Technical and Non-Technical Employees’ Perceptions on How Low-Code and No-Code Development Platforms Impact the Democratization of Coding: A fsQCA Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47743/saeb-2026-0030Keywords:
Low-code development platform, no-code development platform, Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis, democratization of coding; digital work transformation.Abstract
Democratization of coding - the increased accessibility of software development to non-technical employees - is an emerging but under-conceptualized dimension of digital workplace transformation. This study examines how IT and non-IT employees in Romanian large companies perceive the influence of low-code and no-code development platforms (LC/NCDP) on this phenomenon. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire from 212 respondents (88 IT, 124 non-IT) and analyzed using fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), building on a conceptual model grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model. Results show that both IT and non-IT employees generally expect LC/NCDP to replace aspects of traditional coding, driven mainly by perceived usefulness (benefits, work impact) and ease of use, with organizational use and, for non-IT employees, age also playing a core role. A minority in both groups hold low expectations, primarily where perceived benefits are low. Because these findings capture perceptions and expectations rather than observed organizational outcomes, they should be read as evidence of anticipated, not demonstrated, impact. We recommend that organizations offer LC/NCDP training, particularly for non-IT staff, and propose that policymakers support LC/NCDP.
References
Appiah-Kubi, E. (2024). Management Knowledge and Sustainability Reporting in SMEs: The Role of Perceived Benefit and Stakeholder Pressure. Journal of Cleaner Production, 434(January), 1–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.140067
Baptista, J., Stein, M. K., Klein, S., Watson-Manheim, M. B., & Lee, J. (2020). Digital Work and Organisational Transformation: Emergent Digital/Human Work Configurations in Modern Organisations. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 29(2), 1–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2020.101618
Barricelli, B. R., Cassano, F., Fogli, D., & Piccinno, A. (2019). End-User Development, End-User Programming and End-User Software Engineering: A Systematic Mapping Study. Journal of Systems and Software, 149(March), 101–137. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2018.11.041
Beare, E. C., O’Raghallaigh, P., McAvoy, J., & Hayes, J. (2020). Employees’ Emotional Reactions to Digitally Enabled Work Events. Journal of Decision Systems, 29(sup1), 226–242. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/12460125.2020.1782085
Benbya, H., Davenport, T. H., & Pachidi, S. (2020). Artificial Intelligence in Organizations: Current State and Future Opportunities. SSRN Electronic Journal, 19(4), 1–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3741983
Bhargava, A., Bester, M., & Bolton, L. (2021). Employees’ Perceptions of the Implementation of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and Automation (RAIA) on Job Satisfaction, Job Security, and Employability. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 6(1), 106–113. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s41347-020-00153-8
Bhattarai, S., Zhao, Z., & Crespi, N. (2010). Consumer Mashups: End-User Perspectives and Acceptance Model. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Information Integration and Web-based Applications & Services, Paris, France.
Bock, A. C., & Frank, U. (2021). Low-Code Platform. Business & Information Systems Engineering, 63(6), 733–740. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12599-021-00726-8
Bordean, O. N., Chiș, D. M., Beleiu, I. N., Salanță, I. I., Crișan, E. L., & Mihăilă, A. A. (2024). Pathways to Academics’ Entrepreneurial Intention: A Configurational Analysis of Individual Determinants. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 71(January), 10885–10895. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2024.3406150
Brachten, F., Kissmer, T., & Stieglitz, S. (2021). The Acceptance of Chatbots in An Enterprise Context – A Survey Study. International Journal of Information Management, 60(October ), 1–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2021.102375
Bryant, D., Dash, A., Ford, P., Henney, K., Danielle, J., & Olshansky, A. (2021). Low-Code and the Democratization of Programming Rethinking Where Programming Is Headed. Retrieved from https://www.oreilly.com/radar/low-code-and-the-democratization-of-programming/
Bucchiarone, A., Cabot, J., Paige, R. F., & Pierantonio, A. (2020). Grand Challenges in Model-Driven Engineering: An Analysis of The State of The Research. Software & Systems Modeling, 19(1), 5–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10270-019-00773-6
Bunduchi, R., Crișan-Mitra, C., Salanță, I. I., & Crișan, E. L. (2022). Digital Product Innovation Approaches in Entrepreneurial Firms – The Role of Entrepreneurs’ Cognitive Frames. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 175(February), 1–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121343
Cabot, J. (2022). Low-Code vs Model-Driven: Are They The Same? Retrieved from https://modeling-languages.com/low-code-vs-model-driven/
Cai, F. Z., Huang, S. Y., Kessler, T. S., & Fottner, F. J. (2022). A Case Study: Digitalization of Business Processes of SMEs with Low-Code Method. IFAC-PapersOnLine, 55(10), 1840–1845. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2022.09.666
Crișan, E. L., & Stanca, L. (2021). The Digital Transformation of Management Consulting Companies: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Romanian Industry. Information Systems and e-Business Management, 19(4), 1143–1173. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10257-021-00536-1
Dery, K., Sebastian, I. M., & van der Meulen, N. (2017). The Digital Workplace is Key to Digital Innovation. MIS Quarterly Executive, 16(2), 135–152.
