Table 1.
Description of each step of the co-creation process of NBS (Source: authors).
| Step | Purpose | Guiding questions | Some options |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Step 1: Define |
Identifying NBS stage | At which stage of realising NBS are you? | 1) co-assessment and planning, 2) co-design, 3) co-implementation, 4) co-monitoring and co-evaluation |
| Defining the goal of co-creation process | What is the aim of your co-creation process? | a) exploring local context / dynamics; b) development of new visions, ways of problem framing and strategies (new business model); c) establishing new relationships, partnerships and collaborations among actors who were not in contact with each other in the past; d) stakeholders’ identification and analysis; e) foster collaboration (networks or partnerships), mobilize and empower diverse citizens for a joint action; f) stimulate learning among diverse actors; g) finding concrete solutions; h) collecting knowledge in the absence of data (data gathering); i) monitoring and evaluation of NBS impact. | |
|
Step 2: Identify and analyse |
Stakeholders’ identification and analysis | Which stakeholders do you want to involve in the co-creation process? | a) public authority & political representation; b) academia & research; c) private sector organization; d) civil society organizations; e) local residents; f) media; g) several/all of these groups of stakeholders |
| Identifying type of co-creation activity | What co-creation activities are you interested in applying? | a) workshops and oral communication techniques; b) fieldwork techniques; c) template and visualization techniques (templates, maps, charts, etc.) | |
| Analysis of conditions enabling co-creation (resources, capacities, effort) | What resources and capacities do you have for co-creation? |
||
| How many stakeholders will you involve? | a) small group (1–5 people); b) middle group (6–12 people); c) large group (from 13 up to 100 people and more) | ||
| How much time will you be able to invest? | 1) less time consuming (30–60 min); 2) middle time consuming (0.5–1.5 h preparation and 1–2 h activity); 3) highly time consuming (long preparation, several rounds of activities, post-event analysis) | ||
| How experienced are you in doing co-creation? | 1) low effort/level of difficulty, easy to apply; b) middle effort/level of difficulty, needs certain expertise to apply; c) high effort/level of difficulty, difficult to apply (need trained personnel) | ||
|
Step 3 Decide |
Level of co-creation | What level of co-creation is desirable for you? | 1) Informing stakeholders about NBS (idea sharing, advertisement, educate): one-way, passive engagement; 2) consulting stakeholder(s) and informing them (surveying, interviewing, reviews, rating): two-way dialog to enhance feedback; 3) starting/supporting collaboration (delegation, consultation, partnership, engagement): initial engagement; 4) cooperating with stakeholder (partnership, engagement, delegated power, citizen control): active engagement |
|
Step 4 Select |
Selecting the most appropriate tools | What are the most appropriate tools supporting your co-creation activities? | a) select the appropriate tool(s) and look at the comparative chart to learn which efforts and resources are needed for their implementation; b) within the co-creation team it should be discussed: what parts of the tools will be beneficial to apply; c) make your project team familiar with the tool (learn how to apply, what to prepare, etc. – see tool descriptions) |
|
Step 5 Design |
Invite | How will stakeholders be invited? | 1) direct (through invitations); 2) indirect (public advertisements, internet, social media, newspapers, TV, radio, etc.); 3) motivation (extrinsic motivation / financial; intrinsic motivation / social inclusion) |
| Share | How will relevant information be shared with stakeholders? | a) using email or sending digital information sources; b) sending prospects, brochures, booklets, etc.; c) through direct contact (also during public events); d) using social media, etc. | |
| Agree | How to ensure a mutual understanding? | 1) memorandum of agreement, contracts, other official documents, 2) informal agreement but indicating the activity conditions & tasks | |
| Ensure the quality of co-creation | What are key principles for a good co-creation process? | 1) inclusivity 2) openness 3) legitimacy 4) actionable knowledge for policy and planning 5) usable knowledge and empowerment 6) extending institutions for ensuring synergies | |
|
Step 6 Realize |
Starting / continuing co-creation | What key aspects to consider during realising co-creation activities? | looking at the tool descriptions, please follow the instructions for applying the tools and finally launch innovation partnerships |
| How to assemble the network of actors | - recognize the roles and responsibilities of co-creation participants | ||
| How practically implement the co-creation activity? | 1) ensure that the implementation proceeds according to the plan; 2) prepare for uncertainties in the process and be prepared for changes and adaptation; 3) the only way to learn which method or tool works best in specific situations is by testing and applying it | ||
| How to utilize the co-creation results & experiences | 1) ensure that all the parties benefit; 2) analyse & share the risks; 3) an open attitude and learning through experiments are the surest means of producing benefits; 4) ensure an open, trusting, pro-development, encouraging and creative atmosphere | ||
|
Step 7 Evaluate and adapt |
Co-monitor and co-evaluate the co-creation | How did we do? Can we improve? | a) Reflexive monitoring; b) Monitoring the effects of using the innovation; c) Table of indicators for evaluation of co-creation process |