Franchise Lead Handbook

The Franchise Lead Role

A Franchise Lead is the operational owner of a franchise's entire EUA sheet. You hold the widest volunteer-level authority in the project. Structural integrity, classification accuracy, volunteer coordination, tab visibility, TIM approval — all of it rests with you.

This is a governance role. Franchise Leads are appointed from the pool of demonstrated Tab Lead performers. The expectation is that you know the EUA's methodology, understand its structural constraints, and are prepared to make decisions rather than defer them. You escalate what lies outside your authority. Everything within it is yours to resolve.

Core responsibilities

Authority and Governance Boundaries

Franchise-level authority is the widest available to a volunteer in the EUA. It is also precisely bounded. The distinction between what you decide and what you escalate is not ambiguous — it is defined.

What you are authorised to do

What you are not authorised to do

• ✕
  Edit system tabs (REG, CHG) These are Lead Archivist access only. Do not open, edit, or unhide them under any circumstance.
• ✕
  Activate relational tabs (XMD, RGT, EDC, CHR, LOC, TIM) Relational tabs are hidden by default and activated only by the Lead Archivist following the Relational Tab Activation Protocol. You initiate the request; you do not activate the tab yourself.
• ✕
  Modify schema or field definitions All schema changes require a Schema Change Request approved by the Lead Archivist. If you believe a field is missing or incorrect, submit an SCR — do not improvise a local fix.
• ✕
  Create new content tabs without Lead Archivist approval The tab architecture is defined in the Tab Structure Master. New tab types require explicit Lead Archivist approval before creation.
• ✕
  Override universal classification rules Franchise-specific notes in OVW may clarify methodology for your franchise — they may not contradict the universal classification rules that apply across all franchises.
• ✕
  Rename, reorder, or structurally modify any tab Tab names, order, and structure are fixed by the Tab Structure Master. Visibility (hide/unhide) is the only structural control available to Franchise Leads.

Setting Up a Franchise Sheet

A franchise sheet setup follows a defined sequence. Every step has a governance purpose. Complete them in order before beginning data entry or volunteer recruitment.

1. 1
   Duplicate the master franchise template

   All franchise sheets originate from the master template. Do not build from scratch. The template encodes the correct tab order, column schema, and default visibility state — any deviation from it constitutes an unauthorised structural modification.

2. 2
   Add Franchise Lead contact details to the OVW tab

   OVW is the administrative home of the franchise sheet. Your name or handle, contact method, and date of appointment are recorded here. This establishes accountability and provides a contact point for the Lead Archivist and volunteers.

3. 3
   Confirm the default visible tabs and hide everything else

   The eleven tabs visible by default are: OVW · NOV · SHO · COM · AUD · MUS · FLM · LTV · NFI · CON · KRE. All other content tabs remain hidden until qualifying content exists to justify visibility. REG and CHG must remain hidden and untouched.

4. 4
   Establish franchise-specific notes in OVW

   Document naming conventions, known continuity structures (seasons, arcs, publication eras), and any unique publisher or platform considerations specific to this franchise. All notes must be descriptive, not interpretive. Any deviation from standard EUA methodology must be escalated to and approved by the Lead Archivist before being recorded as authoritative.

5. 5
   Read all core governance documents before making any structural decisions

   The Tab Structure Master, Field Specification Master, Tab-by-Tab Methodology Reference, and Governance Charter are the authoritative references for every decision you will make as Franchise Lead. Classification decisions made without consulting them are not defensible.

6. 6
   Conduct an initial data integrity sweep

   Before assigning Tab Leads or opening the sheet to Contributors, spot-check 10–20 entries across visible tabs. Confirm correct identifiers, valid source URLs, neutral descriptive notes, and no system field edits. Document findings in OVW. This baseline assessment defines the immediate quality-control workload.

7. 7
   Prepare starter tasks and model entries

   Three model entries demonstrating correct field usage, neutral language, and complete sourcing are the foundation of Tab Lead and Contributor onboarding. A list of immediate, achievable starter tasks — verify five identifiers, add one entry, check three availability fields — activates new volunteers without overwhelming them.

Managing Your Tab Structure

Tab visibility is the primary structural control available to Franchise Leads. Exercising it correctly — unhiding tabs when content justifies it, keeping them hidden when it does not — directly determines whether the franchise sheet is useful or misleading to readers and Contributors.

Visibility decision rules

Unhide a content tab only when all three conditions are met: qualifying content exists, the volume of entries justifies the tab being visible, and visibility improves navigability for readers and Contributors. Document every visibility decision in OVW.

