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This article examines the dimensions of information culture (Choo 2013) in Finnish social and health care. Secondly, we ask how information culture should be developed in the context of reforms. Information culture is defined as interactive, open and value­based activity in organizations, and it can be defined by four dimensions: rule­following, relationship­based, risk­taking and result­oriented. The dimensions are studied based on 223 survey responses from the managers and supervisors in two health care districts. The results show that there is activity in all dimensions, result­oriented gets the slightly highest scores. Result­oriented and relationship­based information cultures are highly valued, but borders and problems in information reliability effect on information usage. Conclusively, supporting information creating and sharing activities and leadership practices are considered important in developing relationship­based and creative information culture in social and health care organizations.

This chapter discusses local governance renewals and the recent development of local democracy in Finland. Due to profound structural reforms, the role of municipalities is changing, which is challenging current local government processes, from management to citizen participation. Nordic local self-government is considered strong, despite of tightening state steering. Ruling reform politics and the increasing amount of service tasks do not fit the idea of active local governance with sufficient latitude for decision-making. To increase process efficiency, electronic services and governance have been developed nationally and locally, and solutions of eDemocracy have been launched to support participation. Developing participative, deliberative democracy during deep renewals creates opportunities but also requires investments, which create and increase variation between municipalities. From the point of view of local democracy, it becomes interesting how strong municipal self-governance and local governance renewals meet and how the role and status of municipalities are changing.

This chapter discusses local governance renewals and the recent development of local democracy in Finland. Due to profound structural reforms, the role of municipalities is changing, which is challenging current local government processes, from management to citizen participation. Nordic local self-government is considered strong, despite of tightening state steering. Ruling reform politics and the increasing amount of service tasks do not fit the idea of active local governance with sufficient latitude for decision-making. To increase process efficiency, electronic services and governance have been developed nationally and locally, and solutions of eDemocracy have been launched to support participation. Developing participative, deliberative democracy during deep renewals creates opportunities but also requires investments, which create and increase variation between municipalities. From the point of view of local democracy, it becomes interesting how strong municipal self-governance and local governance renewals meet and how the role and status of municipalities are changing.