Decision making in the public sector encompasses many topics of interest to the academic researcher--environmental issues, health and human services, budget planning, and so on. Expertise in data collection and analysis is critical to the policy-making process and can be provided by academic researchers. But the "real world" policymaker and the "ivory tower" academician often have difficulty working together. Both parties have been reluctant to venture into each other's unique worlds. Conflicts in values, goals, and methods often unnecessarily inhibit the forging of strong work relationships. As a result, both parties may miss opportunities to establish relationships that can be mutually beneficial in providing subject material for academic research and stronger public policy. This article discusses the reasons for this problem and suggests ways in which successful partnerships can be designed.