Effective academic–practitioner collaboration on gender research in federal law enforcement: the value of a coproduction process

Abstract

Coproduction is the latest and most exhaustive model of academic–practitioner collaboration to engage public administration scholarship. Coproduction centers on the production of research as an interactive process where academics and practitioners collaborate across all phases of a research project. This article contributes to the literature by presenting a critical and reflective examination of a personal journey in coproduction, with a well-known federal law enforcement agency, and offers three recommendations for the academic community to effectively tackle their own coproduction efforts. The benefits and challenges of this partnership are presented, emphasizing a less participatory form of coproduction to recognize workplace issues and solutions. The topic of coproduction is relevant in today’s literature for highlighting academic–practitioner collaboration as a tool to advance knowledge. Points for practitioners • Successful academic–practitioner collaborations require three elements: a “champion” in the practitioner community to advance the coproduction partnership; tenured stakeholders; and compromise amid the two communities to advance knowledge. • A less participatory form of coproduction can be equally effective to highlight workplace issues and solutions. • Joint problem solving with academics is essential for understanding the under-representation of women in federal law enforcement.