Towards a multi-actor theory of public value co-creation

TLDR

The essay proposes revising the public value theory and strategic triangle framework to better accommodate the joint and separate creation of public value by policymakers and managers across public, private, voluntary, and informal sectors. It outlines modifications to the strategic triangle’s core, expanding it beyond the public manager to include multiple actors, levels, arenas, and logics, and proposes ways to adapt the framework to complex policy fields with conflicting interests. The essay concludes by offering several research suggestions.

Abstract

This essay suggests changes to the theory of public value and, in particular, the strategic triangle framework, in order to adapt it to an emerging world where policy makers and managers in the public, private, voluntary and informal community sectors have to somehow separately and jointly create public value. One set of possible changes concerns what might be in the centre of the strategic triangle besides the public manager. Additional suggestions are made concerning how multiple actors, levels, arenas and/or spheres of action, and logics might be accommodated. Finally, possibilities are outlined for how the strategic triangle might be adapted to complex policy fields in which there are multiple, often conflicting organizations, interests and agendas. In other words, how might politics be more explicitly accommodated. The essay concludes with a number of research suggestions.