The perfect SME has three essential qualities. The perfect SME is:
1. The most knowledgeable and articulate person about that topic in the organization
2. One who has, or will be given, the time to work with you
3. Willing and possibly looking forward to being part of the training design process

If your SME is missing any of these three ingredients, you may have trouble. If that happens
and you don't have an alternate SME, we offer tips and tools throughout this book to help you
negotiate those issues effectively.
First, whether you've been dealt the perfect SME or not, you'll need to establish deadlines and
clear lines of communication for fact-checking and sign-offs at the very beginning of your
relationship. It is unlikely the SME will be tracking those things, and you may not have other
supports in place to do it for you. Your project scope or project charter should include details
about deadlines and lines of responsibility that can help define the relationship.1
As the instructional designer on the project, you will find yourself managing up, managing
laterally and possibly managing outside your department to make things happen. Setting
expectations and deadlines up front will make the process smoother and less harrowing for you.
Which brings us back to the trouble with SMEs...yes, even the perfect ones who meet all three
of the essential qualities.