SME interview
A structured interview that pulls facts, decisions, examples, and hidden steps from the specialist who knows the subject.
See it
What it is
An SME interview is a structured conversation with a subject matter expert to collect the facts, decisions, examples, and caveats a writer cannot supply alone. The useful material is rarely a polished explanation. It is the exception they mention after 'usually', the real customer question, and the step the expert forgot to say because it became automatic years ago.
Use one before writing technical guides, regulated content, case studies, training, or any page where confident guessing would be expensive. Ask for a recent concrete case, walk through it in order, probe decisions and failure modes, and repeat your understanding back to the expert before the call ends.
Gotcha: 'Tell me everything about the topic' produces a lecture, not usable source material. Send the audience and content goal in advance, record only with permission, distinguish direct quotes from your notes, and book a fact-check pass. Expertise does not guarantee that one person's memory is complete or current.
Ask AI for it
Build a 45-minute SME interview guide for [topic] using Gary Klein's Critical Decision Method. Start with one recent real case, then ask for the timeline, cues noticed, options considered, decision points, failure modes, exceptions, and what a novice would miss. For every question, include one follow-up probe and the content field it will fill. End with a five-minute playback summary, an open fact-check list, source and quote permissions, and named owners for unanswered questions.