A Maturity Model for Managing Low-Code Development Platform Adoption

Low-code development platforms (LCDPs) empower employees throughout the entire organization to develop and operate their own digital solutions. Yet, many organizations lack the necessary knowledge and experience to successfully manage LCDP adoption. Applying design science research, this study develops and evaluates a comprehensive socio-technical framework that methodically supports organizations in navigating their LCDP adoption process in a structured, end-to-end manner. The results present a theoretically grounded and practically validated LCDP maturity model (LCDPMM), detailing 23 organizational capabilities across six distinct maturity levels and incorporating 33 LCDP-specific artifacts. This study strengthens theoretical foundations, provides guidelines for future research on LCDP and citizen development adoption, and introduces a research methodology for information systems science to develop similar frameworks for other emerging technologies. For IT managers, it offers structured guidance for understanding and managing LCDP adoption, enhanced by practical recommendations for effectively applying the LCDPMM within their organizations.