Neutralized, enhanced, tokenistic: The influence of formal employment of service-users on processes of co-production

Chauhan, Trishna ORCID: 0000-0001-6017-3665, Croft, Charlotte ORCID: 0000-0002-9672-7567 and Spyridonidis, Dimitrios (2022) Neutralized, enhanced, tokenistic: The influence of formal employment of service-users on processes of co-production. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, 101 (3). pp. 1014-1032.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/padm.12839

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Can formally employing service‐users in co‐production roles redress the problematic power imbalances inhibiting co‐production in the public sector? In this paper, we analyze service‐users formally employed in co‐production roles. Through semi‐structured interviews, we illustrate how actors use their voice, experience, and identity to respond to different power imbalances. First, through the process of “inverting professionalism” structural limitations resulted in <jats:italic>neutralized co‐production</jats:italic>. Second, through the process of “embedding expertise” formally employed service‐users challenged collective expectations of their role and meditated power imbalances, resulting in <jats:italic>enhanced co‐production</jats:italic>. Finally, through the process of “perpetuating rejection” a new exacerbated power imbalance emerged when their employment became a negative resource, resulting in <jats:italic>tokenistic co‐production</jats:italic>. We extend understandings of how formally employing service‐users has potential to redress power imbalances. However, we caution against policy taking this for granted and argue that more consideration of the influence of different forms of power is needed.</jats:p>

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Management
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	04 Apr 2022 08:51
Last Modified:	07 Sep 2023 17:13
DOI:	10.1111/padm.12839
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3151892