The Co-production of Public Services: Management and Evaluation

Why Co-production Matters Now

Public services face mounting pressure to become more responsive, efficient, and legitimate. Co-production—where citizens and professionals actively collaborate in designing, delivering, and evaluating services—has moved from a niche idea to a central theme in public management. This book offers a rigorous, research-based examination of how co-production works, what drives it, and how its impact can be assessed. Rather than presenting a collection of disconnected case studies, the authors build a coherent framework that connects activation, management, and evaluation.

A Research-Driven Framework

The volume is grounded in a systematic review of the existing literature, giving it a strong empirical foundation. The authors use a PRISMA flow chart to show how they selected relevant studies, then synthesize findings into a comprehensive framework. This approach makes the book especially valuable for readers who need more than anecdotal evidence—it offers a structured way to think about co-production as a repeatable practice rather than a series of ad hoc initiatives.

Inside the Book

The content flows logically from theory to practice:

• Introduction: Defines co-production, traces its resurgence, and outlines the book’s aims.
• Research Aim and Methods: Explains the study’s design and introduces the comprehensive framework.
• Activation of Co-production: Explores the general context and antecedents related to lay actors, service providers, and the service itself.
• Implementing and Managing Co-production: Examines institutional arrangements, planning, communication, management of lay actors and professionals, leadership, and accountability.
• Co-production Evaluation: Analyzes outcomes for lay actors, regular service providers, and the community, including satisfaction, empowerment, cost efficiency, effectiveness, trust, and public value.
• Conclusions: Consolidates the framework, identifies future research directions, and discusses implications for policy and practice.

Real-World Relevance

The book does not stay at the level of abstract theory. Text boxes present concrete cases, such as parents’ co-production in education during COVID-19 and a neighbourhood co-production project in Tampere, Finland. These examples ground the framework in practical settings and illustrate the trade-offs and challenges that practitioners face.

Who Should Read This Ebook

This title is ideally suited for academics, researchers, and doctoral students in public administration, public management, public policy, and related fields. Public managers and policy makers will also find it useful as a structured reference for designing and evaluating co-production initiatives. Anyone interested in how citizens and governments can work together more effectively will appreciate the book’s blend of scholarly depth and practical insight.

Digital Delights is pleased to offer this ebook as a convenient way to access a rigorous and forward-looking contribution to public service reform.