Citizen agency in value co-creation processes – a literature review

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to address citizen agency in value co-creation (VCC) in the context of public administration. It asks how citizen agency is presented in the VCC discussion to deepen the understanding of VCC as a dynamic interplay between public organisations and citizens adopting various forms of agency.

Design/methodology/approach This study utilises the integrative literature review method, applying a two-round search process. Altogether, 40 scientific articles were subjected to content analysis to acquire a deeper understanding of citizen agency.

Findings The VCC discussion represents citizens as resource integrators, experiencers, co-producers and beneficiaries. In addition, the study raises the questions of activity and voluntariness and the level of involvement linked to citizen agency in VCC. The connection between the VCC discussion and collective-side citizen activity is weak because the democratic aspects of the discussion are limited.

Research limitations/implications This article contributes to the VCC discussion by painting a clear picture of citizen agency, which is also linked to the democratic essence and potential of VCC. It also identifies the potential weaknesses of the VCC conceptual debate.

Originality/value This article sheds light on citizen agency in the context of the VCC discussion, which is an understudied issue in public administration research. The present study helps to enhance the discussion concerning the democratic potential of VCC.