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Subject:Re: Tips on how to talk to SMEs From:Brian Bertrand <bertran -dot- de -dot- st -dot- jean -at- gmail -dot- com> To:"techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Wed, 13 Jul 2011 10:13:20 -0400
When I was working in a CIO's office, I finally got the engineers to the
point where a new IT project was announced, they would tell the PM that they
need to "Get Brian, so he can be involved on the ground floor." My presence
in the meetings acted as a filter between the technical experts and the
Directorate, so that actual communication occured between both groups. It
also meant the IT team didnt have to do any last minute hail mary passes on
project or product documentation.
On Wed, Jul 13, 2011 at 9:48 AM, Ruth Sessions
<ruthsessions03051 -at- yahoo -dot- com>wrote:
> The engineer might be interested in your input if you can get involved in
> the project early enough in the process.
> If you want to propose design changes after several test cycles, you have
> to accept that the engineer
> might not be able to address your suggestions until the next version.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Ruth Sessions
> 603/886-7355
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: "Cardimon, Craig" <ccardimon -at- M-S-G -dot- com>
> To: 'Kerstin Peterson' <kerstin -dot- peterson -at- gmail -dot- com>; "'
> techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com'" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 9:24 AM
> Subject: RE: Tips on how to talk to SMEs
>
> It is their baby. We always think our own baby is cute and adorable.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:
> techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of
> Kerstin Peterson
> Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 9:14 AM
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: Re: Tips on how to talk to SMEs
>
> I think the point here that is not quite being made is that the SME
> (assuming it is the engineer that developed the product, which is sometimes
> not true) feels that the product is easy to understand, because s/he does.
>
>
>
> On Wed, Jul 13, 2011 at 9:08 AM, Cardimon, Craig <ccardimon -at- m-s-g -dot- com
> >wrote:
>
> > I would also tend to disagree with it. It makes for discussion, though,
> > does it not?
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:
> > techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of
> Dan
> > Goldstein
> > Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 9:04 AM
> > To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > Subject: RE: Tips on how to talk to SMEs
> >
> > I respectfully disagree with:
> >
> > "The SME assumes that the project was programmed in a way that everyone
> > should be able to understand it without documentation, since no one
> > looks at it anyway."
> >
> > Those two generalizations about SMEs are often false, and they're also
> > contradictory. I would never project those attitudes onto an SME prior
> > to discussing the work.
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Craig Cardimon
> > Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 8:20 AM
> > To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > Subject: Tips on how to talk to SMEs
> >
> > These suggestions might help:
> >
> > http://morespecifically.wordpress.com/2011/07/13/play-nice-with-an-sme/
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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--
In Service to the Dream,
Brian C. Bertrand
SKA-Bertran de Saint Jean
I am a fan of the cereal comma: Part of a balanced breakfast that includes
milk, juice, and toast.
Showing deference to those with power over you is not courtesy, it is
self-preservation. Showing deference to those over whom you have power is
not only courtesy, but grace.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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