BRM purpose and objectives

In terms of a formal service management capability, the real intent of BRM is to manage the life cycle of the relationship with its business partners and, ultimately, to be considered a critical stakeholder in any business unit (BU). For example, do the other parts of the company consider the IT service provider (SP) to be a critical relationship to how they run their part of the business day to day? Life cycle, in this case, means establishing, maintaining, and improving relationships. Consider that most companies cannot conduct their business without the help of IT, making IT and the IT SP a critical aspect of business operations. Having the role and capability of BRM in place, and accepted, positions IT as a (critical) partner within the overall company.

It is generally accepted that the IT SP desires to be considered as a partner with the other parts of the business it provides services or products for. For many, though, this is much easier said than...