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Join the Institute today as a professional member and as a benefit, you will receive The BRMP® Guide to the BRM Body of Knowledge eBook! This is a valuable business relationship management professional development and training resource! It is also available for purchase.
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February 2015
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This periodical, full of tips and useful articles for today's Business Relationship Managers, is brought to you as a benefit of the free BRM Explorers™ membership. If you are a member, we hope you enjoy this month's publication and share it with your colleagues!
Did someone share this newsletter with you, but you are not a BRM Explorer yet? Embark on the exciting journey of professional development and accelerated career growth! Become a member of our rapidly growing BRM Explorers™ community today and join over 10,000 leading business executive professionals around the globe, who stay informed on the latest BRM trends and upcoming events. Welcome aboard!
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BRMConnect 2015 Schedule Revealed!
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While working tirelessly to provide you an absolutely amazing experience, we have finalized an initial draft of the BRMConnect 2015 agenda! Download it, share a copy with your peers, and buy your conference pass now! The BRM profession's best and brightest will all be there. This is our inaugural conference and a one-of-a-kind global professional development and networking event. Don't miss it! There are still some tickets available, but seats are filling fast!
>> View Schedule
The world's first networking and professional development event for business relationship managers! BRMConnect 2015 will take place in Portland, OR on May 26-28, 2015 for the BRM community. Interactive workshops, led by BRM industry experts will leave attendees with knowledge of the latest trends and the most important developments in the art and practice of BRM.
>> Register now
Take advantage of the amazing offer on this bundle! Through a very special arrangement with Service Management Art, BRMI member's bundled price for the class and BRMConnect 2015 conference pass is the same as the normal price of the BRMP class and exam alone! Yes, if you are a BRMI member and decide to attend the pre-conference BRMP class, your BRMConnect pass will be effectively free.
>>Learn more
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February's Member Spotlight: Jeremy Byrne
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1. How did you get into business relationship management? 
Byrne: I worked my way around the technical teams within the IT Department at
the University, moving from Desktop Support to Developer to Server Administrator. With always having an emphatic view point, I was often the point of customer engagement and ended up in an account manager role where I was managing, selling, invoicing and reviewing the services that we delivered both internally and externally. At the same time, I was completing my Master's Degree in Management and Leadership in Higher Education, which was giving me more skills in strategic management and business convergence. It was then that I noticed a gap that needed to be filled with a more in-depth business relationship management role than defined by ITIL®. After researching for better alternatives, I adopted the Business Relationship Management Institute's definition of the Business Relationship Manager role and completed the specialist training to help me.
2. What do you love most about business relationship management?
Byrne: I love being able to solve problems and add value to areas of the business, especially to those who have always suffered from lack of engagement with the IT Department. It's always refreshing for those involved to work together, listen to each other, and formulate a plan to improve business value which effect the business, IT partners, and in turn, the end customer (in my case the students). I feel there is a lot of job satisfaction to be had in this role, I just wish I had more resources to meet the business demand and to be able to move more quickly. We are not yet operating at the strategic partner level with a majority of our partners, but that is something I am looking forward to the most.
3. Where do you draw inspiration from, for work?
Byrne: I get inspiration from many sources within the University. We have inspirational leaders who have a clear vision that we are all contributing to help achieve. I'm also inspired by fellow Business Relationship Managers, which makes BRMI such a good resource for me. It's great to hear from people who have achieved the strategic partner status after putting in the groundwork that we are currently undertaking and are now achieving some really exciting benefits.
4. How do you handle demand management within your organization?
Byrne: We handle demand management through prioritization of projects and resources, which, depending on the scope, are decided at differing levels of governance through committee meetings and senior management groups. In my role, I help write the business cases with the partners to inform these groups of the work required and the impact it will have in the best possible way, so they can make their decision easily. We know when the peaks and troughs are in our business, as every summer we lose 5,000 end users as the students graduate and every September we gain 5,000 more as the new undergraduates enroll. It certainly proves challenging when they come with three or more devices they want to integrate with our systems on day one!
