Definitions of Co-Production and Co-Creation

This chapter examines the commonalities and differences between co-creation and co-production. It demonstrates certain ambiguities, which point to underlying variation, which can be used to identify different types of co-production and co-creation. Distinguishing co-production and co-creation as distinct categories of activity will help in making cleaner comparisons, allowing a deeper understanding of the social mechanisms that shape their internal dynamics and outcomes. Some authors have argued that co-production is an inherent part of the delivery of certain services and therefore not a question of choice. Using clearer definitions of co-creation and co-production will contribute to the comparability of different studies and allow a better understanding of the dynamics and outcomes of co-production. Co-production is generally associated with services citizens receive during the implementation phase of the production cycle, whereas co-creation concerns services at a strategic level. Complementary co-production in service implementation occurs when citizens are actively engaged in the implementation, but not the design, of a complementary task.