News & Insights
Co-production week: When is the right time to co-produce?
By the end of this week, which is co-production week, we will know the outcomes of the general election. Whoever wins, one thing is certain: there will be significant shifts in policy and practice for many public service organisations, inevitably driven in part by the reality of the UK’s economic circumstances. Those same organisations will need to be prepared to engage and consult with the communities they serve to ensure significant changes are implemented safely. For many, this will involve reaching for familiar tools and employing other approaches to effectively provide voice to those communities, and increasingly we are seeing the use of co-production in these endeavours.
Co-production is not new, it has been around for a long time, from the early work in the USA in the late 1970s early 1980s to the resurgence in popularity amongst UK policy makers that began in the early 2000s. It is well understood by practitioners, academics and policy makers alike, but there still remains a question over when and where co-productive approaches are most effective. In some ways this level of understanding, and the regular use of the term co-production can be counter to the aims of sharing power over design, decision making and delivery between people who use services and those who deliver them. The more the term is applied to activity that does not meet these aims the greater the dilution of understanding, even seeing re-badging of engagement practices as co-production.
From the Institute’s observations, practical support, and training activity in this area we believe that there needs to be a clear understanding of when and where co-production is the correct approach. We see time and time again, the desire to co-produce under circumstances that are not suitable, which ultimately leads to damaged relationships and a reluctance to co-produce in the future from all parties. We look at a few of the key factors that determine the answer to the question ‘to co-produce or not?’ below.
When not to co-produce:
- Complex Technical or Specialist Knowledge Required: Making a rules based decision that requires complex technical or specialist knowledge.
- Limited time: co-production processes can be time-consuming due to the need for extensive dialogue, consensus-building, and iterative feedback. In emergency situations or when swift action is required, coproduction may not be feasible.
- Limited resources: effective co-production often requires significant resources, including time, funding, and human capital. If these resources are lacking, the process may not be sustainable or productive.
- Unequal Power Dynamics: If key stakeholders, especially those with decision-making power, are not genuinely committed to the co-production process and merely use it as a token gesture, it can lead to disillusionment and mistrust among participants.
- Legal and Regulatory Constraints: Certain legal frameworks or regulatory environments may limit the scope for public involvement or prescribe specific processes that must be followed, making co-production difficult or impossible.
The circumstance to co-produce is most effective in an environment supported by senior level organisational buy in that focuses on:
- Complex Social Problems: co-production is beneficial when addressing complex, multifaceted social problems that cannot be solved by public service providers alone. These problems often require the insights, experiences, and resources of people who use services and community groups. For example, issues like public health, social care, and community safety benefit from co-production because these areas require nuanced understanding and active involvement from those directly affected.
- Resource Constraints: in times of resource constraints, co-production can help stretch limited resources further. By mobilising the capacities and contributions of people who use services, public service providers can leverage additional human, social, and financial resources. This is particularly relevant in circumstances where traditional service delivery models are unsustainable​​​​.
- Enhancing Legitimacy and Trust: co-production can be the correct approach when there is a need to enhance the legitimacy and trust of public institutions. Involving people who use services in the decision-making process and service delivery can increase transparency, accountability, and trust between public agencies and the communities they serve. This can be crucial in areas where there is a history of distrust or disengagement​​.
- Innovation and Creativity: when innovation and creative solutions are needed, co-production provides a fertile ground for generating new ideas and approaches. By bringing together diverse perspectives, co-production can lead to more innovative and creative solutions to public service challenges. This is particularly useful in rapidly changing environments where traditional methods may no longer be effective​​​​.
If you want to know more about the ways in which you can use co-production to navigate the opportunities presented by new policy areas post-election, please get in touch.