The academic institution, in essence, acts as a buffer between the A.C. team and the client. The university or
college can either help or hinder the consulting team-client relationship. Many universities have established oncampus
consulting centers to facilitate business assistance and action research (see, for example, Armenakis
&Burdg, 1991). In the absence of such a center, the A.C. team may be entering new territory. At a minimum, the
A.C. team needs a clear understanding of how the university can support and assist the consulting project, as
well as how institutional policies, procedures, and leadership can interfere with implementation and completion
of the project.