Constraining co-creation? An ethnographic study of Healthwatch organizations in England

TY - JOUR

T1 - Constraining co-creation? An ethnographic study of Healthwatch organizations in England

AU - Martin, Graham P.

AU - Desai, Amit

AU - Zoccatelli, Giulia

AU - Brearley, Sally

AU - Robert, Glenn

N1 - Funding Information: We thank participants in the study for their time, welcome and candour, and we thank the members of our advisory group and Joint Interpretive Forums for their guidance and insights throughout the study. Graham Martin is based in The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute (THIS Institute), University of Cambridge. THIS Institute is supported by the Health Foundation, an independent charity committed to bringing about better health and healthcare for people in the UK. Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - While the potential benefits of co-production and co-creation are widely vaunted, the degree to which they precipitate innovative change in systems varies, and influences on their impact demand greater attention. We present an ethnographic study of organizations intended to foster co-creation in English health and social care. Comparing five cases, we find demonstrable activity and some tangible impacts. At the same time, the positioning of these organizations as collaborative insiders in local governance systems constrained the publics and issues that were prioritized in co-creative activities. Our findings highlight the significance of discursive forms of meta-governance in delimiting the scope of co-creation.

AB - While the potential benefits of co-production and co-creation are widely vaunted, the degree to which they precipitate innovative change in systems varies, and influences on their impact demand greater attention. We present an ethnographic study of organizations intended to foster co-creation in English health and social care. Comparing five cases, we find demonstrable activity and some tangible impacts. At the same time, the positioning of these organizations as collaborative insiders in local governance systems constrained the publics and issues that were prioritized in co-creative activities. Our findings highlight the significance of discursive forms of meta-governance in delimiting the scope of co-creation.

KW - Co-creation

KW - Healthwatch

KW - Ethnography

KW - Governance

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85183122852&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/14719037.2024.2308186

DO - 10.1080/14719037.2024.2308186

M3 - Article

SN - 1471-9037

VL - 26

SP - 2992

EP - 3012

JO - PUBLIC MANAGEMENT REVIEW

JF - PUBLIC MANAGEMENT REVIEW

IS - 10

ER -