Management sparring partner
I want to build better working environments for central government. Successful change is created through open and constructive interaction, where challenging others to find the best possible solutions is a sign of trust.
The work environment, i.e. premises, ways of working and information technology, is an entity that must serve an agency’s operations cost-effectively and with high quality. Premises change in connection with construction projects, which means redesigning the entire work environment. Projects entail large cost impacts and agencies commit to long-term lease agreements, especially for special premises. These issues require a strategic level of review between the agency’s management and Senate Properties.
What does your job involve?
I support our customers in managing changes. In the early stages of a project, strategic discussions are held with management to support the content of the change of facilities and investment decisions. The personnel are involved in the discussions as early as possible so that they can contribute to their future working environment and have time to orient themselves and prepare for the upcoming changes. The biggest change doesn’t begin until moving into new premises and bringing the facilities into use. This means paying special attention to the management of the working environment in the period after the move.
Supporting change involves arranging interactive situations, leading discussions, and drawing attention to essential issues. In this way, each participant builds a new and better working environment for themselves through discussion.
What are the goals of your work?
I want the work environments provided by Senate Properties to be productive and pleasant to work in. The facilities must be appropriate and sized according to the actual occupancy rate. I also want to encourage agencies and their personnel to develop their ways of working. We can achieve significant savings when we develop operations and facilities simultaneously. It is better to invest in people than in unnecessary facilities.
What opportunities does the future offer your work?
The shared use of facilities and cooperation between public administration actors is increasing. I want to promote this so that going forward we can provide high-quality public administration services to taxpayers efficiently and comprehensively. There is growing competition for employees on the labour market. By creating functional and attractive working environments across Finland, we can ensure that government agencies will continue to attract skilled employees regardless of where they live.
Three principles that guide your work?
- Openness. In changes related to work environments, information and presentations alone are not enough. Participation and discussion are needed as well. Things must be planned and done together, which means that all perspectives, including critical ones, must be heard, understood and considered.
- Development. You must be able to focus on the future while also understanding the realities of daily life. The property must serve the needs for years to come, so we need to ask ourselves what work will look like then.
- Appreciation. In addition to each member’s intelligence and expertise, the success of a team or a workplace community depends on each member being able to feel they are accepted as they are. Ways of thinking cannot be changed by giving orders or ready models or perspectives. People must be heard and understood, and things must be discussed.
About me
I hold a Master of Education degree and was earlier CEO of Humap Software. Besides this, I’ve studied online learning at the University of Jyväskylä Information Technology Research Institute, among other things.
