[Excerpt] The keys to organizational success are constantly changing. As the global economy evolves in the direction of knowledge-based enterprise, the ability to create and manage information is essential. The decisions that managers make have large operational and financial implications. However, managers often lack the information needed to make sound decisions. When faced with challenges in their organizations they may rely too heavily on personal experience or obsolete knowledge. Often, they turn to consultants for assistance. There are a large number of academics who study issues important to managers, yet the results of their work are often not communicated effectively to the practitioner audience. In addition, academics often find it difficult to gain access to organizations to obtain the data necessary to conduct high quality research. In short, there seems to be a ‘‘disconnect’’ between the needs of the business community and academic research. Though numerous calls for more academic/ practitioner collaboration have been made, there has been relatively little progress in achieving it.