“Subject Matter Expert” vs “Subject Matter Novice”

2017-03-28T12:55:46-04:00

So many times we find our soldiers on the receiving end of some random class. We train on various topics, ranging from clearing rooms in an urban environment to field sanitation. No matter what class you are sitting in, there is always a reason for it. When classes end, it’s time to move on with training and a training plan.

Once you have your training plan, it’s time for one of the most crucial decisions for your training. Who is going to conduct the training? A trainer can potentially take the greatest training plan and turn it into a dismal failure - a factor that should be given the utmost consideration. Often, we find the infamous “Subject Matter Expert”, or SME. But what does that even mean? It is thrown around as some sort of credentialing title. I can’t say that I have seen what it really means to be a SME. Usually, they have experience in the area of which they are going to instruct, or, maybe, they have performed whatever the task being taught is while on a previous deployment. But to me, that isn’t enough to be a SME.

So what is a Subject Matter Expert? The answer goes back to a philosophy that I use for professional development. For me, there are three pillars that one must focus on for complete development. The pillars are: Operational Experience, Institutional Education, and Personal Development. With this, you may ask how this applies to your SME. If you look for the book definition, I believe the Office of Personnel Management provides a solid one. A Subject Matter Expert is a "person with bona fide expert knowledge about what it takes to do a particular job. First-level supervisors are normally good SMEs. Superior incumbents in the same or very similar positions and other individuals can also be used as SMEs if they have current and thorough knowledge of the job's requirements.”

One issue with this that comes to mind is the fact that you often do not find a person with “bona fide expert knowledge.” Just because you have been proficient in a task doesn’t mean you are a SME. What really happens in reality is that soldier is a Subject Matter *Novice*. There is nothing wrong with having your Subject Matter Novice teach a class if you don’t have a Subject Matter Expert. But, when this occurs, we can’t just brand the instructor as a SME if he/she is not. There is not really a credentialing entity that can brand you at a unit level, so let’s not pretend that we are experts if we are really novices. The worst mistake you can make when training someone else is exaggerating your qualifications. If you do, you will be hit with that one question that you have no idea how to approach, and instantly you will lose your validity as a trainer.

The Subject Matter Novice may be the best title you can accurately use. Once again, there is nothing wrong with being trained by a novice. A novice may have dealt with the subject which you are training on, but not to the point of being an expert. Being a novice would only reinforce and elevate the trainer’s responsibility to gain what institutional knowledge they can in order to provide the best training possible. Admitting that one is a SMN is great as it is an honest assessment of one’s abilities. But claiming yourself as a SME and then only using your limited, and possibly dated, knowledge would be a disservice to those you are training, as well as to your unit. As a professional army, we must approach training in a way to get the most value out of the time we spend on it. The only way to do this is to ensure you have the best possible soldier as your instructor. Just because you may have the most knowledge in one particular area doesn’t make you a SME. You might just be a SMN, and that’s okay.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Mar 28 at 2017 12:58 PM

2017-03-28T12:58:53-04:00

I think you hit the nail squarely on the head with this post CPT Private RallyPoint Member! I know there were times where I stepped up to teach a class as an SMN and not an SME but like you pointed out, at the time there was no one else that could teach the class.

I think the one thing that an SMN benefits from when teaching such a class is it gives them the chance to brush up on the information they are teaching which could lead them to be an SME.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2017 1:00 PM

2017-03-28T13:00:12-04:00

I was a ASW, MIW and SW SME. A true "bona fide expert" at least once upon a time.

Response by CSM William DeWolf made Mar 28 at 2017 1:02 PM

2017-03-28T13:02:35-04:00

Interesting ideas!

