SME Qualifications - hdbk10860020

DOE-HDBK-1086-95

The SMEs, supervisor, and safety analyst are the team members who will

use their technical expertise to determine the content of the training

program. The same team members should participate throughout the

entire process (up to 5-6 days).

4.6.3.2 SME Qualifications. Expert job

SME Qualifications

incumbents are in the best position

to explain "what they do."

1. Full-time employee in the job

Therefore, the SMEs selected as

being analyzed

team members should be full-time

2. Perceived as the "role

employees in the job to help ensure

model" for proper job

their knowledge of and familiarity

performance

with all aspects of the job. They

3. Highly skilled and

must be technically competent and

knowledgeable of the job

perceived as "role models" for

4. Aware of new procedures,

proper job performance. They must

equipment, and "lessons

be highly skilled and knowledgeable

learned"

of the tasks required to perform the

job, and aware of current

developments such as new

procedures, new equipment, and

facility and industry "lessons learned." In the circumstances where the

job requirements are changing, the position is still under development, or

no expert worker is yet functioning, system engineers/procedure writers

may be used in lieu of SMEs.

4.6.3.3 Supervisor Qualifications. The

Supervisor Qualifications

supervisor should directly supervise

those who perform the job. A

1. Directly supervises the job

supervisor with recent practitioner-

incumbents who perform the

level experience in the job can

job

provide useful insights and

2. Recent practitioner-level

continuity to the process since he

experience in the job

or she knows what is considered

3. Has good working

"desirable" worker performance.

relationship with job

The caution is to make sure the

incumbents serving on the

supervisor has a good working

team

relationship with the job incumbents

so the SMEs on the team will not

feel hindered or threatened when

describing their jobs. The supervisor selected to participate on the team

must be someone who will listen to and consider the contributions of all

team members even though the supervisor may disagree on some

discussion points. The entire team must be able to come to consensus

without the supervisor's opinion bearing more weight than the other team

members'.