When to keep a tab hidden

• Content is speculative, unverified, or not yet officially published
• The tab would contain only one or two entries that could reasonably sit in an existing visible tab
• The volume of entries does not yet justify a dedicated tab's navigational weight
• Unhiding would create an impression of content where the record is thin or incomplete

Tabs that are never within Franchise Lead control

Classification Authority

Classification adjudication is one of the most consequential responsibilities of the Franchise Lead. Tab Leads resolve the clear cases. They escalate to you when classification is genuinely ambiguous. Your job is to apply existing methodology to those escalations — and escalate further to the Lead Archivist only when the methodology does not resolve the question.

The rules you adjudicate against

The following principles govern every classification decision across all tabs. These are universal — they apply equally to your franchise and every other franchise in the EUA. Franchise-specific notes in OVW may clarify their application; they do not override them.

• Publication order governs entry placement — never narrative chronology
• Classification must be descriptive, not interpretive
• Eligibility requires official publication or licensing — fan-made material is always excluded
• Promotional content is excluded unless it meets explicit qualifying criteria in the methodology
• All entries must be sourced and verifiable before integration
• The word "canon" does not appear in EUA metadata — use the rights-holder's designation or mark the field Undesignated

The adjudication process

1. 1
   Evaluate the Tab Lead's escalation documentation

   A well-formed escalation from a Tab Lead includes the EUA ID, the tab name, a description of the ambiguity, evidence gathered, and an assessment of the most likely resolution. If the escalation is incomplete, return it to the Tab Lead with a request for the missing elements before proceeding.

2. 2
   Apply the Tab-by-Tab Methodology Reference

   Check the eligibility definition for the relevant tab and adjacent tabs. Most Tab Lead escalations resolve at this step when the methodology is applied carefully. If they do not, proceed to step 3.

3. 3
   Check for franchise-specific precedent

   Review existing entries in your franchise sheet for similar works. Consistent application of established precedent is the default position. Document the precedent you applied in your decision note.

4. 4
   Document your decision and return it to the Tab Lead

   Record what you decided, the reasoning, and the methodology applied in Contributor Notes. Return the decision to the Tab Lead with the classification confirmed or the placement corrected. The entry is removed from HOLD and integrated.

5. 5
   Escalate to the Lead Archivist if the methodology does not resolve it

   Submit your documented reasoning alongside the escalation. The entry remains on HOLD. Cases warranting Lead Archivist escalation: a new media format that fits no existing tab, a classification decision that would contradict established methodology, or a cross-franchise relational question.

When to escalate to the Lead Archivist

Approving and Escalating

Two distinct approval workflows sit at Franchise Lead level: TIM entry approval, and relational tab activation requests. Both require structured evidence evaluation. Neither can be improvised or deferred without documentation.

TIM entry approval

Timeline entries are classified by certainty level. The level determines who approves them.

When approving a Low or Medium certainty TIM entry:

• Review all evidence the Tab Lead has cited — do not rely on their assessment alone
• Confirm the certainty level is appropriate to the evidence quality
• Document your approval decision, the evidence evaluated, and the date in Contributor Notes
• If the evidence does not support the certainty level assigned, return it to the Tab Lead for reassessment or escalate to the Lead Archivist

Relational tab activation

You identify when a relational tab is ready for activation. You submit the proposal. The Lead Archivist approves it. The four-step workflow is defined in the Relational Tab Activation Protocol — the summary below covers your specific responsibilities in that process.

1. 1
   Confirm all activation criteria are met

   Sufficient relational density for the franchise (minimum 20 qualifying relational entities), evidence across multiple media types, and confirmed volunteer capacity to maintain the tab ongoing. If any criterion is unmet, do not submit the activation request.

2. 2
   Prepare the evidence package

   A list of proposed relational entries, source URLs for each, justification for relational relevance, demonstration of cross-media recurrence, and identification of any potential TIM or CHR conflicts. Incomplete evidence packages delay approval.

3. 3
   Submit the activation request to the Lead Archivist

   Include the evidence package, a preliminary relational list, and a maintenance plan confirming who will maintain the tab and at what cadence. The request enters Governance Contributor review before reaching the Lead Archivist for final approval.

4. 4
   Log the activation in OVW and the Governance Evolution Log on approval

   Once the Lead Archivist approves, the tab is activated. Record the activation date, the approving authority, and the scope of the tab in both OVW and the Governance Evolution Log. Assign maintenance responsibilities and brief the relevant Tab Lead.

Schema Change Requests

When a field is missing, incorrectly defined, or a structural change to the schema is needed, the Franchise Lead initiates an SCR. Do not implement a local workaround — document the issue and submit the request through the formal process.

