A1 Journal article (refereed)
Hei, me mennään kunnan tilitehtaaseen! : taloushallinnon työn uudelleenorganisoinnin vaikutukset työntekijöiden kokemana (2008)

Järvenpää, M., Lähteenmäki, J., Niemelä, M., Voutilainen, V., & Pellinen, J. (2008). Hei, me mennään kunnan tilitehtaaseen! Taloushallinnon työn uudelleenorganisoinnin vaikutukset työntekijöiden kokemana.. Hallinnon Tutkimus, 27(2), 52-67.

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Järvenpää, Marko; Lähteenmäki, Johanna; Niemelä, Maija; Voutilainen, Vesa; Pellinen, Jukka

Journal or series: Hallinnon Tutkimus

ISSN: 0359-6680

eISSN: 2343-4309

Publication year: 2008

Volume: 27

Issue number: 2

Pages range: 52-67

Publisher: Hallinnon tutkimuksen seura

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: Finnish

Persistent website address: https://journal.fi/hallinnontutkimus/article/view/100682

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/59487

Abstract

This case study examines the reorganization of accounting work into Shared Service Centre (SSC) and its impacts as experienced by the accounting workers in the City of Jyväskylä. The SSC concept is advertised to lead to improved quality, better services, more effective processes and lower costs. The results of the study show that the workers have experienced the change positively and thai the change in general has been rather successful but there are, however, some potential pitfalls for the SSC concept. Some work, which was not properly taken into account in the process definitions, remained in the units and must now be done by the unit managers themselves or even by newly recruited people. This may hinder the financial benefits of the change. Moreover, the quality of the accounting processes was not increased as much as expected, and the hoped-for learning effects and the transfer of the best practices were not fully achieved. The level of internal customer service has increased in some units, but the increased distance between units and the SSC may challenge this customer satisfaction in the future. There is aisa a potential risk of the basic accounting work becoming more and more monotonic, dull, and unattractive for the skilled worker. Finally, most of this work may be even replaced by the office automation in the future.

Keywords: municipalities; financial administration; centralisation; service centres; accounting; staff; organisation of work; job description; experiences (knowledge)

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Preliminary JUFO rating: Not rated