Theory-led evaluations

Theory-led evaluations mean that service reality is evaluated against a normative or explanatory theoretical framework to be able to explain and critically assess it. Some of normative expectations with co-creation are: equalising powers, enhancing user rights to participation and influence; human satisfaction and dignity, service tailoring etc.

Theory-led evaluations may help to answer questions of whether the intended roles (co-initiator, co-designer, etc) and relationships (co-responsibility, power-sharing, health promoting, asset-based approach, etc.) are being practiced or established as well as reveal more about the mechanisms of change. This way evaluation adds to the overall Theory of Change towards co-creation or (by way of co-creation) towards service innovations.

Democratisation theory: Identifying and joining stakeholder voices (such as those of implementing professionals and users/beneficiaries’) into a more visible and coherent narrative about the service is claimed by some democracy theorists as a significant contribution to the improvement of democratic politics. “Politics does not exist unless the range of actions can be incorporated into a single narrative and represented in a single public arena” (Rosanvallon, 2008, p. 23). This draws the attention to the framing and re-framing of collective service narratives.

CoSIE evidence suggests that by being able to participate and exert influence in such dialogues stakeholders contribute to the framing of a new more coherent or reframing of less satisfactory, disempowering (from professionals’ or users’ perspective) welfare service narrative. The new narrative expressed openly at least in one public arena provides a better policy evidence than fragmented, insufficiently explored or reflected service accounts.

Of particular importance was being able to jointly arrive at a more empowering narrative of the ethics – norms, roles and relationships – needed to rehumanize the service. Also, reconceptualizing the available resources.

Theory of change: If we depart from the standpoint that public and private service organizations face great complexity and ambiguity in attempting to better address the unmet needs of social groups, then co-creation enables greater variety of stakeholders and perspectives that may serve to clarify and join up the bits and pieces in a complex service picture and so help instigate and facilitate change. Sharing knowledge and a theoretical framework about co-creation helps the diffusion of common languages and values among the participants(especially in new co-creative practices). This may aid in designing and providing better informed, more meaningful, adequate and thus effective (even efficient) services.