Although the advantages of being part of an academic consulting team seem to outweigh the disadvantages,
the intra-team relationship must be carefully managed. The quality of relationships within the consulting team
can directly affect the quality of their work; unresolved conflicts could paralyze the team. The team members'
ability to interact among themselves and with other stakeholders will ultimately determine the team's
effectiveness (Cummings, Mohrman, &Mitroff, 1989). Conflict within an A.C. team detracts from the team's
professional image and undermines client trust. The fact that team members have very different types of
technical expertise, client interaction skills, career stage pressures, and that they will at times be working under
considerable time pressure, may cause friction among team members. Social and professional compatibility is
an important consideration when team recruitment and staffing decisions are made.