(Co)-Contamination as the Dark Side of Co-Production: Public value failures in co-production processes. Issue 5 (27th May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Williams, Brian N.; Kang, Seong-Cheol; Johnson, Japera
• Is Part Of: Public management review. Volume 18:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 692
• Page End: 717
• Publication Date: 2016-05-27
• Subjects: co-production -- public values -- public services -- community-based participatory research -- accountability; Local government -- Periodicals; Public administration -- Periodicals; 351.05
• DOI: 10.1080/14719037.2015.1111660
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-9037

Abstract

Abstract: Co-production is associated with the expanding role that citizens and other third-party actors assume in the development and delivery of public services. While there are benefits to co-production, there are also challenges. This study draws from the marketing literature on value co-destruction to describe the processes in co-production of public services that can negatively affect public values from regular producers and users. We refer to this public value failure as co-contamination. Two case studies are used to explore some of the 'dark sides' of co-production. Our analyses reveal the co-contaminating aspects of this process and offer implications for public managers.