Nurturing a collective approach to Transformative Service Research: Improving experiences of an infant feeding service eco-system through service user collaboration.

Weaver, Jessica (2025) Nurturing a collective approach to Transformative Service Research: Improving experiences of an infant feeding service eco-system through service user collaboration. PhD thesis, University of Liverpool.

Text 200249075_March 2025.pdf - Author Accepted Manuscript Access to this file is embargoed until 1 January 2030. Download (7MB)

Abstract

This thesis sets out to advance critical approaches in Transformative Service Research by employing collaborative processes to address research and service power imbalances. In doing so, I identify avenues for more meaningful theoretical and practical insights and promote increased service accessibility. The thesis is presented as three papers. The first paper draws on insights from user-led research literature alongside the analysis of 111 TSR articles to propose five avenues for progress towards a more collaborative TSR (more democratic research agendas, shared transformative goals, more inclusive methods, more transparent data analysis, and more accessible modes of dissemination). Through these avenues for progress the thesis calls for the reflexive application of TSR knowledge to encourage transformation within the research process itself. The second paper employs insights from a study involving a period of in-depth participatory research with users of an infant feeding service eco-system to critically evaluate opportunities to ‘walk the walk’ when applying the avenues for progress. Focusing on increased researcher reflexivity of positionalities, I assess the potential methodological advantages and challenges of applying an ‘insider’ approach. The third paper empirically evaluates data from this study, considering experiences of service accessibility. The findings reveal more nuanced insights regarding processes of value co-creation/co-destruction in public service ecosystems, focusing on processes negatively impacting user well-being. Extending Engen et al’s (2021) four dimensions of reasons for value co-destruction in public services (lack of transparency, mistakes, lack of bureaucratic competence and inability to serve), I substitute inability to serve for lack of provision, and lack of bureaucratic competence for failures of inter-professional collaboration, in addition to adding two further dimensions (barriers to identifying service gaps and failures and conflicting goals). Connecting these dimensions to structural influences, I present a framework outlining processes of value co-destruction in public service eco-systems. Thus, the thesis provides insights into socially contextual factors contributing to processes of value co-creation/co-destruction. Overall, the thesis enhances opportunities to prevent users’ personal decline in well-being in service and research settings through a deeper understanding of value codestruction processes and the advancement of user collaboration.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Infant Feeding, Participatory Health Research, Service Eco-systems, Transformative Service Research
Divisions:	Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > School of Management Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > School of Management > Management School
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	05 Feb 2026 15:06
Last Modified:	05 Feb 2026 16:02
DOI:	10.17638/03195178
Supervisors:	Hunter-Jones, Philippa Donnelly, Rory
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3195178
Disclaimer:	The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate.