Start with the money, not the level names.
Agree the one business outcome the ecosystem must create before redesigning levels.
Who is this for?
What are you doing?
This works for a net-new program, a legacy redesign, or a gut-check.
Do different parts of the business have different goals?
Large companies often take share in some products while opening new markets in others. Answer this diagnostic for one goal at a time.
What business outcome must the ecosystem create in the next 12–18 months?
Pick one to start — edit it below if you like.
Partner mix
Select every partner model you have today or need. A reseller, SI, MSP, ISV, referral partner, distributor, and cloud marketplace do not create value the same way.
What does the business need to happen next?
Incentives follow strategy. Pick the one or two priorities you'd actually defend — not every one on the list.
Resources
How much team and budget you can put behind partners. It caps how many pathways you can support well — a lean team spread across many partner types is flagged on the next step.
What data can you reliably validate today?
Market context
How your customers buy today. It shapes which partner pathways deserve the most emphasis — the program should follow the customer's buying path, not the other way around.
Why should the right partner invest in you?
Decision 1 · Partner value proposition. People, time, relationships, and reputation — in one or two sentences.
Pick one to start — edit it below if you like.
To continue, add: your situation, the business outcome, the partner value proposition, your partner mix, a growth priority, resources, data readiness, market context.