ICT-based co-production: A public values perspective

Abstract

The promise of co-production is increased legitimacy, efficiency and effectiveness and the rise of digital technologies re-invigorates this promise. Often neglected in analyses of ICT-based co-production are public values, especially those of proper governance, concerned with lawfulness, equality and integrity. This chapter employs a public values perspective to assess the role that digital technologies have in co-production practices. We distinguish between three roles that digital technologies can play in co-production: instrumental, transformative and substitutive roles. We connect these roles with three types of public values: proper, performing and responsive governance. ICT-based co-production in all forms seems promising for values of performing governance. Our analysis, however, highlights that proper governance is at risk, especially for transformative and substitutive uses of ICTs.