the path forward. New tools let subject matter experts become citizen developers and shoulder a good deal of the development burden. Get this book."

—Paul Maya, CTO, United States Tennis Association

"Phil Simon skillfully introduces citizen developers and the world of low-code/no-code software. This timely book fuses examples, capabilities, and stats—and with a sense of humor to boot. The result is a delightfully easy read that left me informed and inspired. An essential text for any curious self-starter."

—Denise Brouder, workplace futurist and founder at SWAY

"If you haven’t heard of low-code/no-code yet, rest assured: You will soon. The revolution is here, but we need a guide to effectively navigate it. Phil Simon's latest book on workplace technology is just the ticket. Ignore this well-researched, exceptionally relevant, and downright inspiring book at your own peril."

—Matt Wade, consultant and author

"Once again, Phil Simon makes a critical and emerging technology trend accessible. Chief executives, department heads, and project managers are just some of the folks who will benefit from this opportune and important book."

—Terri L. Griffith, Keith Beedie chair in innovation and entrepreneurship at Simon Fraser University and author of The Plugged-In Manager

"In Low-Code/No-Code, Phil Simon shares how the emergence of the new way of coding came to be. He emphatically yet elegantly states why it's imperative for both large and small organizations to start riding this wave today."

—Mike Vardy, productivity strategist and creator of TimeCrafting

"Monkeys randomly hitting keys on a typewriter for an infinite amount of time will almost surely produce Hamlet. Now imagine what smart people equipped with amazing tools will produce. For a more concrete way to understand the power of low-code/no-code, read this important book."

—Mike Schrenk, developer, consultant, and author

"As of now, the size of the low-code/no-code market is $15 billion—hefty, but a pittance compared to what it will soon become. I firmly believe that the next trillion-dollar company will be one of the existing no-code vendors that Phil Simon lists in his compelling new book. It is a must-read if you are interested in the future of software development."

—Jon Darbyshire, CEO and cofounder, SmartSuite

"Simon’s approach to introducing low-code no-code techniques into an organization is designed to encourage maximum adoption among end users and citizen developers. He describes the opportunities and warns of potential pitfalls you may discover along the way. As any experienced technology leader can attest, people and culture—rather than technology—are the real challenge of digital transformation. Simon knows this, and he weaves a story that brings together people, technology, and processes in just the right way. Low-Code/No-Code is an excellent and important contribution to one of the most significant trends in IT today."

—Michael Krigsman, publisher, CXOTalk

Custom Editions of the Book

Click here to learn more about obtaining them for your organization’s employees, customers, and prospects.

Errata

Page 73

Footnote is: https://tinyurl.com/LC/NCstartups. It should be https://tinyurl.com/LCNCstartups.

eBook (fixed November 22, 2022)

Kindle Only

“Zapping Payment Issue.” should be “Zapping Payment Issues.” Fixed.

Endnote: 29 Phil Simon. 2021. “Automation in Action.” airSlate. June 22, 2021. https://tinyurl.com/2je3j9u. URL should be https://tinyurl.com/2je3j9ug.