--- title: Articles url: 'https://grassroot.it/en/artikel' markdown: 'https://grassroot.it/en/artikel.md' lang: en date: '2026-11-11' description: 'Foundations and current developments for applications created in business departments. These articles explain the framework’s topics and suggest practical next steps.' --- # Articles Foundations and current developments for applications created in business departments. These articles explain the framework’s topics and suggest practical next steps. ## Values and lifecycle ### [Determine an application’s organisational value](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/wertbeitrag) An application should improve a concrete organisational task. Value may mean more reliable results, fewer manual transfers or shorter processing times. The Grassroot framework describes t… [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/wertbeitrag) ### [Make compliance traceable](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/regelkonformitaet) Compliance starts by identifying the requirements that actually apply to a particular application. Legislation, supervisory requirements, internal policies, business reconciliation rules … [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/regelkonformitaet) ### [Manage the entire application lifecycle](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/lebenszyklusmanagement) An application starts with a need and ends with orderly retirement. Tasks, data, users and technical conditions change in between. Lifecycle management connects these changes with decisio… [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/lebenszyklusmanagement) ### [Create a short application profile](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/anwendungssteckbrief) An application profile identifies the operational task a solution performs and who is responsible. Maintain it alongside the application. Within Grassroot IT, it supports further decision… [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/anwendungssteckbrief) ### [Retire an application in an orderly way](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/ausserbetriebnahme) An application is retired when its purpose disappears or another solution takes over. In Grassroot IT, this is a deliberate lifecycle decision covering data and dependent work as well as … [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/ausserbetriebnahme) ### [Include information security in small applications](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/informationssicherheit) A small application can process confidential information or support important decisions. Grassroot IT therefore examines necessary information, permitted use and the consequences of incor… [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/informationssicherheit) ### [Protect personal data in applications](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/datenschutz-in-anwendungen) If an application processes personal data, establish its purpose, legal basis and other applicable data protection requirements. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) sets out pro… [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/datenschutz-in-anwendungen) ## Development and tools ### [When does a spreadsheet become an application?](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/tabelle-zur-anwendung) A workbook in Microsoft Excel may begin with a few calculations and later underpin important decisions. A database in Microsoft Access may initially help one employee and soon serve a who… [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/tabelle-zur-anwendung) ### [From prototype to reliable application](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/vom-prototypen-zur-anwendung) A prototype makes an idea tangible and shows whether it can support a business process. Sustained use also requires clear expectations, limits and operational arrangements. Grassroot IT c… [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/vom-prototypen-zur-anwendung) ### [Understand Microsoft Excel as an application platform](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/microsoft-excel) A workbook in Microsoft Excel can embody business rules, calculations and recurring tasks. Once other people or processes rely on its results, its operational importance deserves explicit… [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/microsoft-excel) ### [Professionalise Microsoft Access applications step by step](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/microsoft-access) An existing application in Microsoft Access can contain valuable accumulated expertise. Grassroot IT first establishes the tasks it performs and the results needed. Required improvements … [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/microsoft-access) ### [Use VBA clearly and verifiably](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/vba) Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) extends office applications and can automate recurring processing in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access. Microsoft’s introduction explains getting st… [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/vba) ### [Develop low-code applications responsibly](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/low-code) Low-code combines visual development tools with the ability to add custom program logic. Capabilities and limits vary by platform. IBM’s comparison of low-code and no-code explains the ba… [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/low-code) ### [Combine no-code with business responsibility](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/no-code) Here, no-code means creating an application through configuration and visual components without writing custom code for the use case. In practice, offerings overlap with low-code. IBM’s e… [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/no-code) ### [Test business behaviour and record approval](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/pruefung-und-freigabe) Business testing compares the behaviour of an identified application version with expectations established in advance. Grassroot IT derives those expectations from the operational task. A… [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/pruefung-und-freigabe) ## Professional