Coproduction

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Brief Description:

The term coproduction refers to a way of working whereby decision-makers and citizens, or service providers and users, work together to create a decision or a service which works for them all. The approach is value-driven and built on the principle that those who are affected by a service are best placed to help design it.

Description:

Coproduction is an approach to decision-making and service design rather than a specific method. It stems from the recognition that if organisations are to deliver successful services, they must understand the needs of their users and engage them closely in the design and delivery of those services.

Coproduction rejects the traditional understanding of service users as dependents of public services, and instead redefines the service-user (or government-citizen) relationship as one of co-dependency and collaboration. Just like users need the support from public services, so service providers need the insights and expertise of its users in order to make the right decisions and build effective services.

In practice, it means that those who are affected by a service or a decision are involved at every stage of making or designing it. All perspectives are valued and all participants are treated as equals, regardless of age, disability or professional background. It is often essential to support the participants and professionals throughout the exercise to ensure that they are able to contribute on an equal footing, e.g. by providing information, training, mentoring, etc.

Used For:

It is used in particular for decision-making and service design in local government, the community and voluntary sector and in private sector service delivery.

Suitable participants:

Service users or local residents who are closely affected by the issue/service in question.

Cost:

Depends on the length of the process, the number of participants and the level of pay/remuneration given to the participants.

Time Requirements:

Coproduction is time-intensive, as it means involving and supporting users at every stage of the decision-making process.

When To Use / What It Can Deliver:

Coproduction is a particularly useful tool for local or neighbourhood decision-making and for ensuring that public services are designed with the users’ needs in mind.

It is a powerful way of tapping into the existing knowledge and insights held by service users or local residents, as well as for building skills and confidence among those groups.

When Not To Use / What It Cannot Deliver:

Coproduction works best when dealing with a small constituency, such as a neighbourhood or those affected by a particular service provider. It is also time-and resource intensive and should not be attempted if:

There is no genuine commitment to take the participants’ views into account
There is no demand from users/citizens to take part

Strengths:

Taps into the insights and expertise of those who are at the receiving end of public services
Enables users/citizens and professionals/politicians to work together as equals and learn from each other
Builds skills, confidence and aspiration among participants

Weaknesses:

Difficult to manage well when dealing with larger constituencies
Can appear exclusive and unrepresentative to those users/residents who are not invited to take part
Requires a considerable time- commitment on the part of both professionals and participants

Origin:

The term coproduction emerged in the United States in the 1970s and was developed by Edgar Cahn, a civil rights lawyer and speechwriter to Robert Kennedy.