A Maven By Any Other Name
Much has been written about the impact of the internet on culture and learning. Often, development, movements or businesses that took years in the making finding their way to market much more rapidly. This is a great benefit and hazard for many.
When seeking solutions or cautions, fewer enterprises or people are finding or taking the time to thoroughly delve into an issue, instead deferring to the internet. For topics that are sensitive, complex or critical, wise heads are deferring to the advice of a SME -- subject matter expert – or “smee” as I’ve heard specialists in my trade called.
SMEs are professionals whose advice or information is sought by businesses, entrepreneurs, politicians or qualified experts in other fields. When they’re ready to go to market, these folk tend to seek our advice to identify a target audience and capture/send the “right” timely message to a targeted group.
How are SMEs acknowledged for their expertise? Maybe you already know because you’re the person friends call when they’ve just bought a pressure cooker, laptop or power tool. Something about the way SMEs interact in the world clearly marks us as the person to turn to when unsolvable life or business riddles arise. Often the business SMEs generate comes from companies whose unaided efforts have proven to be less than hoped for or who recognize how advantageous good advice is.
We SMEs come to our profession from various directions. Our lives provided us tools that even research might not unearth. We’re better, faster and more able to target issues than magazines, books, trade journals or the internet when teasing out the critical factors that will make a difference in effective, timely problem solving. We’ve paid our dues and know about industry-related jargon or hot buttons. Our homework is done, our muscles are toned and our brains fine-tuned to go to the issue and effectively generate plans, programs and policies that get the job done.
Much has been written about the impact of the internet on culture and learning. Often, development, movements or businesses that took years in the making finding their way to market much more rapidly. This is a great benefit and hazard for many.
When seeking solutions or cautions, fewer enterprises or people are finding or taking the time to thoroughly delve into an issue, instead deferring to the internet. For topics that are sensitive, complex or critical, wise heads are deferring to the advice of a SME -- subject matter expert – or “smee” as I’ve heard specialists in my trade called.
SMEs are professionals whose advice or information is sought by businesses, entrepreneurs, politicians or qualified experts in other fields. When they’re ready to go to market, these folk tend to seek our advice to identify a target audience and capture/send the “right” timely message to a targeted group.
How are SMEs acknowledged for their expertise? Maybe you already know because you’re the person friends call when they’ve just bought a pressure cooker, laptop or power tool. Something about the way SMEs interact in the world clearly marks us as the person to turn to when unsolvable life or business riddles arise. Often the business SMEs generate comes from companies whose unaided efforts have proven to be less than hoped for or who recognize how advantageous good advice is.
We SMEs come to our profession from various directions. Our lives provided us tools that even research might not unearth. We’re better, faster and more able to target issues than magazines, books, trade journals or the internet when teasing out the critical factors that will make a difference in effective, timely problem solving. We’ve paid our dues and know about industry-related jargon or hot buttons. Our homework is done, our muscles are toned and our brains fine-tuned to go to the issue and effectively generate plans, programs and policies that get the job done.
