The potential of using Big Data in order to understand the nature of multi-level decision-making processes in society will be explored. The hypothesis is that the use of Big Data sources and methods of analysis will generate more in-depth insights on the nature of complex multi-level decision-making processes compared with traditional research methods. Although the use of Big Data analyzes has increased significantly during the last decade, there are still remarkably few studies that systematically examine the use of big data analyzes in decision-making (Power, 2014). Consequently, there is a lack of gathered knowledge about how Big Data is applied, more specific a lack of comparative studies of big data as an alternative to traditional ways of managing data. Policy processes are multi-layered, involving several actors at different levels of the politico-administrative system, including citizens’ participatory actions (need for innovative approaches (Geissel & Joas 2013), which generate large amounts of data on the same subject. Being able to find useful information and valuable knowledge form large databases, new opportunities arise, both for decision makers as well as other societal actors, including private markets. By establishing a data bank on decision-making in all local authorities in Finland, using available open source data from elected and appointed bodies, the project will contribute to the development of engaging decision-making in municipalities in general and specifically in the city of Turku – that will function as pilot case study in the first phase of this research.