This post is one in a series that answers questions from viewers of the January 28 KnowledgeVision Google Hangout where we talked about the challenges of working with SMEs.

Question from Sarah:

Do you send SME’s pre-work or questions ahead of time or prefer to wait until you meet face-to-face? Best practices for this would be helpful.

Yes, if you think that your subject matter expert may need to assemble some materials for you or in any way prepare something to give you, you can send them an outline of your interview in advance. Usually, when a SME is asked to participate in a learning program they already understand their focus. However, you can send them questions before you meet with them is you want them to think about a specific topic in some detail, but it isn’t usually necessary.

If you need your SME to provide content for a system or process you’ve already outlined, it helps to provide that in advance so they can think about how their material is best presented in that format.

On the other hand, if I anticipate that the subject is difficult or complex, I ask for pre-work from the SME so I can prepare.

• Do they have articles or books that they’ve written that they can provide to you for background?
• Do they have best practices that they’ve codified and can give you with a template, list or system?
• Have they given a speech on the topic and have a slide presentation that would be helpful?
• Are there newspaper or journal articles written about them or their topic?

Ask them if they have those types of background materials because when you’ve done a little advance homework, you are more able to be focused in your questioning.

Essentially, anything that you can do to prepare both yourself and your SME for an in-depth interview session will help you both have a more productive session.