Hallintokohtelevat

Hallintokohtelevat is a term used in public administration and governance to describe the set of administrative targets that authorities manage, regulate, or oversee as part of policy implementation. The concept focuses on how certain units, services, or functions are treated within administrative processes, including decision making, resource allocation, monitoring, and accountability.

The word combines hallinto (administration) with kohtelevat, a form meaning to treat or handle, signaling a perspective that targets and their handling are central to governance design. The term is most often encountered in Finnish-language debates about how public systems organize, supervise, and evaluate their activities, rather than naming a specific legal entity.

Scope and characteristics of hallintokohtelevat can vary by context. They may include public agencies, municipal services, healthcare and education providers, social welfare programs, and regulated data or infrastructure assets. The concept emphasizes the relational aspect of administration—the expectations placed on targets, the governance instruments applied (such as performance indicators, audits, service contracts, and reporting), and the feedback loops that connect results to policy adjustment.

Functional roles include guiding performance management, ensuring accountability, and aligning resources with policy priorities. Hallintokohtelevat thus serve as units for evaluating outcomes, risk management, and compliance with statutory or normative standards. They are often linked to broader governance goals such as transparency, efficiency, and equity.

Critics caution that overemphasis on administrative targets can lead to fragmentation or bureaucratic burden if not anchored in clear objectives and stakeholder participation. See also public administration, governance, accountability, and performance management.