Leveraging an Alliance Partner

What is an Alliance Partner & why do we use them?

• Alliance partners are TSL’s select group of technically skilled, pre-approved resources who we can work with on digital production projects.
• TSL partners are able to complete high quality work and meet the needs of our project timelines. TSL may choose to use alliance partners when our full-time team members do not have availability to complete work according to our project’s timeline/needs.
• We also work with a group of alliance partners where we do not have dedicated skillset/hours internally for social media consultation and content management - "TSL Academy". This group consists of Paul Krappman, Denise Bahs, Victoria Bianchini, Mimi Meagher. 

Which projects can we send to our Alliance Partners?

We can send most projects to our partners if our internal team members are scheduled to capacity. If a project is more custom (in style, length, complexity) and does not follow a traditional example, or requires additional collaboration time with the internal team or customer, we must outline expectations in the initial project request to ensure the Alliance Partner is comfortable completing the work and can provide an accurate quote.

If you are unsure if a project can be sent to an Alliance Partner, contact Norma Shepardson to evaluate it.

Who are our Alliance Partners?

How do I send a project to an Alliance Partner?

Follow "PROC-1601 Leveraging an Alliance Partner" below.

• Download the TSL Marketing Alliance Partner Work Order form

Step #	Owner	Time (mins)	Action
1	Project Lead		Determine that an Alliance Partner would be best option for the task/project. [Important note: Understand that their fee will impact the project’s overall profitability.]
2	Project Lead	10	Collect all required information from the customer and/or internal team for delivery to the Alliance Partner. [Important note: We must have full request outlined for execution prior to contacting an Alliance Partner]
3	Project Lead	3	Send an email to the appropriate Alliance Partner with the project request, due dates, and inquiry about estimated fee. Include/CC Norma Shepardson (nshepardson@tslmarketing.com) on the email.  Was project accepted?  If YES, inform Alliance Partner we will open a PO and then send formal agreement paperwork. Go to step #5  If NO, go to step #4
4	Project Lead	10	Hold conversation with the Alliance Partner to clarify project request, negotiate fees, due dates, etc. Was project accepted?   If YES, inform Alliance Partner we will open a PO and then send formal agreement paperwork. Go to step #5  If NO, consider new Alliance Partner resource and go back to step #3
5	Project Lead	3	Create a Clarizen Expense Sheet to record the Alliance Partner expense on the related project work item and request the PO. [Refer to “Clarizen Budget & Expense Management Manual: Create and Submit an Expense Sheet for Approval”]   Notes: If the Alliance Partner provided a close range of hours as an estimate (ex. 6-8 hours), submit the Expense Sheet for the higher number of hours. An Alliance Partner expense is a TSL-incurred cost and we should not increase the customer fee for the project/deliverable or assess a pass-through fee.
6	Project Lead	0.5	Receive email alert that the Clarizen Expense Sheet was approved by the Finance Director.
7	Project Lead	3	Complete the DOCU-XXXX Alliance Partner Work Order and email to the Alliance Partner for signature. Include/CC Accounts Payable and Receivable Specialist (jlewandowski@tslmarketing.com) on the email.
8	Alliance Partner	2	Sign Alliance Partner Work Order and email to Project Lead.
9	Project Lead and Accounts Payable and Receivable Specialist	0.5	Receive signed Alliance Partner Work Order.
10	Project Lead	3	Assign related Clarizen work item(s) to the correct Resources.
11	Project Lead	3	Send a meeting invitation to the Alliance Partner for project orientation, to discuss request and review resources. If requested/as needed, include internal SMEs. Follow up with a corresponding email with resources attached for review in advance.
12	Project Lead	15	Hold project orientation call with the Alliance Partner.
13	Alliance Partner	Variable	Deliver work output to the Project Lead.
14	Project Lead	1	Mark the Clarizen work items assigned to the Alliance Partner resources as “Complete”.
15	Alliance Partner	1	Email project Invoice to TSL Project Lead and Finance Manager (Jen Lewandowski (jlewandowski@tslmarketing.com).
16	Project Lead	1	Reply to Invoice email to Finance Manager confirming status of project (complete or incomplete).
17	Accounts Payable and Receivable Specialist	5	Note in Alliance Partner budget tracking that project was fulfilled and pay invoice.

Download the "TSL Marketing Alliance Partner Work Order" Form: https://www.tslmarketing.com/hubfs/TSL_Marketing_Alliance%20Partner%20Work%20Order.docx