What differentiates Synthesis Partnership
from other consultants?

Basically, you’re just strategic planners, right?

We simply need more space.
Why shouldn’t we just hire an architect?

Don’t graphic design firms do a good job
with institutional identity projects?

Couldn’t we just as well go to a business consultant for business planning and financial modeling?

What differentiates Synthesis Partnership from other consultants?
Synthesis Partnership integrates some commonly available services (strategic business and facility planning) with analysis and planning not easily found elsewhere (strategic identity and facility strategy, real-time financial modeling, guidance in cost-effective selection of other professionals). We begin by listening carefully to our clients. We determine the exact set of services required, and provide them in a comprehensive, integrated package. As a result, we sharply reduce the risk of costly misdirection, we build consensus among staff and governing board, and we facilitate results that can be truly transformational in their reflection of mission and identity.

Some of our clients have hired us to deal with an impending crisis or to start a new venture. Others have simply asked us to help them to a new level of success. Most have thought of our services as essential preparation for a fundraising effort (often at a level unprecedented for the organization). All have found that our services have brought them significant unanticipated benefits in assuring the primacy and success of their mission.

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Basically, you’re just strategic planners, right?
No. Strategic planning is often quite formulaic. When we guide traditional strategic planning exercises, we design the process with our clients to respond to their needs and culture.

Most organizations are either committed to a regular, ongoing multi-year strategic planning cycle, or they have not done much planning at all. For the former category, our work can build on a new or recent internally-produced strategic plan. For the latter we can provide an effective introduction to planning, either through a guided strategic planning process or through a thorough strategic analysis, supported by business or facility analysis and planning studies as required, and then help to shape a clear and achievable implementation plan.

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We simply need more space.
Why shouldn’t we just hire an architect?
If you have a small, well-defined building project that you need someone to design, there are no issues of identity or image involved, and you know whom to hire, by all means go directly to hiring an architect. Construction, however, is usually the most expensive solution to a problem. At Synthesis Partnership we have found that we can, on occasion, avoid construction entirely by re-defining the problem, or substantially change the nature of what is to be built by reexamining strategies, needs, existing resources, and opportunities.

When construction is indicated, we provide our clients with assistance not only in quantitative programming, but qualitative explorations of the institution’s identity and values.

With thorough preparation and project definition, architect selection, and development of a client-favorable contract we can improve quality while reducing risk, cost, and stress.

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Don’t graphic design firms do a good job with
institutional identity projects?
You will need a graphic design firm for the final expression of institutional brand identity in print media and signage. However, that is neither the beginning nor the end of the story.

We distinguish three phases in the development of a meaningful institutional identity program: identity concept, identity plan, and representation of identity. Even the best design firms rarely are prepared to address the first–and most critical–phase. Our strategic analysis shapes new perspectives in institutional self-awareness and determines the content and messages that the institution can most advantageously convey through expressions of brand identity.

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Couldn’t we just as well go to a business consultant for business planning and financial modeling?
If you are committed to a simple extension of your operations and just need to project and evaluate the financial implications or develop a straightforward marketing plan, a business consultant may be just the right place to go. If your business issues are tied up with considerations of governance, strategy, identity, facilities, or fundraising, however, independent exploration of business planning alone may not get at the critical issues. Our approach through integrated planning keeps business planning connected to program content. And we have extraordinary, real-time dynamic financial modeling tools that can transform your decision-making processes, helping you to avoid missed opportunities and expensive mistakes.

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