TY - JOUR T1 - Exploring the Use of Advertising Agency Review Consultants JF - Journal of Advertising Research JO - J Advert Res SP - 39 LP - 50 DO - 10.2501/JAR-42-1-39-50 VL - 42 IS - 1 AU - Fred K. Beard Y1 - 2002/01/01 UR - http://www.journalofadvertisingresearch.com/content/42/1/39.abstract N2 - The author investigates the often controversial role of advertising agency review consultants by focusing on (1) relationships between their use and client-ad agency relationship success, (2) reasons for consultant use, and (3) the extent to which consultants directly influence final review decisions. The results of a national survey indicate that advertisers who use review consultants evaluate the relationship with their advertising agencies neither more nor less favorably compared to advertisers who manage their own reviews. Review consultants are most commonly hired because advertisers lack the in-house resources they need to conduct a review themselves. The results also indicate that most advertisers who use consultants disagree that they have a direct influence on the final decision regarding which agency to hire. ER -