THL

A long-term partnership supports the success of THL’s projects and change management

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has been developing nationally significant services together with Gofore for several years. The collaboration broadly covers project management services, from individual projects to extensive, multi-stakeholder programmes.

Gofore’s experts have worked at THL as project managers and specialists, bringing structure, insight and the ability to implement change in practice. Through the collaboration, the number of simultaneous projects has increased, and the role of change management as part of development has strengthened.

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Objective

To support project delivery and provide insight into change management

THL’s operating environment is extensive and diverse. Each year, dozens of projects are launched at THL, related to areas such as the development of social and healthcare services, organisational development, system implementations, and national services.

“The number of projects exceeds the number of our own project managers. We need a partner who brings expertise in project management and change management,” says Niina Isotalo, Head of Projects and Services at THL.

The importance of change management has become increasingly evident over the years.

“A purely technical solution is not enough. It is equally important to consider how the change is implemented in practice,” Isotalo continues.

“The number of projects exceeds the number of our own project managers. We need a partner who brings expertise in project management and change management.”

Niina Isotalo, Head of Projects and Services, THL

Solution

A flexible expert partnership to support project management

The collaboration between Gofore and THL is based on a framework agreement for project management expert services, through which experts are brought into various projects as needed. According to Isotalo, Gofore’s strength lies in its broad and versatile expertise, which can be leveraged for a wide range of needs.

“Gofore’s project management experts may also have architectural expertise or a strong technical background. They have experience from both the private and public sectors,” Isotalo notes.

At THL, Gofore’s experts work, among other roles, as:

Project managers and programme managers
Project coordinators
Support for organisational development and change management within projects

The work is hands-on and spans from strategic level to day-to-day operations. Gofore professionals help maintain an overview of complex entities. They bring the right people together, facilitate discussions and support everyday tasks with a practical, “hands-on” approach.

“Over the years, our collaboration with THL has developed into a genuine partnership. We understand the operating environment and can bring value by challenging the client and helping to identify where support is truly needed,” says Marianne Rantanen, Senior Project Manager and Account Lead at Gofore.

Examples of collaboration

Gofore and THL typically have more than 20 projects ongoing annually. Larger programmes often include dozens of projects requiring project management support in different roles. Ongoing and completed initiatives include, for example:

Renewal of THL’s pharmaceutical wholesale logistics system and operations
Reform of case and document management
Renewal of enterprise resource planning systems
Development of the national health and wellbeing (HYTE) data repository
Renewal of the Innokylä online service and the HYTE operating model evaluation system
Renewal of the infectious disease register
Koronavilkku

In challenging projects, things do not always go smoothly. However, long-term partnerships also build strong trust.

“We can openly discuss challenging issues as well. That is not a given in a client–supplier relationship,” Isotalo says.

Gofore’s Senior Service Architect Antti Luoma has been involved, among other things, in developing the HYTE operating model evaluation system. According to him, Gofore’s role has varied from coordinating specification work to decommissioning legacy systems or optimising system usage to achieve cost savings. THL plays a key role in developing the administrative sector of social and healthcare services, which is also reflected in Gofore’s work – project management often involves coordinating collaboration between THL, ministries, wellbeing services counties, and other institutions and agencies.

“Working with THL provides a unique vantage point for developing information management in social and healthcare services,” Luoma notes.

According to Luoma, the client has given positive feedback on how Gofore is already familiar with internal routines, including required project management phases and documentation. Even shared challenges have ultimately been resolved with positive outcomes.

“Project management is inherently dynamic and sometimes unpredictable. I have been praised for bringing the necessary routines, calmness and balance to projects – and through those, we always move forward,” Luoma says.

Outcome

Smoother project delivery and a stronger ability to implement change

The key benefit for THL has been smoother execution of projects and changes. The collaboration has also helped highlight the importance of change management.

The partnership is also reflected in the development of organisational practices. With Gofore’s support, change is managed alongside technical implementation, ensuring that people adopt new ways of working and systems, embedding them into everyday operations.

“We have learned a great deal from Gofore about stakeholder engagement as part of change management. A project manager does not solve everything alone but involves stakeholders in developing tools and approaches. This leads to jointly agreed practices and, ultimately, systems that better serve their users,” Isotalo explains.

The benefits of THL’s projects extend widely across society. With a trusted partner, ways of working and solutions are developed that make everyday life smoother for both professionals and citizens.

Project highlights

Objective

THL sought support in project management and change management. The goal was to find a contractual partner with broad expertise across different project phases, offering support from planning and specification to coordination and everyday tasks.

Solution

Gofore’s experts have worked at THL as project management and change management specialists for nearly 10 years. They bring structure, insight and the ability to implement change in practice. Their work is hands-on and spans from strategy to daily operations.

Outcome

Through long-term collaboration, THL’s project delivery has become more efficient, and the role of change management in development has strengthened. Over the years, the partnership has evolved into a mutually beneficial collaboration for both experts and end users.