““When a consultant delivers a well-synthesized recommendation, she usually has done two things well. First, she has put the recommendations in context. Instead of simply recommending that the client do X, a well-synthesized recommendation will recommend that the client do X because it will have ripple effects Y and Z, both of which are favorable. There may be concern about issue A, but the benefits of ripple effects Y and Z outweigh it. I call this process of highlighting all the ripple-effect ramifications of a particular course of action connecting the dots. Great synthesis connects all the dots, clarifying what likely will happen if the client follows—or ignores—the recommendation.””
