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Do-it-yourself apps becoming more popular with enterprises (report)

If there isn't an app already made to accomplish a particular task, many enterprise employees are just taking to creating their own, according to Intuit.
Written by Rachel King, Contributor

The phrase "there's an app for that" is so common that it might come as a surprise when there isn't already a mobile app developed that will take care of a particular task you want to accomplish.

Thus, many savvy enterprise employees are giving up on waiting for something to pop up in the Chrome Web Store or Mac App Store, among other app marketplaces, while taking a more proactive approach.

A new report from Intuit QuickBase reveals that approximately one in five information workers has built or customized a Web app or software for work purposes without support from IT. Furthermore, about 17 percent of information workers admitted that they use tools and software to develop these programs regardless of IT approval or support.

Many information workers avoid IT departments these days to the point where 50 percent of survey respondents replied that they "turn to online databases and Web-based productivity apps, instant messaging platforms, video chat services and social networks to solve their own business problems."

Of course, there are some potential security repercussions that could come about from the proliferation of do-it-yourself apps on a company's network. Intuit reports that at least 35 percent of businesses don't encourage employees to create these apps independently.

Intuit QuickBase vice president and general manager Allison Mnookin explained in the report that IT departments should pay more attention to this trend as it can prove to be beneficial or harmful to a company, depending on how the situation is handled:

These ‘rogue’ employees can be extremely beneficial in their motivation to solve business needs, but their energies are best harnessed if management supports them by providing the resources they need to succeed. Otherwise, if they leave the company, IT will not necessarily know how to replicate or maintain the success.

For reference, Intuit and Global Strategy Group surveyed more than 900 information workers at companies that have more than 100 employees.

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