Elinkaarensa
Elinkaarensa is a theoretical framework and methodological approach for describing and analyzing the lifecycle of an object, system, or digital artifact within a networked environment. It focuses on how an entity originates, transforms, propagates, and eventually passes into archival or obsolete states, with attention to the actors, technologies, and policies that shape each stage.
The term stems from Finnish elinkaari, meaning life cycle, with -nsa forming a possessive to indicate 'its
Key components include lifecycle phases (creation, introduction, growth, maturation, saturation, decline, renewal or obsolescence), stakeholder networks,
Methodologically, elinkaarensa combines lifecycle mapping, stakeholder analysis, and data- and provenance-aware curation. Applications range from digital
Critics note that the concept can be abstract and data intensive, and operationalizing it requires clear scope