Type of Publication: Article in Journal

Citizen development as boundary spanning in the agile-digital transformation: the case of a German healthcare insurance organization

Author(s):

Plattfaut, Ralf; Vollenberg, Carolin; Ergün, Ali; Rieger, Ronja

Title of Journal:

Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. Zeitschrift für Angewandte Organisationspsychologie (GIO)

Volume (Publication Date):

2026 (2026)

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

doi:10.1007/s11612-026-00895-8

Citation:

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Abstract

This article in the journal “Gruppe.Interaktion.Organisation” (GIO) discusses the effects of citizen development as a boundary-spanning activity on the success of agile-digital transformations. Organizations pursuing an agile-digital transformation face persistent tensions between business and IT, arising from divergent goals, competencies, and ways of working. While prior research highlights these tensions, less is known about how organizations practically overcome these in everyday digital innovation work. This study investigates how Collaborative Citizen Developer Teams (CCDTs) and low-code/no-code (LC/NC) technologies enable boundary spanning between business and IT in the context of an agile-digital transformation. Drawing on an in-depth case study of a German statutory health insurance organization, we analyze how citizen developers facilitate and engage in joint development of LC/NC artifacts between business and IT. Our findings suggest that CCDT members act as institutionalized boundary spanners by translating business needs into technical functionalities and coordinating across organizational domains, while LC/NC artifacts, such as BPMN models, prototypes, test environments, and the LC/NC automations, function as boundary objects that enable shared understanding, joint problem solving, and iterative refinement. Together, these boundary spanning mechanisms of the CCDT reduce interdepartmental tensions, accelerate solution development, and support decentralized yet compliant digital innovation. The study contributes to research on agile–digital transformation, showcasing the boundary spanning role of citizen development and LC/NC in agile-digital transformation.