The Big Society remains an incoherent policy idea which could be "defeated by inertia", according to a committee of MPs.
The Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) found that many were still confused over the Big Society's message, and warned that eighteen months into the government there was still no clear implementation plan for the policy.
The prime minister has claimed the Big Society is his "mission" and "passion" but the committee claimed it remains unclear how the government is engaging groups to help boost public services.
The report called on the government to engage the "little society" instead of "big business"
Committee chairman Bernard Jenkin said the Big Society project would take a generation to successfully implement.
"So far, the government has not been clear enough about what the Big Society means in practical terms.
"There is a lot of confusion among the public and the new providers how the Big Society policies are expected work in practice.
"Not all public services are suitable to be delivered by charities and not all charities are willing or capable of delivering services. Many would like to but cannot cope with the bureaucratic burdens of public contracting", he cautioned.
"In essence, this is the challenge: to build the ‘little society’, rather than the ‘Tesco’ charities that are skilled at tendering.”
But in response the Cabinet Office claimed a "huge amount has already been achieved:
"Programmes such as Community Organisers, Community First and National Citizen Service will help stimulate more social action by bringing people together in the communities they live in to solve problems and make the most of opportunities and assets.
“And there is a clear plan of how government will support this."