Re: most effective method for SME review?
Most of the time, the only way I can get SMEs to review something at all is to personally snag them in the hall and ask for the review face to face.
Yes. They'll say, of course, "Just send me an e-mail," or something like that. Unfortunately the next step is telling them, "I already did. Can we just take a few minutes to look at this thing, or perhaps schedule a lunch meeting?" (They'll have to eat, eventually.)
One successful day I captured a nearly invisible SME by leaving a packet of M&Ms on his chair. "You found my weakness," he said.
Another place where I worked supplied infinite M&Ms to everyone, so that trick was short-circuited.
Of course others simply turn in a good review without any difficulty. (Try to avoid hugging them.)
A few only review the grammar, and some non-technical reviewers are prone to reply, "LOOKS GREAT!!" without reading anything at all.
My favorite review was accomplished by a fellow writer who put into the review copy, "For any problems with this product, simply call [SME's name] at [real cell phone number] at any time, day or night." The recalcitrant reviewer exploded, "You're not going to send it out like this???" Our hero replied, "Not at all. Not if you return a proper review of it."
That last technique is not recommended. "Joke" copy can inadvertently go out to customers. A few years ago our local newspaper staff make a joke front page with an indecent headline. Yes, it got printed and delivered everywhere. The editor resigned his position.
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References:
most effective method for SME review?: From: Tom Johnson
Re: most effective method for SME review?: From: Keith Hood
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