Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)

Area. It is best to select 5-8 people so that if one or two people cannot

participate at the last minute, the team will still be functional.

The people responsible for developing the subsequent training materials

should facilitate or at least observe the process. Other people who wish

to learn how to conduct the process should also observe. NOTE: We

suggest you do not invite more observers to attend than you have as team

members. For example, if there are 4 team members and 9 observers,

Number of

the team members may feel uncomfortable, like they are "on trial," and

observers

this may reduce their effectiveness on the team. If there are 4 team

members, invite 4 or fewer observers.

One of the most critical aspects for organizing a TTJA seminar is

selecting the most appropriate team members. The quality of team inter-

actions and thus the end product--the task list--will depend heavily on the

people selected. After discussions with management, select team

members based on the qualifications described below.

Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)

In the context of this seminar, the term subject matter experts typically

means the actual job incumbents of the job position being analyzed and,

Who are SMEs?

as applicable, engineering personnel responsible for the design and safety

analysis of facilities/activities. In some cases there may be no expert job

incumbents (e.g., when determining training requirements to teach

people a new system/process). In this case, the SMEs may consist of

engineering and design personnel or perhaps experts from other facilities

who may be familiar with that system/process.

Job Incumbents

Job Incumbent Qualifications

Expert job incumbents are in the

Full-time employee in job being

best position to explain "what

analyzed

Perceived as the "role model" for

they do." Therefore, the job

Job incumbent

proper job performance

incumbents selected as TTJA

qualifications

Highly skilled and knowledgeable

team members should be full-time

regarding the tasks

Aware of new procedures,

employees in the job being

equipment, and "lessons learned"

analyzed. Being full-time helps

ensure their knowledge of and

Table-Top Job Analysis

Rev 1: November 3, 1994

Coordinator Guide

5480.20 Seminar Series