What are subject-matter experts?
Definition: Subject-matter experts (SMEs) are people with extensive knowledge, experience, and expertise in a specific domain.
They have a deep understanding of the subject thanks to years of education, training, research, and hands-on experience.
Subject-matter experts are also considered authorities in their field and are sought for their insights, advice, and guidance in solving complex problems, developing new products or services, or creating educational content.
Responsibilities of subject-matter experts
- Providing expert guidance: SMEs are consulted during the development or implementation of new projects, products, or processes, offering their knowledge and expertise to ensure accuracy, quality, and efficiency.
- Developing content: SMEs create training materials, articles, whitepapers, or educational resources to share their knowledge with others and help build a better understanding of the subject matter.
- Training and mentoring: They are crucial in training and mentoring other team members or stakeholders, helping them develop their skills and knowledge in the specific domain.
- Problem-solving: Subject-matter experts can also troubleshoot complex issues or provide innovative solutions due to their deep understanding of the matter.
- Quality assurance and review: SMEs review and evaluate products, services, or content to ensure that they meet the required standards, guidelines, or best practices within the specific domain.
Example of a subject-matter expert scenario
Scenario: The company seeks the expertise of a subject-matter expert in cybersecurity to assist in developing and implementing the training program.
The SME begins by conducting a thorough assessment of the company's current cybersecurity posture, its potential vulnerabilities, and the specific needs of the employees in terms of cybersecurity knowledge and skills.
Based on the assessment, the subject-matter expert creates a detailed curriculum covering essential cybersecurity topics and tailors them to address the organization's and its employees' unique needs and requirements.
The SME leads the training sessions, sharing their extensive knowledge and real-world experience with the employees. They use engaging and interactive methods, such as case studies, simulations, and group discussions, to effectively convey the information and promote active learning.
