Strategy

Management reform

The promotion of information society

Lessons learnt

Management reform

The management reform of the City of Tampere began in 2002 and was implemented step by step. In the beginning of 2007 the City of Tampere adopted a new model of leadership with a politically elected Mayor and four Deputy Mayors. They are elected by the City Council from among the Councillors for the same term that the City Council.

The model of mayor ship gave a face to political decision-making and strengthened the position of elected officials in preparatory work. And in connection with the reform inhabitants’ opportunities for participation increased. The new management model aims to stimulate dialogue between inhabitants and decision-makers. Improving the local democracy was ranked in a high position in the list of duties of the Mayor and the Deputy Mayors.

Also the City strategy that based on the new management model emphasized and underlined the importance of civic participation.

The promotion of information society

Citizens’ access to digital information was the biggest challenge in improving eParticipation. Along with access to Internet citizens needed some information society skills like how to use computers or other devices.

A special programme, eTampere (2001-2005), was carried out for the promotion of the information society. It was executed in co-operation with the local authorities, Tampere University of Technology, University of Tampere, Tampere Technology Centre and Technical Research Centre of Finland. In addition to that individual projects included a wide range of other participants, like businesses and NGOs.

After eTampere programme the city strategy has emphasized eGovernment development, especially in building electronic services. The city of Tampere developed new electronic channels in purpose to make governmental procedures more efficient and to create electronic services for citizens.

Lessons learnt

To implement participation to common preparatory procedures it was important that city management, elected officials as well as civil servants, supported the idea of promoting participation. Giving citizens opportunities for participation is part of preparatory work and decision-making.

Also the access to information is a basic condition for developing eParticipation. In Tampere the information society skills of the citizens were good enough and the citizens were eager to learn more.