Päijät-Häme utilized Virtual Brainstorming in developing the health and social services center of the future

The change was initiated together – Virtual Brainstorming urged the work forward

The Päijät-Häme Welfare Association is undergoing an extensive, multi-year change program, which will develop management, municipal cooperation, a new service structure, and service productivity. A major focus is on the development of SOTE (social and healthcare) central services. In this context, the group has launched a procurement process aimed at establishing a joint venture with a private partner. The change largely affects the staff of the SOTE centers, who would become employees of the joint venture.

The whole is extensive and challenging, so it was decided by the management of the consortium that the staff must be consulted on the change from the time it was planned. The Fountain Park Virtual Brainstorming was used as a tool for participation, enabling staff to gather ideas and insights in an inspiring and interactive way.

“Change management is the core of inclusion. When it comes to service development, most service production is related to people. Interacting with staff plays an important role and needs to be done in a variety of different ways. Services only change when people’s thinking changes. It is challenging to commit to change if you have not been able to participate in it in any way, ”says Ismo Rautiainen, PHHYKY’s project manager, about the background to the cooperation.

Virtual Brainstorming as a tool for change management

The development potential of the Welfare Association’s personnel and the knowledge and view of the realities of the Association’s operations were to be taken into account when the change was taken forward. The ideas of the people working in the practical work were made visible, and through that, they have a positive effect on the commitment of professionals immediately at the planning stage of the change.

“We clearly brought out the staff’s ideas and the core ideas of the change. While it has been a challenging process of change in which people’s entire working lives are changing, professionals are eminently sharing ideas for development for the future. I was positively surprised by this. With the help of the cooperation, we were able to complete the process quickly and painlessly, ”says Rautiainen.

The Virtual Brainstorming was carried out as an effective, open-ended reflection that lasted a few weeks online, with more than 200 participations and representations from several different result areas. Approximately 70% of participatory activity produced extensive thoughts and ideas on what kind of building blocks the best possible joint venture will consist of in the future.

“Our collaboration has urged change management. We have been able to create an open atmosphere and trust and show that staff is important to us. We have also provided information about the change, which has helped to implement it,” describes Pertti Sopanen, the project manager of the SOTE center project.

Successful co-creation takes the change process forward

The results of the Virtual Brainstorming strongly highlighted staff expectations for change. Changes are hoped for and expected. The information needs, concerns, and thoughts of the employees about the goals of the SOTE center support the next stages of the change. The co-creation process was considered a success.

“I am proud that the staff participated in the brainstorming with a forward-looking approach. This type of participation was new to me, and the whole process felt quite positive. Fountain Park’s Virtual Brainstorming was an effective way to take the change forward,” Sopanen summarizes.

“Thank you for the project progressing smoothly and listening to us. The whole process worked great and I can recommend this tool. We got quick answers to our questions, and the necessary changes were made without delays. You act in a service-minded way, ”Rautiainen praises.