Q+A with Business Relationship Manager Philip Doll

This article may reflect the Business Relationship Managers ‘ initial thinking, which may experience changes as the BRM role develops.

What is Business Relationship Management (BRM) at SMPH?

Business Relationship Managers (BRMs) at SMPH play a critical role in connecting departments with IT to ensure that technology solutions align with the strategic objectives of the organization. They work closely with various teams to understand their unique needs, manage stakeholder expectations, and facilitate effective communication with IT. BRMs are instrumental in identifying opportunities for process improvement and in developing business cases for new technology investments, ensuring that IT resources are allocated effectively.

By building strong, collaborative relationships, BRMs help guide strategic IT decisions that enhance operational efficiency and support the broader mission of SMPH. Their focus is on delivering value through thoughtful alignment of IT initiatives with business goals, ultimately contributing to the success of the school’s various departments and programs.

Q+A with Business Relationship Manager Philip Doll

What inspired you to step into this position?

BRM wasn’t a title I had awareness of prior to its recent addition to the SMPH job catalogue.  When the BRM position was first posted, I curiously read the description and discovered that it lined up with the parts of my work in Pediatrics that I was finding most gratifying. I realized this role could be an opportunity to do more of the work I enjoy across a broader base.

What will your initial work portfolio look like as a BRM, and which teams or departments will you be supporting?

As BRMs, our initial phase involved engagement with department leaders and local IIT groups through introductory meetings and discovery sessions.  We gained valuable insights into our business partners’ needs and challenges through those sessions, and the BRM team has already leveraged that knowledge to provide strategic feedback to IIT leaders and propose tailored solutions that address the pain points identified by department leaders. Our goal is to bridge the gap between business needs and IIT capabilities by fostering strong partnerships that drive innovation and create impact. Towards that goal, we’ve invested in comprehensive BRM training. This ongoing professional development enhances our ability to create value for our partners, ensuring we stay at the forefront of best practices in business relationship management.

My department Business Partners (as of August):

  1. Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
  2. Wisconsin Reading Center (part of Ophthalmology)
  3. Obstetrics and Gynecology
  4. Pediatrics
  5. Family Medicine and Community Health
  6. Neurological Surgery
  7. Neurology
  8. Psychiatry

What are you most looking forward to in this new role?

Working with a wide array of people across the school, both in and out of IIT, is easily my favorite part of this new role.  Numbers of staff, faculty and students across the school were in many ways to me, just that – numbers, but since the Spring, I’ve come to better understand the true size of our school.  And no matter how big it seems to be, with each new group or unit I work with, I discover yet another team of talented and passionate people.  I believe this is something we all need to celebrate much more, and I hope to use a small part of the BRM role to help highlight to our Business Partners the great people in SMPH IIT and the work they do.

Is there a key message you’d like to share about your new role?

The end-goal of a BRM is to become a true Strategic Partner for their business partner, proactively maintaining alignment between the strategic priorities of the business and the resources and operational objectives of IIT.  This is a long-term goal, and 4+ years isn’t an unreasonable amount of time to achieve it.  In some cases, that high-level partnership may not ever be achieved; regardless, there are multiple levels to what a BRM can be for their partners, and we strive to create impact by helping our partners however we can, stacking those successes while simultaneously building upon and maturing partner relationships.

Any other thoughts or information you’d like to add?

The BRM role is new within both SMPH and UW-Madison, and it’s expected that people will have questions about our role.  The BRM team welcomes those questions, and I personally invite you to provide me feedback as we cross paths.  Lastly, some plugs – I had the opportunity to join two campus committees this year, the IT Leaders Development (ITLD) Steering Committee* and the Information & Technology Leadership Conference (ITLC) Committee**.  If you are interested in learning more about the UW IT Leaders Development program(s) or if you or someone you know would consider giving a talk at this year’s ITLC (Dec 3rd), please reach out with any questions and look out for the call for speakers in the very near future.

* – Amy Diestler of SMPH is the co-lead of ITLD and a great resource as well.
https://it.wisc.edu/it-community/committees-groups/uw-it-connects/it-leadership-program/

** – SMPH representation on this committee includes Nicole Senter (committee chair) and Dave Perez.   https://itlc.it.wisc.edu/