5. What do you value most about your BRMI membership?
Byrne: The high quality and depth of resources available are really useful. Before I signed up, I saw a few snippets via LinkedIn and I was worried that once I signed up there wouldn't be much more than I had already seen. Luckily, I was very pleasantly surprised to find a virtual treasure trove of information. I have spent hours reading and I have incorporated many of the ideas into my day-to-day role of being a BRM. The other huge benefit is the community of people on there, helping and advising on all issues relating to BRM. This network of people is invaluable and I hope to build up on my professional relationships I am making through the BRMI.
6. When you're not working, what do you like to do?
Byrne: When I am not working I love to spend time with my family, cooking, taking long walks in the English countryside and traveling to exotic locations to experience new cultures and food. Holiday destinations are mainly picked by the food they have. I've been to over 30 countries and I'm still hungry. :-)
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BRMI was incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in February 2013. This month we celebrate this two year milestone! As a part of that celebration, we are hosting a giveaway! Now through March 6, you have a chance to win a FREE BRMConnect 2015 conference ticket valued at $1,300. To enter, click here.
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Volunteering and leading activities inside the Institute will build your leadership skills and give you an opportunity to help other BRMs succeed. At BRMI, volunteers are leaders! BRMI leaders are BRM legends, who enjoy great respect of their peers and managers and are heroes of the global BRM community they passionately serve helping others succeed, as they advance their own organizations and rapidly progress in their careers. If you think you have what it takes to lead or have questions about BRMI leadership opportunities, send us an email. We are happy to speak to you and help you move from purpose to impact.
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Covanta - Morristown, NJ
Are you looking for a business relationship management opportunity? Or looking to hire a business relationship manager? Check out our BRMI Job Boards!
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Events
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BRMI Webinars & Events
Member Privilege
BRMI members can view any archived webinar at any time! Not a member? Join now!
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Date
| Topic | Presenter | |
March 2-6, 2015
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Online Business Relationship Management Professional (BRMP®) Course
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March 9, 16, 23, 2015
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Online Business Relationship Management Professional (BRMP®) Course
| The Merlyn Group
| March 30, April 6, April 13, 2015
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Online Business Relationship Management Professional (BRMP®) Course
| The Merlyn Group
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May 24-26, 2015
Portland, OR
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Service Management Art BRMP Class and Exam
At BRMConnect 2015
| Service Management Art
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May 29, 2015
Portland, OR
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The Merlyn Group Class
At BRMConnect 2015
| The Merlyn Group
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*Please note that these events or course listings are hosted by the sponsor, and not BRMI.
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Ask an Expert!
Extracted from the BRMI Member's Online Campus
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Question:
How do you influence stakeholders to move to a strategic way of thinking rather than tactical short term fixes? Some of my business customers really buy in to the idea of a roadmap which runs out 3 years or more. Others only see months or weeks ahead. It would be great to hear from people who have turned short term to strategic thinking.
Our Expert, Aaron Barnes, Says:
A related comment you or others might be hearing is, "Why are we talking about what you are going to deliver over the next three years, when your department can't deliver what I need right now?"
A good tactic to get to three year strategic conversation is to use a dual approach. Start with a review of current opportunities and establish priority and potential delivery dates. Show your business partners you care most about their short term needs and have a plan for solution delivery. Follow that effort up with conversations about a three year plan. Explain that part of your role is to shape the provider (IT as an example) to deliver to the business's needs. Explain that having a three year strategic plan will help the provider build out a capabilities roadmap and start planning what the provider needs to do to be able to meet the requested delivery dates in the future. Explain the benefits of planning ahead - improved quality, improved delivery, etc...
Our Expert, Vaughan Merlyn, Says:
First, it's a perennial question and issue. Many companies seem biased towards a short term, reactive style. Getting a more "Strategic" view, with the longer time-frame that typically implies is an ongoing challenge for many BRM roles.
A reality is that a significant change in leadership (e.g., new CEO, new CIO) is sometimes the catalyst for a major and potentially rapid shift in the management style.
Absent a change in leadership, it's often a market crisis of some sort, or a significant new competitive or regulatory force that catalyzes the shift.
For the BRM I think some of the clichés apply:
Find and sell the "pain" (cost of status quo, risks and threats, opportunities not being seized, etc.)
Find and sell the "remedy" ("here's some strategic possibilities, opportunities or threats.")
Lay out some first steps-at least an executive workshop or retreat to explore strategic options.
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