Synthesis is delivering a clear recommendation in 30-60 seconds that summarizes your analysis and tells the CEO what to do. It's not a summary of everything you discussed—it's the answer to the original question, supported by 2-3 key reasons.
| Duration | 30-60 seconds |
| When | End of case (interviewer asks "what do you recommend?") |
| Structure | Recommendation → 2-3 reasons → risks/next steps |
| Common Mistake | Summarizing the case instead of answering the question |
| Weight | 10-15% of case evaluation |
Use this structure every time:
| Component | Time | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Recommendation | 5-10 sec | "My recommendation is to enter the market." |
| 2. Key Reasons | 20-30 sec | "Three reasons: First… Second… Third…" |
| 3. Risks/Next Steps | 10-15 sec | "Key risk is… I'd want to validate…" |
"So we looked at the market size and found it was $2B. Then we analyzed the competition and saw there are 3 major players. We also looked at the client's capabilities and found they have strong distribution. The profit margin would be around 15%..."
Problem: Recaps the analysis but doesn't answer the question.
"My recommendation is to enter the market. Three reasons: First, the $2B market is growing 8% annually with fragmented competition. Second, our client's existing distribution network provides a cost advantage of 15% versus new entrants. Third, we can achieve 15% margins within 2 years. The main risk is competitor response—I'd recommend a pilot in the Midwest before full rollout."
Why it works: Leads with the answer, supports with evidence, acknowledges risk.
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Summarizing instead of recommending | Start with "My recommendation is…" |
| Being too long (2+ minutes) | Limit to 3 reasons, 60 seconds max |
| Forgetting the original question | Write it down at the start; answer it directly |
| Hedging too much ("It depends…") | Take a stance; acknowledge risks separately |
| No next steps or risks | Always mention what you'd validate |
Make a recommendation anyway with the information you have. State your key assumption: "Assuming the market research confirms X, my recommendation would be…" Interviewers want to see you take a stance.
Yes. Numbers make your recommendation concrete: "$5M profit in year 1" is stronger than "significant profit opportunity." Reference key calculations from your analysis.
Track key findings as you go. After each analysis area, note the main insight. When asked to synthesize, you'll have your 2-3 reasons ready without scrambling.
AI-powered case simulations that prompt you for synthesis and give real-time feedback on your delivery.
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