After partners agree on the value of the partnership, secure commitment from all of the partners. This can be formal, such as asking all partners to sign an agreement, or it can be more informal or smaller in scope. Informal commitments are built on individual relationships.

There are advantages and disadvantages to securing commitments formally and informally. Formal commitments establish a clear relationship, which makes the partnership easier to sustain on an organizational level. Yet personal relationships between partners can also strengthen the partnership and result in effective coordination. However, if those individuals leave the partnership, the commitment and coordination between partners may weaken if there is no formal commitment in place.