Re: Difficult SMEs

[Gail Taylor <gtaylor -at- ISLANDNET -dot- COM>]

Melissa Hunter-Kilmer
mhunterk -at- bna -dot- com (standard disclaimer)
asks:
>Just out of curiosity, what do you guys do when you're
>faced with a difficult SME situation?

chiming in late (I'm on digest)
When I trained some writers years ago, we had to do a great deal of SME
interviewing long-distance. I told the writers it was their job to make it
work - we were never going to whine or go over anyone's head. I suggested
they find out about family life etc. - and as a last resort, to tactfully
ask the non-cooperative SME to suggest a substitute.

Once when the only source of info for some v. difficult subject matter was
never available to talk to me, I asked him to recommend a book on the
subject, so that I could try to come up to speed. He mellowed immediately,
and realized it was a lot more efficient to spare me some time. I was
prepared to wade into whatever he suggested, though. He was VERY high up in
the company.

Gail Taylor (gtaylor -at- islandnet -dot- com)

__________________Gail Taylor__________________
           WM Wordsworth & More Ltd.
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