kokemusperäisiä

Kokemusperäisiä is a Finnish term that refers to individuals, practices, or decision-making processes that are grounded in practical experience rather than formal theory or academic training. The word combines kokemus (experience) with perä (derived from perästä, meaning "originating from") and the plural suffix -isiä. In many contexts, it is used to describe professionals who have accumulated specialized know‑how through hands‑on work, long tenure in a field, or continuous learning on the job. Organizations often value kokemusperäisiä because they bring insights that can be immediately applied and reflect real‑world constraints.

In management and organizational studies, kokemusperäisiä approaches are contrasted with theory‑based models. Advocates argue that experience‑derived knowledge leads to better risk assessment, adaptive problem solving, and resilience. Critics point out that without rigorous evidence or systematic documentation, such knowledge may be subject to confirmation bias or may be hard to scale. Empirical research has shown that blending kokemusperäisiä with evidence‑based frameworks can enhance decision quality, particularly in rapidly changing industries such as technology, healthcare, and public service.

The term also appears in educational philosophy, where experiential learning is promoted as a complement to academic curricula. Finnish educational policy has incorporated elements of kokemusperäisiä by supporting apprenticeships, internships, and workplace learning, recognizing that practical experience is essential for developing competent citizens and a flexible workforce.