prestationscentrerad

Prestationscentrerad is a term used in Swedish- and Norwegian-language public administration and management to describe an approach to service delivery that centers on the prestations—the specific services or benefits—that a client receives. In this perspective, planning, resource allocation and evaluation are organized around defined service outputs rather than primarily around internal processes, organizational units, or inputs.

The model commonly involves defining service packages or prestations with explicit descriptions, performance standards, and outcome-oriented indicators. Providers are often engaged through contracts or subsidies that specify the delivered prestations and acceptable quality levels. The approach is used in sectors such as healthcare, social services, education, and public procurement, and is frequently associated with reform efforts aimed at improving transparency, accountability and efficiency.

Key characteristics include predefined prestations, service-level agreements, standardized delivery practices, and measurement of results from the user’s perspective. Potential benefits include clearer expectations for users, easier comparison across providers, and the possibility of efficiency gains through standardization and performance monitoring. Critics warn that an excessive focus on prestations can neglect individual needs, reduce complex human interactions to checklists, and risk gaming the metrics.

Prestationscentrerad is a term most often found in Scandinavian public-sector discourse and is used to describe a shift towards outcome- and service-delivery orientation, sometimes in parallel with performance-based financing. It is distinct from person-centered or patient-centered care, which emphasize the individual's character and preferences but may be integrated with prestations-centered approaches in practice.