Public services management and co-production in multi-level governance settings. (March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sicilia, Mariafrancesca; Guarini, Enrico; Sancino, Alessandro; Andreani, Martino; Ruffini, Renato
• Other Names: Steen Trui guest-editor.; Nabatchi Tina guest-editor.; Brand Dirk guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: International review of administrative sciences. Volume 82:Number 1(2016:Mar.)
• Page Start: 8
• Page End: 27
• Publication Date: 2016-03
• Subjects: co-production -- inter-organizational collaboration -- managerial skills -- multi-level governance -- public service management; Public administration -- Periodicals; Comparative government -- Periodicals; 320
• DOI: 10.1177/0020852314566008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-8523

Abstract

From a normative stance, co-production has been recommended at all stages of the public service cycle. However, previous empirical studies on co-production have neglected the question of how to make this happen. Moreover, little attention has been paid to how co-production might occur in multi-level governance settings. The aim of this article is to fill these gaps, identifying triggers and organizational and managerial issues that could support the adoption of co-production in multi-level governance settings. The empirical analysis is based on a case study of services for autistic children. The findings highlight that co-production was prompted by inter-organizational arrangements and that trust-building among the actors played a pivotal role in nurturing a co-production approach. Points for practitioners: From an organizational perspective, our case study shows that, in order to foster co-production in multi-level governance settings, all stages of the public service cycle should be aligned and inspired by the same logic. From a managerial perspective it highlights that the implementation of co-production requires new managerial skills and tools. Public managers are asked to listen to community groups and individuals, to mobilize collective resources and knowledge, and exercise a meta-governance role. Finally, in order to have co-produced services, our findings point to the need to start thinking differently about the roles of civil society and government in satisfying the common good.