Kompetenssiin

Kompetenssiin is the illative singular form of the Finnish noun kompetenssi, which denotes competence, proficiency, or the scope of authority in a given field. The illative suffix -iin indicates movement into or inclusion within that domain, so kompetenssiin literally translates to “into competence” or “to the competence.” The term is used to describe the area under someone’s or an organization’s jurisdiction, responsibility, or expertise.

Etymology and form: kompetenssi is a Finnish noun derived from Swedish kompetens, with the -si derivational ending forming a noun, and the illative suffix -iin producing kompetenssiin. This morphological pattern is typical in Finnish for indicating direction or entering a domain of responsibility.

Usage and context: In contemporary Finnish, kompetenssi is most common in formal, administrative, or managerial language. It can refer to the field of expertise, the scope of delegated authority, or the set of tasks that fall within a person’s or an organization’s capabilities. The illative kompetenssiin appears in constructions such as “Päätöksenteko kuuluu tämän viraston kompetenssiin” (Decision-making falls within this agency’s competence) or “Koulutuksen kehittäminen kuuluu koulun kompetenssiin.” In everyday speech, more common terms for similar ideas include osaaminen, vastuut, or toimivalta.

Related terms and forms: The word has standard inflection like other Finnish nouns: kompetenssissa (inessive), kompetenssiksi (translative), kompetenssiksi (translative), kompetenssien (plural genitive), and so on. The concept is closely related to ideas of expertise, jurisdiction, and organizational capability, and is often discussed in management, governance, and human resources literature. See also osaaminen, toimivalta, vastuu.