The 2019 IDG Role of the Developer Study explores the tasks developers are spending their time on, skills they’d like to strengthen, and the challenges hindering their productivity.

1. I D G C O M M U N I C A T I O N S , I N C .
Q U A L I T Y
M A T T E R S
IDG COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
QUALITY
MATTERS
Role of the Developer Survey
2019
Examining the many roles and responsibilities
within software development

2. I D G C O M M U N I C A T I O N S , I N C .
Q U A L I T Y
M A T T E R S
38%
38%
11%
6%
7%
Purpose and Methodology
Source: IDG Role of the Developer, 2019
To gain a better understanding of those involved in
software and application development when it
comes to their priorities, challenges and opinions.SURVEY GOAL
AUDIENCE BASE
CIO, Computerworld, CSO, InfoWorld,
and Network World, site visitors, email
invitations to audience base, and select
partners.
NUMBER OF
QUESTIONS 29
COLLECTION METHOD
Online questionnaire
362
DEVELOPMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
All survey respondents are involved in
some part of the software development
process within their organization.
Other
Technology 22%
Financial Services 11%
Government/Non-profit 10%
Services (legal, consulting, real estate) 9%
Healthcare 9%
Education 8%
Manufacturing 7%
Retail, Wholesale and Distribution 4%
JOB TITLES
TOTAL RESPONDENTS
TOPREPRESENTEDINDUSTRIES
AVERAGE
COMPANY SIZE
17,694
EMPLOYEES
Engineer
Consultant
Architect
Developer
2

3. I D G C O M M U N I C A T I O N S , I N C .
Q U A L I T Y
M A T T E R S
Spending Time Modifying & Building Apps…
3
Q. To what extent do you spend time on the following activities in your current role?
Source: IDG Role of the Developer, 2019
33%
34%
36%
36%
36%
40%
40%
40%
44%
49%
36%
36%
34%
38%
33%
30%
40%
33%
31%
33%
17%
19%
22%
20%
21%
21%
13%
19%
16%
11%
13%
11%
8%
7%
9%
8%
7%
8%
9%
7%
Mentoring junior staff
Managing software builds/releases
Troubleshooting operations issues
Researching new tools and solutions
Planning/managing software projects
Designing software applications
Troubleshooting development issues
Deploying/monitoring/managing software
applications
Developing/building software applications
Modifying/maintaining software applications
Frequently Sometimes Rarely Never

4. I D G C O M M U N I C A T I O N S , I N C .
Q U A L I T Y
M A T T E R S
Tech Modernization Creates
Need for New Skills
4
Q. How have technology modernization initiatives impacted the role of the development team at your organization?
Source: IDG Role of the Developer, 2019
17%
19%
21%
22%
22%
23%
23%
25%
37%
39%
40%
Increased outsourcing of development activities
Increased frequency of meetings with executive management to talk
about development needs
Increased frequency of meetings with LOB leaders to talk about
development needs
Increase in hours spent troubleshooting application issues
Need for improved project cost estimation/cost management skills
Growth in the size of the development team
Development teams are consulted earlier in the application planning
process
Increase in the volume of application development requests
Increase in the scope/complexity of application development requests
Increased need for new development tools and solutions
Need for new programming/language skills
Finance: 37%
Manufacturing: 36%
Healthcare: 42%
Manufacturing: 40%
Healthcare: 52%

5. I D G C O M M U N I C A T I O N S , I N C .
Q U A L I T Y
M A T T E R S
Seeking More Security Knowledge
5
Q. Within which areas do you feel you could use additional information, training, or education?
Source: IDG Role of the Developer, 2019
14%
14%
14%
15%
16%
17%
18%
19%
19%
20%
21%
22%
23%
23%
25%
26%
27%
29%
Quality assurance/compliance
Communication/collaboration
Networking with peers
Software documentation
Database expertise
Problem solving/Troubleshooting skills
Industry knowledge
Software testing expertise
UX expertise
Project planning/management skills
Mobile technology knowledge
Agile development skills
Team leadership
Data analytics expertise
Cloud API expertise
DevSecOps methodology
DevOps methodology
Security issues management/security knowledge
Enterprise: 22%
SMB: 38%
Enterprise: 13%
SMB: 24%
Increases to 34% for
those involved in full
stack development

6. I D G C O M M U N I C A T I O N S , I N C .
Q U A L I T Y
M A T T E R S
DevOps is the Norm
6
Q. Which of the following best describes your organization’s adoption of DevOps over the next 12 months?
Source: IDG Role of the Developer, 2019
18%
8%
12%
62%
Use DevOps
Not planning to
adopt DevOps
Planning
to adopt
Evaluating Enterprise – 87%
SMB – 76%
82%
of organizations
use or plan to
use a DevOps
approach

7. I D G C O M M U N I C A T I O N S , I N C .
Q U A L I T Y
M A T T E R S
Growth of the Development Team
7
Q. Do you expect the staffing level among your organization’s in-house development team to increase, decrease, or remain the same over the next 12 months?
Source: IDG Role of the Developer, 2019
SMB Enterprise
34% 43%
49% 38%
8% 13%
10% 6%8%
11%
42%
39%
Don't know
Decrease
Remain the same
Increase

8. I D G C O M M U N I C A T I O N S , I N C .
Q U A L I T Y
M A T T E R S
Conclusions
8
Those building
tools have
influence. 89%
of development
focused ITDMs
are involved in the
technology
decision-making
process.
While they
spend their time
modifying apps,
these individuals
would prefer to
focus more on the
build and design
aspect of
development.
Technology
modernization
is impacting the role
of the development
team and creating
need for new
programming skills
and new development
tools and solutions.
Developers
are in need of
more security
knowledge given
the importance
of their efforts to
the organization.

9. I D G C O M M U N I C A T I O N S , I N C .
Q U A L I T Y
M A T T E R S
9
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