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Mar 28 at 2017 1:29 PM

2017-03-28T13:29:55-04:00

Interesting was of looking at it, I'll keep this in mind

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Mar 28 at 2017 2:12 PM

2017-03-28T14:12:09-04:00

Interesting question...statement? Do not disagree with what you are saying but it took me back to my early years as a Section Leader when I would make my soldiers coming right out of training, teach the hip pocket classes to the rest of the Section. I had three reasons for throwing those young soldiers into the fire. First, they always had the best and most up to date information that had been literally beaten into their heads. Second, it forced those young soldiers to learn the information to the next level...or at least the good ones and I can not recall one of my soldiers dropping that ball? Last, it showed those young soldiers they could survive standing in front of other soldiers and leading a class...something they probably had not done before?
With this said, Sir, who is the one responsible that is primarily responsible for your becoming Subject Matter Expert on the subjects in your lane? Who is going to take the lead on your soldier doing the same?

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 28 at 2017 2:13 PM

2017-03-28T14:13:03-04:00

On target.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2017 2:33 PM

2017-03-28T14:33:10-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member A lot depends on your skill level and experience. I worked on the Space Shuttle program for 33 years. I was a SME when it came to Space Shuttle Configuration Management. One of my ancillary responsibilities was as Safety Committee Chairperson for a building with over a thousand employees. I was involved with safety for my last 25 years, and was quite knowledgeable, but I was not a SME. I was accountable to the Safety Department that had folks with Safety degrees along with far more safety knowledge than I had.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2017 3:14 PM

2017-03-28T15:14:43-04:00

I was once called into the CO's office. He gave me a group of slides and told me to give a presentation to another unit about their content. I had never seen the material. I looked at the slides as I drove to the other unit and about 15 minutes from the time I was called in to the CO's office I was giving the presentation.

It actually went over very well. But. I was certainly not an expert presenter.

Response by COL John McClellan made Mar 28 at 2017 5:22 PM

2017-03-28T17:22:42-04:00

Great question, LT! Generally I'd say that an SME is a "broadly recognized expert" in the material at hand. Who/what determines if you are an SME at something? Well, either training/certification (credentials) in that field, or, a high-level or long period of experience. So if your class is on EO Policy let's say, then an SME might be the guy/gal from the base EO office; or, it might be your Battalion EO NCO. But if the Bn EO is newly appointed and hasn't been to school yet, then that person might only be an SMN until they get certified!

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Mar 28 at 2017 7:31 PM

2017-03-28T19:31:42-04:00

Shortly after returning from Vietnam I was given the opportunity (Ordered) to give the introductory 50 minute block of instruction to two companies of Infantry AIT trainees,bleachers ,microphones the whole ball of wax,all done as a lowly Spec 4,the reasons given for my being the SME I wore glasses had a Boston accent and survived my tour as a 11 Bravo,Staff officer caught on and guess what, I was sent off to the NCO academy post haste and did later classes as an E-5 then I guess I was a super SME !

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Mar 28 at 2017 10:41 PM

2017-03-28T22:41:23-04:00

Whats the class everyone in the Army hates but the Army insists everyone must have. Ah yes........."Field Sanitation".

Response by SSG Richard Reilly made Mar 31 at 2017 12:12 PM

2017-03-31T12:12:11-04:00

Expert v. Novice. Well that's like Awesome v. tolerable. I've taught a wide variety of classes some I was a expert on and some I was a boss on because I can talk gooder. The key is actually preparing for the class and providing good Points of Contacts to answer more SME like answers.

Response by SGT Robert Kromminga made Apr 5 at 2017 4:02 PM

2017-04-05T16:02:19-04:00

If you have the option for selecting an instructor for a training class - do you pick the one who is experienced, knowledgeable and capable of teaching (but is lower rank ; say E-4) or do you pick the one that has little to no experience on the subject; hasn't dealt with it for years (but is an E-7)

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2017 6:25 PM

2017-04-23T18:25:30-04:00

Good article

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2017 12:20 AM

2017-05-03T00:20:21-04:00

I read an article a while back that said "a genius is still learning and admits they don't know it all. And an idiot knows everything and doesn't bother to learn more." I feel like this can definitely be applied here.

Response by CPO Robert (Mac) McGovern made May 24 at 2017 11:27 PM

2017-05-24T23:27:22-04:00

I like to believe, I do not teach, I educate.

