From Workplace to Learning Environment

Flexible Learning and Strategic Competence Management in Helsinki

Helsinki, Finland’s largest employer, boasts a workforce of approximately 38,000 professionals across four divisions and the city’s central administration. As an employer, the City of Helsinki prioritizes a positive employee experience. This commitment is reflected in its provision of meaningful work, flexible opportunities, highly competitive benefits, and support for professional growth and well-being. The city actively promotes continuous learning, job rotation, and diverse career pathways.

A User-Centered Design Process for Building a Learning Architecture

Intolead implemented a development process grounded in user-centered design and design thinking. The process resulted in a structured learning architecture and a roadmap to guide its implementation. During the process, the needs of employees in various work environments were identified, alongside practices that support continuous learning. A concrete action plan was developed to facilitate the roadmap’s implementation.

A User-Centric Design Process to Build a Learning Architecture

Intolead implemented a strategy process based on user-centric design and design thinking, resulting in a clear roadmap for a learning architecture. This roadmap supports comprehensive competence management across the organization. During the process, a concrete change program was developed, including actions and pilots to support the implementation of the roadmap. The solution aimed to equip key personnel with the necessary tools to make the right decisions at the right time.

A Shared Vision and Practical Tools for Competence Development

The project created a shared understanding of how competencies can be developed flexibly in diverse work environments. The learning architecture supports the strategic development of employee skills and the cultivation of a culture of continuous learning.

The long-term aim is to enable the efficient management and execution of learning and skills development while systematically monitoring and evaluating outcomes. The project also introduced practical tools to advance continuous learning.

Looking to the future, the goal is to integrate competence development more deeply into the everyday practices of work communities. This will further strengthen the skills required for the city’s evolving services and their development.

“Collaborating with Intolead was inspiring and seamless from start to finish. They brought strong expertise and innovative methods to the project, which helped us create a framework for a learning architecture and practical tools for further development. With the support of co-creation, we achieved solutions that genuinely strengthen the culture of continuous learning in our organization.”