Tarkoituksenmukaisesta

Tarkoituksenmukaisesta is a Finnish term used to describe something that is in accordance with or appropriate to a stated purpose. The base adjective tarkoituksenmukainen combines tarkoitus (purpose) with mukainen (compliant, suitable), and it is commonly employed in administrative, legal, and policy texts to evaluate whether actions, measures, or artifacts serve their intended goals.

In usage, the concept denotes alignment between the aims of a project or regulation and the means chosen to achieve them. A tarkoituksenmukainen measure or policy is one that is suited to its stated objective, proportional to the goal, and justifiable within the given context. The term is often contrasted with approaches that are functional but not purpose-driven, or with measures that exceed or deviate from their declared aims.

Contexts and applications

- Public administration and policy: assessing program design, implementation, and resource allocation to ensure they advance the intended objectives.

- Law and ethics: evaluating whether procedures respect the purpose of a rule, and whether actions are necessary and proportional to the aims pursued.

- Data processing and privacy: considering whether data collection and use are appropriate to the stated purpose and limits of the processing.

- Product design and services: ensuring features and workflows support the intended use cases rather than extraneous functions.

See also

Tarkoituksenmukaisuus, a related noun referring to the quality or state of being suitable for the purpose.