Action researchers as “orchestrators” of coinnovation: A theoretical and methodological framework

Abstract Background With the increasing complexity of health care services, more comprehensive and integrated services need to be redesigned. Action research and collaborative innovation processes that emphasize multiactor participation and user-centered approaches are suggested to balance research that is meaningful for both the research community and health service development. Engagement by actors with a diverse range of perspectives, experiences, resources, and competences is emphasized to enhance creative problem solving and innovation. However, “orchestrating” innovation, in which actors have diverse attitudes, agendas, positions of power, and horizons of understanding, is challenging. The purpose of this article was therefore to explore how researchers can support collaborative and creative processes to enhance coinnovation in complex health care contexts. Methods Experiences from two Scandinavian cases of coinnovation form the foundation of this theoretical paper. Results We identified four central components that are essential for action researchers to facilitate collaborative and creative coinnovation processes: 1) relational power reflexibility, 2) resource integration, 3) joint understanding, and 4) the facilitation of creativity. Conclusions This paper offers a theoretical contribution to orchestrating diverse actors and their contributions by leveling out the asymmetrical distribution of power, ensuring the integration of relevant resources, creating a joint understanding, and facilitating creativity in coinnovation processes/projects.