It is argued in this article that most of these papers are examples of how research of this nature should not be undertaken by scholars and that they represent an abdication of rather than a compromise of academic rigour. While scholars should be encouraged to write up their experiences of consultancy, this should be presented in a proper academic format rather than in consultant terminology. Indeed, some of the articles in top international Public Administration journals such as International Review of Administrative Sciences and Public Administration and Development are research articles that emanate out of consultancy reports. The difference between these international journals and this special edition is that the former journals' consultancy articles are presented in an internationally accepted academic format.