Behovsmatchning

Behovsmatchning, or needs matching, refers to the process of aligning the needs of individuals, organizations, or communities with the appropriate resources, services, or solutions. It aims to ensure that interventions, products, or opportunities are tailored to those needs rather than applied uniformly.

Used across public, private, and third-sector settings, behovsmatchning is common in social welfare, employment services, education and training, healthcare, and housing. In practice, it combines needs assessment with resource mapping to determine suitable matches.

Typical steps include needs assessment, inventory of available resources, criteria for matching, the matching decision, and ongoing monitoring. Data collection, stakeholder input, and iterative feedback are often essential to ensure relevance and adjust to changing circumstances.

Methods range from manual, person-centered approaches—interviews, questionnaires, and planning conversations—to automated, algorithmic matching using data on preferences, eligibility, and outcomes. Hybrid approaches mix human judgment with data-driven ranking.

Benefits include more efficient use of resources, higher satisfaction, and better outcomes for participants. Challenges involve data quality and privacy, potential biases in algorithms, unequal access to information, and the need for robust evaluation to assess impact.

Examples include social services agencies tailoring support packages to individual needs, unemployment programs matching job seekers with suitable roles and training, and healthcare systems coordinating services around patient needs.