Rather than focus on the transaction phase, which has its own set of challenges to overcome in estimating the true potential value of a company, the focus should be on an area where most companies stumble during a merger - the critical transition phase. Experience with mergers in the past has taught us that while there are hundreds of specific tasks that need to be executed, and all successful transitions have three important elements in common: rigorous value measurement, speed, and communication. Are there any synergies in utilizing all three elements at once to create a successful merger?