When starting a Citizen Development program, it's critical to select the right people for your program. While this selection will be important for the entire duration of your program, it's especially important when first starting the program. Who are the best citizen developers? You want to select people who have both the right aptitude and attitude. ​

Look for individuals who have existing tech skills. This may mean that they've essentially created personal apps by using excel macros, databases, or other consumer-oriented technologies to automate their workflows. These individuals use the technology available to them to automate and streamline their day-to-day work. On top of existing tech skills, they should have in-depth knowledge of their business processes and a good handle on general business apps. ​

Now that you've found people with the right aptitude, it's important to ensure they also have the right attitude. Look for individuals that already have a strong, existing partnership with IT. They should support and have the desire to uphold your policies and standards. It's imperative that they have an interest in participating in the program. ​