Kohti yhteistä ymmärrystä: Tiedonmuodostuksen prosessit ja tiedolla johtaminen aikuissosiaalityössä (TIMO)

Authors

• Kirsi Günther Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Turku, Turku
• Iida Kulmala Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Turku, Turku
• Harri Laihonen Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio
• Elina Laine Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Turku, Turku
• Henna-Riikka Launonen Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio
• Jenni-Mari Räsänen Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere
• Riikka Sujamo Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23996/fjhw.179026

Keywords:

social work, knowledge, knowledge formation, knowledge management, qualitative research

Abstract

This project presentation introduces the TIMO research project (2026–2028), funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The project is carried out jointly by the University of Turku and the University of Eastern Finland.

The multidisciplinary project examines the processes of knowledge formation and knowledge management in adult social work across different wellbeing services counties. More specifically, it investigates how social workers, supervisors, and managers, both individually and collectively, construct an understanding of the knowledge generated in client work, as well as how this knowledge is more broadly utilized in the development and management of social work practice.

In adult social work, knowledge formation refers to the substantive and qualitative examination of information, the questioning of existing knowledge, and the production of new knowledge. In client work, key tools include observation, forms, assessment instruments, and documents recorded in information systems. This knowledge is used, for example, to understand a client’s situation and to support decision making regarding services. The TIMO project complements existing research on knowledge management and knowledge formation in social work.