Unveiling how power manifests in street-level interactions: implications for value co-creation

This article explores how power manifests in interactions between street-level bureaucrats (SLBs) in Norway's Labour and Welfare Administration (Nav) and young adults in vulnerable situations. Using French and Raven's analytical framework of the six power bases, we analyse how these bases impact value co-creation. Our findings reveal that power can both enable and hinder co-creation, depending on how SLBs exercise discretion. While coercive and legitimate power may obstruct value creation, informational power can facilitate it. We argue that recognizing and addressing how power manifests in street-level interactions is crucial for fostering meaningful value co-creation in the public sector.