Toimeksiantona

Toimeksiantona is a Finnish term used to describe actions or tasks carried out as a commission or mandate from a client or principal. It indicates that the work is performed under instruction and within the terms of a contractual relationship, rather than on the practitioner’s own initiative.

The word derives from the noun toimeksianto (assignment, mandate) with the suffix -na/-nä, which in Finnish expresses a role or capacity. As such, toimeksiantona functions as an adverbial or noun phrase indicating the mode of operation: in the capacity of a mandated task rather than in a self-directed one.

In usage, toimeksiantona is most common in professional and formal contexts such as consulting, auditing, translation, journalism, and other outsourced or client-directed work. It clarifies that the activity is performed for and under the direction of a client, typically within a defined scope and agreement. Phrases may include statements like "toimeksiantona tehtävä työ" or "tutkimus tehtiin toimeksiantona suuryritykselle," illustrating the client-driven nature of the assignment.

Related terms include toimeksiantaja (the client or principal who issues the mandate) and toimeksisaaja (the agent or contractor who carries out the mandate). The concept is frequently encountered in contract law, project management, and service provision, where clear delineation of mandate and responsibility is essential.