Hallintokehys

Hallintokehys, often translated as administrative framework, is a concept in public administration that describes the set of norms, structures, processes and instruments through which authorities organize and deliver public actions. It encompasses the legal and regulatory basis, organizational design, decision-making procedures, accountability mechanisms, budgeting and resource allocation, as well as governance and evaluation practices. The hallintokehys shapes how authority is distributed among agencies, how policies are translated into programs, and how performance is monitored and reported.

Key components include legal mandates, administrative procedures, risk management, information systems, and human resource management. Models of hallintokehys range from centralized to decentralized, and from hierarchical to network-based approaches; some systems emphasize program-based management while others emphasize results-based or performance-oriented management. The framework is dynamic and interacts with political institutions, the legal system, organizational culture, and digital technologies.

Development of hallintokehys often involves reforms aimed at transparency, accountability, efficiency, and adaptability, including digitalization and simplification of procedures. It is evaluated by criteria such as efficiency, equity, responsiveness, legitimacy, and resilience. In practice, hallintokehys seeks to balance political oversight with administrative autonomy, provide clear lines of responsibility, and enable effective service delivery.

Critics argue that overly rigid hallintokehys can hamper innovation and flexibility, while too loose arrangements may undermine accountability. In Finnish public administration literature, the concept is used to compare administrative regimes across sectors and countries, and to analyze reforms in public service delivery, regulation, and governance. See also public administration, governance, administrative law, performance management.