When municipalities lead co-production: lessons from a Danish case study

This article explores the role played by municipalities as ‘key leaders’ in co-production processes initiated by local governments. The aim is to produce new insights into the challenges faced by public agencies leading co-production processes in practice. Drawing on an analytical framework derived from research in governance and leadership, the paper analyses a critical case of co-production in the Danish Municipality of Holbæk. The main focus is on exploring how leadership interventions are enacted by civil servants and politicians, and how these shape the co-production process. The analysis points to the significant role played by municipalities as hands-off leaders of co-production processes, and identifies leadership dynamics which merit further exploration.