Co‐production: a Working Definition

Abstract

An exploration of the current definitions of ‘co‐production’ reveals that it may mean too many different things to too many people and that individual ‘players’ may be looking for impossible benefits from the co‐production ‘game’, particularly when the rules of that game have yet to be agreed! Nonetheless, the possibilities offered to individual players remain obvious and potentially very exciting. As long as it is not expected to deliver us from all financial problems — and with careful preparation and goodwill on all sides — co‐production can work!