Focal aspects of co-operation between the private, public and third sectors in a sparsely populated area in northern Finland.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe and analyze the focal aspects of co-operation between the private, public and third sectors in a sparsely populated area of northern Finland. The study is part of a larger research and development project, which produced a model of co-operation between the sectors in a sparsely populated area of northern Finland.

Study Design: The study was qualitative. An expert group (n = 12), consisting of representatives from the private (n = 4), public (n = 4) and third sectors (n = 4), was recruited.

Methods: The data were collected using the focus groups method. The focus group method was feasible here because the development of co-operation between the different sectors was new, and the aim was to find novel operating models.

Results: The focal aspects of co-operation between the different sectors consisted of the objectives of operation, the client's perspective, the structures, the contents of operation and the operating culture.

Conclusions: An expert group of representatives from the different sectors was a functional starting-point for the development of co-operation. The group also made it possible to reach representatives of the sectors more widely by means of the questionnaire survey. The operation of the expert group clearly involved elements of network management, because the group aimed to take into account the interests of all network actors. Network management at this stage of the project can be considered successful. To maintain co-operation at the concrete level, shared self-guided activities between the sectors will be needed.