operations ### [Operate applications reliably](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/anwendungen-verlaesslich-betreiben) An application fulfils its purpose over time when use, maintenance and recovery are organised. The approach should be manageable and actually used. Grassroot IT scales it to the applicati… [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/anwendungen-verlaesslich-betreiben) ### [Control changes and versions](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/aenderungen-und-versionen) A change can affect business results, data or other work steps. Before adoption, Grassroot IT records why it is needed and which components are affected. Users must be able to identify th… [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/aenderungen-und-versionen) ### [Plan backup and recovery together](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/sicherung-und-wiederherstellung) A backup fulfils its purpose when the required application and matching data can be made usable again. Program versions, settings and other dependencies may be needed alongside data. Gras… [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/sicherung-und-wiederherstellung) ## Shared foundations ### [Equip employees for their lifecycle responsibilities](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/befaehigung-und-schulungen) Grassroot IT depends on employees being able to perform their lifecycle roles. This includes business and technical skills and understanding of responsibility, testing and operations. Tra… [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/befaehigung-und-schulungen) ### [Organise collaboration and shared learning](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/zusammenarbeit) A departmental application brings together different expertise: employees understand the task, developers implement rules, operations sustains use and control functions identify requireme… [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/zusammenarbeit) ### [Choose suitable methods, tools and templates](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/methoden-werkzeuge-vorlagen) In Grassroot IT, a method describes how a task is handled transparently. A tool supports that work. A template helps record the necessary information completely and clearly. Selection sta… [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/methoden-werkzeuge-vorlagen) ## Current developments ### [Develop with artificial intelligence and verify the results](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/ki-entwicklung-pruefen) Artificial intelligence (AI) can help formulate requirements, draft programs and explain code. For Grassroot IT, this provides another way to turn specialist knowledge into usable applica… [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/ki-entwicklung-pruefen) ### [BAIT and DORA: the position towards the end of 2026](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/bait-und-dora) Departmental applications can support important business processes. In finance, their development and operation must therefore be assessed against applicable supervisory and internal requ… [Read more ](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/bait-und-dora) --- ## Navigation - Previous: [What is Grassroot IT about?](https://grassroot.it/en/konzept.md) - Next: [Legal notice](https://grassroot.it/en/impressum.md) - Children: - [When does a spreadsheet become an application?](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/tabelle-zur-anwendung.md) - [From prototype to reliable application](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/vom-prototypen-zur-anwendung.md) - [Operate applications reliably](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/anwendungen-verlaesslich-betreiben.md) - [Develop with artificial intelligence and verify the results](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/ki-entwicklung-pruefen.md) - [BAIT and DORA: the position towards the end of 2026](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/bait-und-dora.md) - [Determine an application’s organisational value](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/wertbeitrag.md) - [Make compliance traceable](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/regelkonformitaet.md) - [Manage the entire application lifecycle](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/lebenszyklusmanagement.md) - [Create a short application profile](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/anwendungssteckbrief.md) - [Understand Microsoft Excel as an application platform](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/microsoft-excel.md) - [Professionalise Microsoft Access applications step by step](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/microsoft-access.md) - [Use VBA clearly and verifiably](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/vba.md) - [Develop low-code applications responsibly](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/low-code.md) - [Combine no-code with business responsibility](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/no-code.md) - [Test business behaviour and record approval](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/pruefung-und-freigabe.md) - [Control changes and versions](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/aenderungen-und-versionen.md) - [Plan backup and recovery together](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/sicherung-und-wiederherstellung.md) - [Retire an application in an orderly way](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/ausserbetriebnahme.md) - [Equip employees for their lifecycle responsibilities](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/befaehigung-und-schulungen.md) - [Organise collaboration and shared learning](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/zusammenarbeit.md) - [Choose suitable methods, tools and templates](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/methoden-werkzeuge-vorlagen.md) - [Include information security in small applications](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/informationssicherheit.md) - [Protect personal data in applications](https://grassroot.it/en/artikel/datenschutz-in-anwendungen.md)