Journal article - How to systematically analyse co-production to inform future policies?
The article, published in Public Administration Review, explores two case studies of co-production in Scotland and Australia and introduces the concept of the ‘5Ws’ of co-production: a framework of Who, When, What, Why ,and Where.
The authors argue that the “woolliness” and “methodological hurdles” of co-production make it challenging to compare and contrast different co-production policies and outcomes. They set out a framework which expands previous ‘3Ws’ (Who, When, What) to include the context (where) and the motivations (why). Socio-political, geographical conditions, and service settings influence the processes and outcomes of co-production, and the reasons behind co-production can determine who is involved in the process to start with.
The article suggests that the 5Ws of co-production can offer a useful theoretical lens for analysing a variety of international co-production cases to inform future policies and practice.