Di Ruscio, D., Kolovos, D., De Lara, J., Pierantonio, A., Tisi, M., & Wimmer, M. (2022). Low-Code Development and Model-Driven Engineering: Two Sides of The Same Coin? Software & Systems Modeling, 21(2), 437–446. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10270-021-00970-2
Dittes, S., & Smolnik, S. (2019). Towards A Digital Work Environment: The Influence of Collaboration and Networking on Employee Performance within An Enterprise Social Media Platform. Journal of Business Economics, 89(8–9), 1215–1243. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11573-019-00951-4
Esposito, A., Calvano, M., Curci, A., Desolda, G., Lanzilotti, R., Lorusso, C., & Piccinno, A. (2023). End-User Development for Artificial Intelligence: A Systematic Literature Review. In L. D. Spano, A. Schmidt, C. Santoro, & S. Stumpf (Eds.), End-User Development (pp. 19–34): Springer Nature Switzerland. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34433-6_2
Fernandes, J. (2024). Democratizing Software Development with No Code/Low Code. Retrieved from https://www.kmworld.com/Articles/Editorial/ViewPoints/Democratizing-software-development-with-no-code-low-code-162984.aspx?pageNum=2
Fiss, P. C. (2011). Building Better Causal Theories: A Fuzzy Set Approach to Typologies in Organization Research. Academy of Management Journal, 54(2), 393–420. http://dx.doi.org/10.5465/amj.2011.60263120
Fossen, F. M., & Sorgner, A. (2021). Digitalization of Work and Entry into Entrepreneurship. Journal of Business Research, 125(March), 548–563. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.09.019
Frank, U., Maier, P., & Bock, A. (2021). Low Code Platforms: Promises, Concepts and Prospects. A Comparative Study of Ten Systems. Retrieved from
Gao, D., & Fagerholm, F. (2024). Measuring End-user Developers’ Episodic Experience of a Low-code Development Platform. A Preliminary Study. E-Informatica Software Engineering Journal, 18(1), 1–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.37190/e-Inf240105
Herman, E. (2020). The Influence of ICT Sector on the Romanian Labour Market in the European Context. Procedia Manufacturing, 46(January), 344–351. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2020.03.050
Hoppe, P. H. B., & Souza, V. E. S. (2023). Support for Single Page Application Frameworks on FrameWeb. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 29th Brazilian Symposium on Multimedia and the Web.
