Dis/value in co-production, co-design and co-innovation for individuals, groups and society

The traditional public service ethos needs to be challenged by including citizens/users in developing and improving public services. However, the often one-sided positive accounts of co-production, codesign and co-innovation risk public managers and policy-makers involving citizens/users when it may be inappropriate and/or cause more harm than good. This article explains these 'co-concepts' and suggests how managers and policy-makers should balance the positive with potential negative (disvalue) aspects to enable a more useful practice of citizen/user involvement.