Re: Capturing info during meetings with SMEs

["Mike O." <obie1121 -at- yahoo -dot- com>]

This usually works for me:
(assuming the SME is a developer)

Don't schedule the meeting until you have exhausted all other
possibilities for getting the same info. Make sure you have good
questions prepared. 

Get the SME to come to your cube, if possible. You might have to use
the ploy of asking him/her to help you set up some local software. This
will get you out of the submissive role you would assume by going to
his/her cube. You will gain more control over the meeting and will be
able to ask the questions and control the pace. 

Sit the SME at your keyboard (logged in as you) and ask him/her to show
you how the system works. It will quickly be obvious if you have the
proper access rights or not. If he re-logs in, or types any passwords,
stop him and ask what he is doing and ask how you can get the same
access. 

Have a whiteboard in your cube. This is essential. If necessary, buy
the whiteboard yourself and wire it to the wall with coat-hangar wire. 

Have plenty of markers lying around. Let the SME draw whatever he wants
on your whiteboard. If you don't understand something he drew, ask, but
don't interrupt too much. Whatever he draws, sketch it on a notepad. If
you still don't understand, research it after the meeting and ask it as
a follow-up question.

Use the whiteboard yourself to draw things and write quickie bulleted
lists. Sketch your own drawings on the paper notepad too.

Explain that you will definitely have follow-up questions and he should
expect to meet with you again; this is not a one-off meeting.









__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Calendar - Free online calendar with sync to Outlook(TM).
http://calendar.yahoo.com

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Robohelp X3, from eHelp, lets you quickly and easily create 
professional Help systems for all your Windows and Web-based 
applications, including Net. 

Order RoboHelp X3 in May and receive a $100 mail-in rebate, PLUS
free RoboScreenCapture and WebHelp Merge Module. 
 
Order RoboHelp today: http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.