Ivanov, S., Kuyumdzhiev, M., & Webster, C. (2020). Automation fears: Drivers and solutions. Technology in Society, 63(November), 1–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2020.101431
Kolnhofer-Derecskei, A., Reicher, R. Z., & Szeghegyi, A. (2017). The X and Y Generations’ Characteristics Comparison. Acta Polytechnica Hungarica, 14(8), 107–125. http://dx.doi.org/10.12700/APH.14.8.2017.8.6
Lieberman, H., Paternò, F., Klann, M., & Wulf, V. (2006). End-User Development: An Emerging Paradigm. In H. Lieberman, F. Paternò, & V. Wulf (Eds.), End User Development (pp. 1–8): Springer Netherlands. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-5386-X_1
Mannan, M., & Pek, S. (2024). Platform Cooperatives and The Dilemmas of Platform Worker‐Member Participation. New Technology, Work and Employment, 39(2), 219–237. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ntwe.12273
Maran, T. K., Liegl, S., Davila, A., Moder, S., Kraus, S., & Mahto, R. V. (2022). Who Fits into The Digital Workplace? Mapping Digital Self-Efficacy and Agility onto Psychological Traits. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 175(February ), 1–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121352
Marsh, E., Vallejos, E. P., & Spence, A. (2022). The Digital Workplace and its Dark Side: An Integrative Review. Computers in Human Behavior, 128(March), 1–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.107118
Mendonça, P., & Kougiannou, N. K. (2023). Disconnecting Labour: The Impact of Intraplatform Algorithmic Changes on The Labour Process and Workers’ Capacity to Organise Collectively. New Technology, Work and Employment, 38(1), 1–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ntwe.12251
Mixson, E. (2021). Low-Code Automation and the Democratization of Innovation (Intelligent Automation Network). Retrieved from https://www.intelligentautomation.network/transformation/articles/low-code-automation-and-the-democratization-of-innovation
Mujahed, H. M. H., Ahmed, E. M., & Samikon, S. A. (2024). Palestinian Small and Medium Enterprises Digital Technology Adoption Intention. Journal of Open Innovation, 10(4), 1–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2024.100426
Navarro, G. (2024). Digital Transformation in SMEs: Addressing Skill Gaps through Low-Code Technology. Sustainability, 16(14).
Nikou, S., De Reuver, M., & Mahboob Kanafi, M. (2022). Workplace Literacy Skills—How Information and Digital Literacy Affect Adoption of Digital Technology. The Journal of Documentation, 78(7), 371–391. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JD-12-2021-0241
Niță, D., Stoicuța, N., Nițescu, A., Dobre-Baron, O., & Isac, C. (2024). Constructing a Quantification Tool of the Progress Towards the Green Economy: Aggregation Perspective. Equilibrium. Quarterly Journal of Economics and Economic Policy, 19(4), 1139–1184. http://dx.doi.org/10.24136/eq.3336
Ohlert, C., Giering, O., & Kirchner, S. (2022). Who is Leading the Digital Transformation? Understanding the Adoption of Digital Technologies in Germany. New Technology, Work and Employment, 37(3), 445–468. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ntwe.12244
Ongalo, S., & Wanjare, J. (2022). Analytics and Automation of Ifrs 9 Modeling and Reporting: A Case Study of Kenyan Banks. European Journal of Business and Management Research, 7(6), 221–226. http://dx.doi.org/10.24018/ejbmr.2022.7.6.1738
Oosthuizen, R. M. (2019). Smart Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Algorithms (STARA): Employees’ Perceptions and Wellbeing in Future Workplaces. In I. L. Potgieter, N. Ferreira, & M. Coetzee (Eds.), Theory, Research and Dynamics of Career Wellbeing (pp. 17–40): Springer International Publishing. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28180-9_2
Panach, J. I., España, S., Dieste, O., Pastor, Ó., & Juristo, N. (2015). In search of evidence for model-driven development claims: An experiment on quality, effort, productivity and satisfaction. Information and Software Technology, 62(June), 164–186. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2015.02.012
Pantelimon, S. G., Rogojanu, T., Braileanu, A., Stanciu, V. D., & Dobre, C. (2019). Towards a Seamless Integration of IoT Devices with IoT Platforms Using a Low-Code Approach. Paper presented at the 2019 IEEE 5th World Forum on Internet of Things (WF-IoT).