Escalation directions

Managing Tab Leads

Tab Leads are your operational team. Their performance directly determines the quality of the franchise sheet. Your job is to set clear expectations, provide the tools they need to work independently, and resolve the cases they cannot resolve themselves.

Recruiting and assigning Tab Leads

• Identify volunteers with demonstrated competence from Contributor activity — accuracy, consistency, and the ability to work to the schema without constant guidance
• Match Tab Leads to tabs based on their knowledge of the relevant media format and their declared interest
• Provide every new Tab Lead with the Tab Lead Handbook, three model entries specific to their tab, and a list of immediate tasks
• Schedule an early check-in — within the first two weeks — to review their initial entries and establish working patterns
• Record the Tab Lead assignment in OVW with their name or handle and the tabs they own

Ongoing Tab Lead support

• Review Tab Lead escalations promptly — delayed responses create backlogs and stall Contributor work
• Provide decisions, not just feedback — a Tab Lead escalation requires a documented resolution, not an invitation to keep deliberating
• Conduct periodic check-ins to assess tab health and identify whether a Tab Lead needs additional guidance or resource
• Identify Tab Leads who are underperforming early — schema drift, delayed reviews, or undocumented corrections are signals, not one-off events

Resolving Tab Lead conflicts

When a classification or methodology disagreement arises between two Tab Leads, or between a Tab Lead and a Contributor, you are the first point of resolution. Apply the methodology. Document the decision. If the disagreement touches on a point of methodology that has broader implications, escalate to the Lead Archivist rather than improvising a franchise-specific rule.

Franchise Sheet Health

Franchise sheet health is an ongoing operational responsibility. A healthy sheet is structurally sound, consistently formatted across all tabs, and free of the incremental drift that accumulates when review is infrequent.

Health maintenance tasks

What a healthy franchise sheet looks like

Documentation and Change Control

Every structural decision, classification adjudication, TIM approval, and escalation you make must be documented. The EUA's governance model depends on decisions being traceable. Undocumented changes are governance violations — not oversights.

Where decisions are recorded

Transparency standards

• No undocumented changes — every decision affecting the sheet leaves a record
• No silent corrections — if a Tab Lead error is corrected, the correction is noted with what changed and why
• No interpretive placement without evidence — if the source cannot be cited, the placement note cannot be made
• All Contributors credited — OVW, CON, and contributor fields in the data tabs must reflect accurate attribution
• All schema deviations go through the SCR process — no local improvisation

Community and Communication

Franchise Leads set the communication standard for their franchise. The quality of your interactions with Tab Leads and Contributors determines the quality of the volunteer environment — and therefore the quality of the data that environment produces.

Communication standards

• All feedback is specific, actionable, and evidence-based — vague guidance and unexplained decisions are not acceptable at any level
• Escalation discipline is modelled, not just required — if you escalate clearly and promptly, Tab Leads will too
• Conflict between volunteers is resolved by applying methodology and citing governance documents, not by assertion
• Communication is calm and professional regardless of the complexity or frustration of the case

Volunteer recognition

The CON tab is managed by the Franchise Lead and records contributors who have made meaningful, verifiable contributions — on an opt-in basis only. Contributions eligible for acknowledgement are those that result in actual data improvements: corrections, new entries, verified availability data, or substantive research links. Comments, opinions, and participation in discussions are not eligible. There is no ranking or ordering of contributors. Recognition acknowledges the contribution; it creates no ongoing obligation or role expectation.

Maintaining the volunteer pipeline

• Keep a current list of available starter tasks for new Contributors — tasks that are specific, achievable in under an hour, and produce visible value
• Respond to Contributor Intake Forms promptly — a volunteer who submits a form and hears nothing within a week is likely a volunteer lost
• Identify Tab Lead candidates from active, high-quality Contributors — the pipeline from Contributor to Tab Lead is your primary recruitment mechanism
• Reinforce neutrality and evidence-based standards consistently — a franchise sheet whose contributors understand the standards produces far fewer correction cycles than one that corrects reactively

KRE — the research hub

The Key Resources tab is your franchise's curated reference library. Populate it with official franchise wikis, reputable fan databases, publisher catalogues, and established reading-order resources that help Contributors find accurate data efficiently. All resources must be reputable, stable, and free of commercial incentives. Contributors may suggest resources — you decide what is added.

Growth Path — Franchise Lead to Governance Contributor

The Franchise Lead role is the senior operational position in the EUA volunteer structure. Progression beyond it moves into the governance layer — contributing to schema, methodology, and cross-franchise consistency. Progression decisions rest with the Lead Archivist and are based on demonstrated competence across multiple quarters, not length of tenure.

What readiness for Governance Contributor looks like