Corporate Ladder: A Different Take :D

We all want to move up the corporate ladder. Recently though, I got a completely different perspective to the ladder and how experience is leveraged in a true Functional organization.

We had just started with a project overview when someone asked the Presenter: "Hey what is your role in the project?" With a smile, he responded "I started off as a Delivery Manager, then moved into the Project Manager role due to resource unavailability. If you look at my current role, I am the Technical Manager overseeing all technical aspects of the project."

"Whaaat?"screamed a senior person who recently joined the company all confused.

The Presenter continued with a smile, "Well, I won't be surprised if I soon get to the developer level for some hands-on work." 

And with some sarcasm one asked, "Don't tell me that I will have to work as a Developer!" The Presenter responded  "And why not? What is the harm in pitching in to get the team up-to-speed with things when the project most needs it?" 

"And finally, there will be times when you will feel exactly like a rookie."

"Huh!" responded the senior with a raised eyebrow while all others giggled.

Said the Presenter, "If and when the project ends up in crisis, the Senior Management shall come and give us all the gyaan around what we didn't do right! At that moment, we shall all think on how we never thought about whatever was being said. But once they are out, we continue pondering on what it was that transpired and how things can be accomplished!"

And so there it was - the Reverse Ladder - The Functional Organization 101!!

Effective Use of Subject Matter Experts in Training Projects

How many times has it happened with you that when you approach an SME, that they feel that as a training project member, you are more an overhead and too time-consuming in terms of providing support?

Here are some things that have worked for me before/when I reach out to the SME:

Start with Introductions

Touch base with the SME. While the best is to meet them in person. If not, start with a phone call. A brief call to introduce each other and set some base expectations like:

• I will probably need an introduction to the application and processes.
• I will need 1 hour everyday for the next 4 weeks. 
• Based on the time that works for the SME, block the time on their calendar.
• Ask for the relevant project documents, if any.
• If there are multiple SMEs involved, which is typically the case with large implementations, see if you can get them all in one room at least for introductions.

Be prepared before you reach out to the SME

"What can I be prepared with if I have no clue of the subject?" you might ask.

• To start with, figure out the project basics.
• Determine if there are any similar project within the team and talk to those team members.
• Do your research. Read about the technology and/or the process documentation that the SME might have shared. Don't worry about failing to understand. Make the attempt to at least assimilate something.
• If you have access to the application, try to at least log in and navigate through it. 
• Be ready with your questions. Let them not be very generic like "What is SAP?" Maybe a good question might be "It appears from the process documentation that there are about x transaction codes. Is this understanding correct?"

When you meet the SME

• Respect their time.
• Go with a agenda. For example, let's cover the basic end-to-end process today and if time permits, let's walk through some steps in the application.
• During discussions, try to reiterate what the SME is saying in your own words in the beginning. This will ensure that you are understanding the basics.
• Don't be afraid to ask the SME to repeat something that is not clear.
• If the SME goes off into the technical details that are not relevant (for example, an SME may have the tendency to go into the configuration details and program code, which might not be relevant for a process-based course), get them back on track by saying something like "Is any of this visible to the end user?"
• Ask "Are there any specific data sets that we can  use for training exercises? Is there something that you will need to prep for me to view the data?"
• Build a rapport with the SME. Make small talk if required.

Post the SME meeting

Explore the application. As much as we want to depend on the SMEs, we need to acknowledge that they too are working on their tasks on the project.

If you get stuck, try different things before you go back to the SME. 

When you understand the content, you design the training better. Else it is just another project where all you have done is format. 

Remember: The SME can provide you with all the technical and process aspects of the project. However, you are the training expert. It is your job to put the content in a way, which is simple for a user to understand. 

Double-check with the functional SME though on whether you have oversimplified.