Digital platforms that connect different user groups and facilitate their interaction and transactions have revolutionised value creation in numerous industries. Sahamies’ research highlights how the platform logic has also been applied in the public sector, especially at the local level. Platforms utilised by the public sector, known as governance platforms, are designed to engage citizens, harness local resources, and drive innovation. They can enable citizens to propose ideas, suggest solutions to local challenges, or vote on community development initiatives.
Map-based applications can collect information and feedback from residents and allow them to report issues in their neighbourhoods. Governance platforms can also facilitate resource-sharing, coordinate volunteer work, and bring together businesses and customers to co-develop products critical for public services, among other things.
“Governance platforms can help local governments meet sustainability goals, foster a sense of community, and use existing resources more effectively. They provide innovative ways to co-create value with citizens and other stakeholders,” Sahamies explains.
However, Sahamies’ research also underscores the complexities of adopting these platforms. To implement them effectively, local governments must develop new competencies, including understanding platform dynamics and adapting to evolving digital ecosystems.
Sahamies emphasizes that governance platforms reflect broader shifts in societal values. The instrumentalization of participation—where citizen engagement is viewed primarily as a tool for achieving specific administrative or political objectives rather than as an intrinsic value—can undermine the principles of inclusivity and democratic decision-making. This development may lead to the design of participation channels that prioritize problem-solving over fostering genuine civic engagement and deliberative democracy. At the same time, this shift places an increasing responsibility for individual and community well-being on local communities rather than the public sector.
“While platforms can strengthen community connections, it is essential to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard and that public values like equality and democracy remain at the forefront,” Sahamies emphasizes.
When thoughtfully integrated into decision-making, governance platforms can serve as catalysts for positive societal change—but only if both their opportunities and risks are carefully considered.
Public defence on Friday 14 March
The doctoral dissertation of MSc (Admin) Kaisu Sahamies in the field of administrative sciences titled Local Platform Governance: Redefining Roles, Relations, and Responsibilities of the Key Actors will be publicly examined at the Faculty of Management and Business at Tampere University in auditorium 1100 of the Pinni B building (address: Kanslerinrinne 1, Tampere) on the city centre campus at 12 o’clock on 14 March 2025. The Opponent will be Professor Tiina Randma-Liiv, Tallinn University of Technology. The Custos will be Professor Arto Haveri from Tampere University.