vahekorraldamine

Vahekorraldamine is an Estonian term referring to temporary governance or administration that is put in place to bridge a period of transition. It describes deliberate arrangements to ensure continuity of operations, leadership, and decision-making when permanent arrangements are not yet in place, such as during leadership change, organizational restructuring, or crisis conditions.

Etymology and usage: the word combines vahe, meaning interim or between, with korraldamine, meaning organization or management. It is used across public sector, corporate, and non-profit contexts to denote temporary, purpose-specific administration.

Scope and roles: vahekorraldamine involves appointing an interim manager or administrator, often with a clearly defined mandate, authority, and time frame. Responsibilities typically include maintaining core operations, stabilizing finances, guiding ongoing projects, preparing for a permanent appointment, and implementing urgent but non-permanent changes. The interim may report to a board, council, or governing body and operate under contract or appointment terms.

Context and examples: in the public sector, it can occur during cabinet reshuffles, municipal transitions, or agency handovers. In business, it is commonly used during executive search processes, mergers, or crisis response where sustained leadership is temporarily lacking.

Process: usually starts with a needs assessment, selection by a governing body or committee, a specified contract or appointment, defined success criteria, and a fixed duration with periodic evaluation and a formal handover plan.

Benefits and criticisms: advantages include continuity, risk management, and rapid expertise deployment. Criticisms focus on cost, potential misalignment with long-term goals, role ambiguity, and dependency on interim leadership.

Legal and ethical considerations: adherence to labor laws, procurement rules, transparency, and accountability is essential to maintain legitimacy and avoid conflicts of interest. See also interim management and transition governance.