Response by SSgt Clare May made Jun 24 at 2017 11:29 AM

2017-06-24T11:29:48-04:00

Two things rapidly come to me if your ever called to teach that come to my mind...

First, if you stand behind a podium...get out from behind it. Never hide behind it. If the room is full and a podium is there and can be moved... move it and if its bulky or odd, have someone in the rear of the room help you move it. Tell the audience you are not going to hide behind it, and participation is required for a passing score on the test at the end of the session...lol... even if there isn't a test. You can present the most GOD AWFUL

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2017 1:30 PM

2017-07-28T13:30:45-04:00

Well-thought article CPT Private RallyPoint Member. I especially appreciate your citing OPM's definition of SME. I didn't know such a definition existed.

Response by MSgt John C. made Sep 7 at 2017 8:31 PM

2017-09-07T20:31:16-04:00

Most interesting this discussion has the lead sentence of the introductory paragraph establishing the situation and circumstances of "So many times we find our soldiers on the receiving end of some random class."

First off the Air Force's perspective of being a Subject Matter Expert pertinent to training is being an individual who has thorough knowledge of a job, duties/tasks, or a particular topic, which qualifies him/her to assist in the training development process (for example, to consult, review, analyze, advise, or critique). (b) A person who has high-level knowledge and skill in the performance of a job. Reference AFH 36-2235.

There is also a broad continuum of being a Subject Matter Expert that extends beyond direct connection to being a trainer or an instructor.

Air Force training policy, since before I enlisted in 1973, has been and is:
"Air Force policy sets specific criteria for who can be a trainer or task certifier. One basic requirement is that trainers and certifiers will be appointed, trained, and certified. This aids in the selection process by identifying who is qualified and authorized to train and evaluate others. Another requirement is that no one may evaluate the training they provide. Even though an individual may be appointed and qualified to train and certify the same task, training must be evaluated by another qualified evaluator who is not the trainer. This helps to ensure that trainees receive as unbiased an evaluation as possible."

The point being made is although the pillars (Operational Experience, Institutional Education, and Personal Development) are appropriately and perhaps adequately identified the being a subject matter expert there is disconnect in asserting a trainer or an instructor must be a SME, when:

1. A trainer or task evaluator should not be someone who has nothing else better to do.

2. The Air Force stipulates a trainer is a trained and qualified person who teaches personnel to perform specific tasks through OJT methods. This extends to being qualified and proficient in using equipment that the trainer uses to teach personnel specified tasks. Being a Trainer, at least in the Air Force, requires the individual to have certification—A formal indication of an individual’s ability to perform a task to required standards. The task evaluator (or certification official), is an individual other than the trainer is whom the commander assigns to determine an individual’s ability to perform a task to required standards

The asserting is not really a credentialing entity that can brand you at a unit level while probably true for some or perhaps all units, isn't inclusive of all units. I can attest, at least for my AFSC, there has been since 1947 and currently is specific certification and annual recertification process for who is delegated duties and responsibilities to be a trainer, and task certifier. I also have, although dated, experience being the SME writing skill knowledge tests taken for promotion purposes and pertinent to consult, advise, and critique I do have significant experience as a staff action officer subject matter expert that seldom involved being a trainer or an instructor. Also proving a briefing is generally informing and not being a trainer or instructor.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Feb 20 at 2018 8:57 PM

2018-02-20T20:57:33-05:00

Or worse, you have the knowledge and your command ignores it. As a civilian Emergency Manager, I have a broad knowledge base to draw from. My NG unit was a Civil Support Unit for Domestic preparedness. Tried as might for several years I tried to offer my services to them, and most of what I got was this is for the AD people Chief. I watch them flounder from one inspection to another. Listen to Power Point Presentations that were choc full of inaccuracies. Finally I just had enough of the you can't know anything your a civilian, and just said screw it. You frackers are bound and determined to do it wrong, on a eval they had some local Fire Fighters come in and tell them they were doing it differently then they would, they were stunned. By then I had turned in my retirement packet and had my fill of "flying ignorantly. "