Citizen data scientists are changing IT as we know it
Nearly half of all technology professionals expect to be automated out of a job in 10 years. That statistic, from a technology survey by recruitment firm Harvey Nash, is grim enough but what is perhaps worse is that the erosion has already begun. From software development to operations, security and data analytics, the rise of smart, flexible technology is enabling people without traditional tech backgrounds to take on what were once "expert-only" jobs. Tools such as low-code platforms, automation and even artificial technology are giving citizen data scientists a seat at IT's table. And IT departments as we've known them will never be the same again.
A look at the data science field underscores this phenomenon. A skill in extreme demand, data science used to be considered the domain of highly trained mathematicians. But a slew of automated tools are creating a generation of citizen data scientists and bringing analytics to the masses. In the software development space, low and no code platforms let nearly anyone create mobile applications, something that has helped with the worldwide shortage of developers. But with artificial intelligence on the horizon, many worry that knowing how to code won't be sufficient for future job security. And in software testing and on the operations side, automation continues to chip away at what have traditionally been manual (and plentiful) jobs.
The implications of these changes are vast, starting with security. It's tough to know how IT departments can enforce compliance and security measures over a disparate group of citizen data scientists. And that's just for starters. Keep reading to see our take on how IT departments are changing and adapting to the rise of the citizen technologist.
