Toimintaperuste

Toimintaperuste is a Finnish term used in organizations, public administration, and education to describe the set of principles, criteria, and rules that form the basis for how actions and operations are carried out. It defines the purpose, scope, and approach of a program or service and serves as a basis for planning, implementation, and evaluation.

A typical toimintaperuste outlines what is to be achieved, who the target groups are, and who is responsible for various tasks. It also covers processes, resource use, quality and safety requirements, and the indicators used to monitor and assess performance. By specifying these elements, it helps ensure consistency, accountability, and comparability in how services are delivered, even across staff changes or organizational reforms.

The concept is commonly used in the Finnish public sector and in organizations that provide services, such as municipalities, healthcare, and education. It is often linked to, but distinct from, strategies or policies; a toimintaperuste translates high-level aims into concrete operating rules and criteria. The term is sometimes used in plural as toimintaperusteet to describe a set of several such foundations for different programs or units.