Björn Blom is Professor of Social Work at the Department of Social Work, Umeå University, Sweden. His research interests are organisations, professions, knowledge-use, evaluation and addiction treatment.

Lars Evertsson has a PhD in Sociology and is Associate Professor in Social Work at the Department of Social Work, Umeå University, Sweden. His main research area concerns the interface between the development of welfare professions and the welfare state.

Marek Perlinski, PhD, is a senior lecturer in Social Work at the Department of Social Work, Umeå University, Sweden. His research interests include the professional and organisational aspects of public service social services.