3/15/2015 Subject-matter expert - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

data:text/html;charset=utf-8,%3Ch1%20id%3D%22firstHeading%22%20class%3D%22firstHeading%22%20lang%3D%22en%22%20style%3D%22color%3A 1/2

Subject-matter expertFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article needsadditional citationsforverification. Pleasehelpimprove thisarticle by adding citations toreliable sources. Unsourcedmaterial may be challengedand removed.(December 2013)

A subject-matter expert (SME) or domain expertis a person who is an authority in a particular area or

topic. The term domain expert is frequently used inexpert 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 endeavor. An accountant is an expert in the domain

ofaccountancy, for example. The development ofaccounting software requires knowledge in two different

domains, namely accounting and software. Some of the development workers may be experts in one

domain and not the other. A SME should also have basic knowledge on other technical subjects.

Contents [hide]

1 Function

1.1 Software

1.2 Electronic discovery

1.3 Law

2 See also

3 References

4 External links

Function [edit]

In general, the term is used when developing materials (a book, an examination, a manual, etc.) about a

topic, and expertise on the topic is needed by the personnel developing the material. For example, tests are

often created by a team of psychometricians and a team of subject matter experts. The psychometricians

understand how to engineer a test while the subject matter experts 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 accuracy. SMEs are also necessary for the development of training

materials.[1]

Software [edit]

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 Subject Matter Expert "exhibits the highest

level of expertise in performing a specialized job, task, or skill of broad definition."[2]

In Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology areas, ASTM standard E 2500[citation needed] specifies SMEs for

various functions in project and process management. SME is defined as an individual who is an expert on

that subject. In one project, there will be many SMEs who are experts on Air, Water, Utilities, process

machines, process, packaging, storage, distribution and supply chain management, to name a few.

In software development, as in the development of "complex computer systems" (e.g., artificial

intelligence, expert systems, control, simulation, or business software) a SME is a person who is

knowledgeable about the domain being represented (but often not knowledgeable about the programming

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_techhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiabilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subject-matter_expert#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expert_systemshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Sigmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subject-matter_expert#See_alsohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expert_systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychometricshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subject-matter_expert#Electronic_discoveryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Introduction_to_referencing/1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subject-matter_expert#Softwarehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Subject-matter_expert&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accountanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subject-matter_expert#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subject-matter_expert#http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Subject-matter_expert&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accountancyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_engineeringhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subject-matter_expert#Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subject-matter_expert#Functionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accounting_softwarehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_writerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test_(student_assessment)http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Subject-matter_expert&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instructional_designerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subject-matter_expert#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subject-matter_expert#cite_note-1

3/15/2015 Subject-matter expert - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

data:text/html;charset=utf-8,%3Ch1%20id%3D%22firstHeading%22%20class%3D%22firstHeading%22%20lang%3D%22en%22%20style%3D%22color%3A 2/2

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 CMMs.

Electronic discovery [edit]

In electronic discovery environments, the term is used to describe professionals with expertise using

Computer Assisted Review technology (CAR)/Technology Assisted Review (TAR) to perform searches

designed to produce precisely refined results that identify groups of data as potentially responsive or non-

responsive to relevant issues. E-discovery SMEs also typically have experience creating the search strings

used in the search process.

Law [edit]

A lawyer in administrative agency may be designated as a SME if he specializes in a particular field of law,

such as tort law.

See also [edit]

Domain knowledge

Expert system

Knowledge Engineer

Knowledge Engineering

Subject matter expert Turing test

System testing

Usability

User Acceptance Testing

User interface design

Bullshit bingo

References [edit]

A Domain Expert, 6/11/06

Different Types of Systems Users, 2004, University of Calgary

Bultman, Kuipers, Harmelen, 2005, Maintenance of KBS's by Domain Experts

External links [edit]

A glossary of UML at Usability First

For computer subject-matter expert

Supporting the Domain Expert in Planning

Maintenance of KBS's by Domain Experts

Subject Matter Expert Personal Resources Inventory (SMEPRI)

1. ^ Subject matter experts and training

2. ^ "Subject Matter Expert" . iSixSigma. Retrieved2012-03-21.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subject-matter_expert#cite_ref-1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Subject-matter_expert&action=edit&section=7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subject-matter_expert#cite_ref-2http://nas.cl.uh.edu/helm/swen5534/Do_Ans/tsld002.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Subject-matter_expert&action=edit&section=6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontology_(information_science)http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/sme.htmlhttp://ksi.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/KAW/KAW96/simon/KAW96US.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_Acceptance_Testinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_engineeringhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_Engineeringhttp://www.cs.vu.nl/~frankh/postscript/IEAAIE00.pdfhttp://scom.hud.ac.uk/planet/aisp02Kett/aylett.pdfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_interface_designhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_discoveryhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC66f0bqdLY/http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Subject-matter_expert&action=edit&section=4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit_bingohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_knowledgehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Subject-matter_expert&action=edit&section=3http://www.isixsigma.com/dictionary/subject-matter-expert-sme/http://atoall.com/english_syllabus_subject_expert_.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usabilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expert_systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capability_Maturity_Modelhttp://www.cs.vu.nl/~frankh/postscript/IEAAIE00.pdfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Subject-matter_expert&action=edit&section=5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subject_matter_expert_Turing_testhttp://www.usabilityfirst.com/glossaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_testinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_Engineer