How do you evaluate and optimize the performance and outcomes of IT and business relationships?

1 Define and track key metrics

One of the first steps to evaluate and optimize your IT and business relationships is to define and track key metrics that reflect the value and impact of your collaboration. These metrics should be aligned with your strategic objectives, customer needs, and stakeholder expectations. They should also be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Some examples of BRM metrics are customer satisfaction, business value realization, innovation rate, and relationship maturity.

2 Communicate and report regularly

Another important step to evaluate and optimize your IT and business relationships is to communicate and report regularly on your progress, achievements, challenges, and feedback. Communication and reporting should be transparent, timely, consistent, and tailored to your audience. They should also include both qualitative and quantitative data, as well as stories and testimonials that showcase the benefits and outcomes of your BRM efforts. Communication and reporting can help you build trust, credibility, and engagement with your business partners, as well as identify and address any gaps or issues.

3 Review and adjust your plans

A third step to evaluate and optimize your IT and business relationships is to review and adjust your plans based on your metrics, communication, and feedback. Reviewing and adjusting your plans can help you ensure that you are meeting your goals, delivering value, and satisfying your customers. It can also help you adapt to changing needs, priorities, and opportunities. Reviewing and adjusting your plans should involve both IT and business stakeholders, as well as external experts or consultants if needed.

4 Foster a culture of collaboration

A fourth step to evaluate and optimize your IT and business relationships is to foster a culture of collaboration within and across your teams and organizations. A culture of collaboration can help you create a shared vision, mission, and values, as well as a common language, framework, and methodology for BRM. It can also help you promote mutual respect, trust, and understanding, as well as encourage innovation, creativity, and learning. Fostering a culture of collaboration can involve various activities, such as workshops, trainings, events, recognition, and rewards.

5 Seek feedback and improvement

A fifth step to evaluate and optimize your IT and business relationships is to seek feedback and improvement from your customers, stakeholders, peers, and mentors. Feedback and improvement can help you assess your strengths and weaknesses, as well as identify areas for growth and development. They can also help you learn from your successes and failures, as well as from best practices and benchmarks. Seeking feedback and improvement should be an ongoing process, as well as a shared responsibility between IT and business leaders.

6 Leverage technology and tools

A sixth step to evaluate and optimize your IT and business relationships is to leverage technology and tools that can support and enhance your BRM processes. Technology and tools can help you automate, streamline, and standardize your BRM activities, such as planning, tracking, communicating, reporting, reviewing, and adjusting. They can also help you collect, analyze, and visualize your BRM data, as well as share and access it easily and securely. Some examples of technology and tools for BRM are CRM systems, dashboards, surveys, collaboration platforms, and analytics software.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?