Patricia Franklin - The Effective Use of Subject Matter Experts in Serious Games
Working with Subject-Matter Experts
-
Upload
larry-kunz -
Category
Business
-
view
465 -
download
2
description
Transcript of Working with Subject-Matter Experts
![Page 2: Working with Subject-Matter Experts](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062614/5479c2d1b37959932b8b482e/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
About Me
• More than 30 years in Tech Comm– Software documentation– Marketing– Project management– Consulting
• Fellow, Society for Technical Communication (STC)
![Page 3: Working with Subject-Matter Experts](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062614/5479c2d1b37959932b8b482e/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
What We’ll Cover Today
• Who are SMEs?• What do SMEs do for me?• How can I work most
effectively with SMEs?
MorgueFile: earl53
![Page 4: Working with Subject-Matter Experts](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062614/5479c2d1b37959932b8b482e/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Who are SMEs?
• Their role• Typical characteristics• The nature of their work• What their work environment is like
![Page 5: Working with Subject-Matter Experts](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062614/5479c2d1b37959932b8b482e/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
What SMEs Do for Us
• You need knowledge• Your SME has knowledge
• Your SME’s knowledgemight not be user-centered
• Your SME won’t always communicate well
![Page 6: Working with Subject-Matter Experts](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062614/5479c2d1b37959932b8b482e/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Working Effectively with SMEs
• Building a working relationship• Preparing for your meeting (interview)• What to do during the interview• What to do after the interview• Conducting effective reviews
![Page 7: Working with Subject-Matter Experts](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062614/5479c2d1b37959932b8b482e/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Building a Working Relationship
• Help the SME understand you• Know both of your roles• Set ground rules so that expectations
are aligned
![Page 8: Working with Subject-Matter Experts](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062614/5479c2d1b37959932b8b482e/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Preparing
• Know the subject–Talk with your colleagues–Read up–Get whatever information you can
ahead of time–Show that you care
![Page 9: Working with Subject-Matter Experts](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062614/5479c2d1b37959932b8b482e/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Preparing
• Know what you need• Know who is the right SME is
He or she is the one who:–Knows the subject well–Explains things well–Has the right amount of authority
• Food never hurts
![Page 10: Working with Subject-Matter Experts](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062614/5479c2d1b37959932b8b482e/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
The Interview
• Be on time• Get to the point
– Don’t waste time– But let the SME set the pace
• Be interested• Ask questions to clarify
– “What if” – from a user’s point of view– Validate your assumptions
![Page 11: Working with Subject-Matter Experts](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062614/5479c2d1b37959932b8b482e/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Working cross-culturally
• When meeting with your SME:– Err on the side of formality– Speak slowly and clearly
• Also consider:– Time– Personal/business life– Holidays– Loyalty
![Page 12: Working with Subject-Matter Experts](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062614/5479c2d1b37959932b8b482e/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
After the Interview
• Thank the SME for his or her time• Identify other SMEs for additional
information• Agree on how to handle follow-up
questions• Mention the next step
![Page 13: Working with Subject-Matter Experts](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062614/5479c2d1b37959932b8b482e/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Conducting Reviews
Common problems:• SMEs say they’re too busy• SMEs are hard to reach• SMEs comment on the wrong things• SMEs’ comments aren’t helpful
Where did you get this? Does it really work this way?No!
???
![Page 14: Working with Subject-Matter Experts](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062614/5479c2d1b37959932b8b482e/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Conducting Reviews
Help SMEs by:• Stating clearly what they need to review• Scheduling online reviews • Changing the culture
Try holding reviews that are:• More focused• More frequent• Less formal
![Page 15: Working with Subject-Matter Experts](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062614/5479c2d1b37959932b8b482e/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Summary
To work effectively with SMEs:• Prepare, prepare, prepare• Respect them as professionals…
…and as people• Know what you require• Always make expectations clear
![Page 16: Working with Subject-Matter Experts](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062614/5479c2d1b37959932b8b482e/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Some Final Thoughts
• Never give the SME a reason to think that:– Your work is insignificant– You are insignificant
• You might be the only person who has the whole story