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Subject-matter expert
A subject-matter expert (SME) is a person who has accumulated great expertise in a particular field or topic, which expertise is reflected by the person's degree, licensure, and/or years' occupational experience in the subject. For example, a PhD in chemistry may easily qualify as an SME in chemistry, a person with a Second Class Radiotelegraph License or equivalent issued by the national licensing body is an SME in radiotelegraphy, a person with a master's degree in electronic engineering is an SME in electronics, and a person with many years' experience in machining is an SME in that field.
The term is used when those developing materials about a topic (a book, an examination, a manual, etc.) need expertise on that topic. For example, tests are often created by a team of psychometricians and a team of SMEs. The psychometricians understand how to engineer a test, while the SMEs understand the actual content of the exam. Books, manuals, and technical documentation are developed by technical writers and instructional designers in conjunctions with SMEs. Technical communicators interview SMEs to extract information and convert it into a form suitable for the audience. SMEs are often required to sign off on the documents or training developed, checking it for technical accuracy. SMEs are also necessary for the development of training materials.
Examples of SMEs in various fields include:
"Subject Matter Experts are defined as those individuals with specific expertise and responsibility in a particular area or field (for example, quality unit, engineering, automation, development, operations). Subject Matter Experts should take the lead role in the verification of manufacturing systems as appropriate within their area of expertise and responsibility." —ASTM E2500 §6.7.1 and §6.7.2.
A domain expert is frequently used in expert systems software development, and there the term always refers to the domain other than the software domain. A domain expert is a person with special knowledge or skills in a particular area of endeavour (e.g. an accountant is an expert in the domain of accountancy). The development of accounting software requires knowledge in two different domains: accounting and software. Some of the development workers may be experts in one domain and not the other.
In software engineering environments, the term is used to describe professionals with expertise in the field of application. The term "SME" also has a broader definition in engineering and high tech as one who has the greatest expertise in a technical topic. SMEs are often asked to review, improve, and approve technical work; to guide others; and to teach. According to Six Sigma, a SME "exhibits the highest level of expertise in performing a specialized job, task, or skill of broad definition."
In software development, as in the development of "complex computer systems" (e.g., artificial intelligence, expert systems, control, simulation, or business software), an SME is a person who is knowledgeable about the domain being represented (but often not knowledgeable about the programming technology used to represent it in the system). The SME tells the software developers what needs to be done by the computer system, and how the SME intends to use it. The SME may interact directly with the system, possibly through a simplified interface, or may codify domain knowledge for use by knowledge engineers or ontologists. An SME is also involved in validating the resulting system. SME has formal meaning in certain contexts, such as Capability Maturity Models.
In most medium- to large-size engineering or science-related organizations, SMEs are assigned to collect-and-provide and/or review-and-approve the necessary project assets a technical writer will need to accurately write a project document (e.g., user manual, installation manual, service bulletin, etc.). In most cases, SMEs collect and/or create all of the engineering-approved documentation assets required for a technical writer during a project's research and/or development phase. Assets required for accurate technical writing may include an outline, graphic drafts, CAD models, data, unique reference material locations, and any additional project information a technical writer is not expected to know. The SME either delivers this information to the technical writer before or on the day a document is assigned or the SME reviews the documentation assets the technical writer collects independently before a document is assigned. SMEs continue to support the technical writer throughout the documentation process with project change information and by providing answers to any project questions a technical writer may have. When a document is complete, the SME will provide a final review focused specifically on accuracy. The review may include the SME's sign-off or mark-ups for accuracy errors. The SME review serves as the final step in a standardized engineering document-review process.
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Subject-matter expert
A subject-matter expert (SME) is a person who has accumulated great expertise in a particular field or topic, which expertise is reflected by the person's degree, licensure, and/or years' occupational experience in the subject. For example, a PhD in chemistry may easily qualify as an SME in chemistry, a person with a Second Class Radiotelegraph License or equivalent issued by the national licensing body is an SME in radiotelegraphy, a person with a master's degree in electronic engineering is an SME in electronics, and a person with many years' experience in machining is an SME in that field.
The term is used when those developing materials about a topic (a book, an examination, a manual, etc.) need expertise on that topic. For example, tests are often created by a team of psychometricians and a team of SMEs. The psychometricians understand how to engineer a test, while the SMEs understand the actual content of the exam. Books, manuals, and technical documentation are developed by technical writers and instructional designers in conjunctions with SMEs. Technical communicators interview SMEs to extract information and convert it into a form suitable for the audience. SMEs are often required to sign off on the documents or training developed, checking it for technical accuracy. SMEs are also necessary for the development of training materials.
Examples of SMEs in various fields include:
"Subject Matter Experts are defined as those individuals with specific expertise and responsibility in a particular area or field (for example, quality unit, engineering, automation, development, operations). Subject Matter Experts should take the lead role in the verification of manufacturing systems as appropriate within their area of expertise and responsibility." —ASTM E2500 §6.7.1 and §6.7.2.
A domain expert is frequently used in expert systems software development, and there the term always refers to the domain other than the software domain. A domain expert is a person with special knowledge or skills in a particular area of endeavour (e.g. an accountant is an expert in the domain of accountancy). The development of accounting software requires knowledge in two different domains: accounting and software. Some of the development workers may be experts in one domain and not the other.
In software engineering environments, the term is used to describe professionals with expertise in the field of application. The term "SME" also has a broader definition in engineering and high tech as one who has the greatest expertise in a technical topic. SMEs are often asked to review, improve, and approve technical work; to guide others; and to teach. According to Six Sigma, a SME "exhibits the highest level of expertise in performing a specialized job, task, or skill of broad definition."
In software development, as in the development of "complex computer systems" (e.g., artificial intelligence, expert systems, control, simulation, or business software), an SME is a person who is knowledgeable about the domain being represented (but often not knowledgeable about the programming technology used to represent it in the system). The SME tells the software developers what needs to be done by the computer system, and how the SME intends to use it. The SME may interact directly with the system, possibly through a simplified interface, or may codify domain knowledge for use by knowledge engineers or ontologists. An SME is also involved in validating the resulting system. SME has formal meaning in certain contexts, such as Capability Maturity Models.
In most medium- to large-size engineering or science-related organizations, SMEs are assigned to collect-and-provide and/or review-and-approve the necessary project assets a technical writer will need to accurately write a project document (e.g., user manual, installation manual, service bulletin, etc.). In most cases, SMEs collect and/or create all of the engineering-approved documentation assets required for a technical writer during a project's research and/or development phase. Assets required for accurate technical writing may include an outline, graphic drafts, CAD models, data, unique reference material locations, and any additional project information a technical writer is not expected to know. The SME either delivers this information to the technical writer before or on the day a document is assigned or the SME reviews the documentation assets the technical writer collects independently before a document is assigned. SMEs continue to support the technical writer throughout the documentation process with project change information and by providing answers to any project questions a technical writer may have. When a document is complete, the SME will provide a final review focused specifically on accuracy. The review may include the SME's sign-off or mark-ups for accuracy errors. The SME review serves as the final step in a standardized engineering document-review process.