Pappas, I. O., Mikalef, P., Giannakos, M. N., & Kourouthanassis, P. E. (2019). Explaining User Experience in Mobile Gaming Applications: An fsQCA Approach. Internet Research, 29(2), 293–314. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IntR-12-2017-0479
Pappas, I. O., & Woodside, A. G. (2021). Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA): Guidelines for research practice in Information Systems and marketing. International Journal of Information Management, 58(June ), 1–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2021.102310
Quixy. (2023). The Future of Work: How No-Code is Transforming Job Roles and Requirements. Retrieved from https://quixy.com/blog/how-no-code-is-transforming-job-roles-and-requirements/
Rafique, H., Almagrabi, A. O., Shamim, A., Anwar, F., & Bashir, A. K. (2020). Investigating the Acceptance of Mobile Library Applications with an Extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Computers & Education, 145(February ), 1–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.103732
Ragin, C. C. (2009). Redesigning Social Inquiry: Fuzzy Sets and Beyond: University of Chicago Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226702797.001.0001
Rao, V. (2012). GitHub and the Democratization of Programming. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/venkateshrao/2012/03/27/github-and-the-democratization-of-programming/
Razak, S. F. A., Ernn, Y. P., Yussoff, F. I., Bukar, U. A., & Yogarayan, S. (2024). Enhancing Business Efficiency through Low-Code/No-Code Technology Adoption: Insights from an Extended UTAUT Model. Journal of Human, Earth, and Future, 5(1), 85–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.28991/HEF-2024-05-01-07
Rihoux, B., & Ragin, C. C. (2008). Configurational Comparative Methods: Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and Related Techniques: Sage Publications. http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781452226569
Sahay, A., Indamutsa, A., Di Ruscio, D., & Pierantonio, A. (2020). Supporting the understanding and comparison of low-code development platforms. Paper presented at the 46th Euromicro Conference on Software Engineering and Advanced Applications (SEAA).
Sanchis, R., García-Perales, Ó., Fraile, F., & Poler, R. (2019). Low-Code as Enabler of Digital Transformation in Manufacturing Industry. Applied Sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 10(1), 1–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/app10010012
Schneider, C. Q., & Wagemann, C. (2012). Set-Theoretic Methods for The Social Sciences: A Guide to Qualitative Comparative Analysis: Cambridge University Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139004244
Silva, C., Vieira, J., Campos, J. C., Couto, R., & Ribeiro, A. N. (2021). Development and Validation of A Descriptive Cognitive Model for Predicting Usability Issues in A Low-Code Development Platform. Human Factors, 63(6), 1012–1032. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0018720820920429
Soto Setzke, D., Riasanow, T., Böhm, M., & Krcmar, H. (2023). Pathways to Digital Service Innovation: The Role of Digital Transformation Strategies in Established Organizations. Information Systems Frontiers, 25(3), 1017–1037. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10796-021-10112-0
Stegner, L., Porfirio, D., Hiatt, L. M., Lemaignan, S., Mead, R., & Mutlu, B. (2024). End-User Development for Human-Robot Interaction. Paper presented at the Companion of the 2024 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction.
Talagala, N. (2022). Where Is Coding Headed? 7 Trends For 2022 And Beyond Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/nishatalagala/2021/12/13/where-is-coding-headed-7-trends-for-2022-and-beyond/?sh=7f86b0e1849d
Tsahat, C. O. O., Ngoulou, A. N., & Kwai, P. A. A. (2023). Prospects of Using Low-Code in the Creation of Automated Systems. Open Journal of Applied Sciences, 13(10), 1864–1869. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojapps.2023.1310147
Van Looy, A. (2022). Employees’ Attitudes Towards Intelligent Robots: A Dilemma Analysis. Information Systems and e-Business Management, 20(3), 371–408. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10257-022-00552-9
Waszkowski, R. (2019). Low-Code Platform for Automating Business Processes in Manufacturing. IFAC-PapersOnLine, 52(10), 376–381. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2019.10.060
Wolff, I. (2019). Making in-House Apps with Ash Low-Code, No-Code Platforms. Manufacturing Engineering, 163(4), 58–67.
Yoruk, D. E., Bunduchi, R., Yoruk, E., Crișan-Mitra, C., Salanță, I. I., & Crișan, E. L. (2021). Pathways to Innovation in Romanian Software SMEs: Exploring the Impact of Interdependencies between Internationalisation and Knowledge Sources. Journal of International Management, 27(4), 1–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.intman.2021.100874
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Emil Lucian Crișan, Diana-Maria Chis, Elias Appiah-Kubi, Eniko Elisabeta Bodea, Alin Mihăilă, Napoleon-Alexandru Sireteanu
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
All accepted papers are published on an Open Access basis.
The Open Access License is based on the Creative Commons license.
The non-commercial use of the article will be governed by the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License as currently displayed on https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license, the author(s) and users are free to share (copy, distribute and transmit the contribution) under the following conditions:
1. they must attribute the contribution in the manner specified by the author or licensor,
2. they may not use this contribution for commercial purposes,
3. they may not alter, transform, or build upon this work.
This work is licenced under a 