Tukitoiminto

Tukitoiminto is a Finnish term used to describe a function within an organization that provides support for its primary activities. It refers to activities that enable core processes to operate smoothly but do not themselves directly generate the main value or revenue. In practice, tukitoiminto is often discussed in contrast to ydintoiminto, the core functions that create the essential outputs of the organization.

Common tukitoiminnon areas include human resources, information technology, finance and accounting, procurement, logistics, facilities management, and communications. These functions can be organized as an internal service provider or as a shared services unit that serves multiple business units. They may be centralized in a single unit or distributed across the organization, and many organizations outsource tukitoiminnon tasks to external vendors when advantageous.

Governance and measurement of tukitoiminto typically involve budgeting as a cost center, service-level agreements, and performance metrics such as cost per transaction, processing times, and customer satisfaction. The aim is to deliver standardized, efficient services that support core operations while controlling costs.

Benefits of an effective tukitoiminto include increased efficiency and consistency, economies of scale, and greater focus for core business units on value creation. Potential challenges include risk of over-bureaucratization, misalignment with strategic goals, or insufficient integration with core processes. In many sectors, tukitoiminnon structures are evolving into centralized or outsourced models known as shared services or internal service centers to balance cost, quality, and scalability.