hallintopuun

Hallintopuu (administrative tree) is a conceptual model used in public administration to depict the hierarchical structure of authority, responsibility, and information flow within a government or organization. In its simplest form, hallintopuu is a tree: a root node represents the highest authority (for example central administration or a ministry), and each branch leads to subordinate units such as ministries, agencies, regional offices, municipalities, and service units. The edges denote supervisory or functional authority, and the nodes encapsulate administrative units and their jurisdiction.

Purposes include clarifying chains of command, defining jurisdictional boundaries, planning organizational redesigns, and supporting information systems governance, including access control, workflow routing, and data ownership. The hallintopuu is often used in e-government projects and enterprise resource planning to map responsibilities and ensure that data requests and service delivery follow the correct administrative path.

Variants exist: some models maintain a strict hierarchical tree, while others incorporate matrix elements or cross-cutting units, which may not fit a pure tree. In practice, administrative structures can be more complex, and a hallintopuu may be complemented by additional graphs describing collaborations and legal mandates beyond the direct chain of command.

In Finland, the concept is used to describe the state administration’s layered structure, from central ministries to regional offices and local municipalities, and to support interoperable public services. The hallintopuu is a tool for governance, planning, and information systems design, but it is not a legal document and may evolve with reforms.