This study is about a comparison between two different professions in the welfare sector. Teachers and social workers are described in professional theory in the same professional category. This gives them similar qualities, such as autonomy and self-determination. Teachers have a credential that makes them exclusive in the field, which social worker lack. In the societal debate and in research it turns out that social workers have the ability to resist changes and influence management decisions, at the same time teachers did not. That appeared strange and needed an explanation.

The purpose of the study is to describe mechanisms and reasons for how teachers and social workers can act different. The question this study aims to answer is why can social workers mobilize their resources successfully but not teachers?

Using a qualitative method, data has been collected though semi-structured interviews with five social workers, five teachers, two managers in social service and two principals. A thematic analyze has been carried out using a framework of professional theory and the concept of jurisdiction and social closure. 

The result of this study shows a pattern where overall social workers are more like the professional logic and teachers tend to be more guided by the bureaucratic logic.