• Solutions
    • I Can Help
      • Define
      • Educate
      • Integrate
      • Advise
    • Consultation
      • Assessments
      • Design Reviews
      • Code Inspections
      • Ongoing Support
    • Training Classes
      • Training Schedule
      • On-Site Classes
      • Online Training
      • Customized Coaching and Mob Facilitation
    • Learning Roadmap
      • Developer Essentials Training
        • Agile Analysis and Design Patterns
        • Hands-On: Extreme Programming Practices
      • Scrum Framework Developer Essentials
      • Design Pattern Developer Essentials
      • Object-Oriented Analysis and Design Patterns
      • Scrum Software Developer Essentials
      • Agile Software Developer Essentials
      • Agile Software Developer Intensives
    • Speaking
      • Beyond the Legacy Code Crisis
      • Five Developer Practices for Agile Software
      • Writing High Quality, CLEAN Code
      • Essential Scrum Developer Practices
      • Improving Your Scrum Process
      • The Agile Development Advantage
    • Testimonials
    • Clients
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • My Book: Beyond Legacy Code
    • Bibliography
    • Referral Program
    • Associates
  • Contact
    • Contact Me
    • Schedule A Call
    • About
  • Schedule A Call

Be the SME

  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Be the SME

2025 Public Training Schedule

June 23 26, 2025 – Agile Analysis and Design Patterns – Half-Day Sessions Online

July 22 – 25, 2025 – Agile Analysis and Design Patterns – Half-Day Sessions Online

Register Now
Or schedule a private class
Course Descriptions
  • Developer Essentials Training
    • Agile Analysis and Design Patterns
    • Hands-On: Extreme Programming Practices
  • Object-Oriented Analysis and Design Patterns
  • Scrum Software Developer Essentials
  • Agile Software Developer Essentials
  • Agile Software Developer Intensives
Follow me on Twitter:

Follow @ToBeAgile

Blog Post Categories
  • Announcements {19}
  • Articles {2}
  • Bits and Pieces {74}
  • Blogosphere {1}
  • Bonuses {2}
  • Build in Small Batches {27}
  • Collaborate {38}
  • Create CLEAN Code {34}
  • Implement the Design Last {11}
  • Integrate Continuously {30}
  • Off-Topic but Interesting {3}
  • Rants {82}
  • Refactor Legacy Code {24}
  • Say What, Why, and for Whom Before How {22}
  • Seven Strategies {38}
  • Specify Behaviors with Tests {17}
  • Write the Test First {27}
Archives
  • 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • 2022
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • 2021
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • 2020
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • 2019
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • 2018
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • 2017
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • 2016
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • 2015
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • 2014
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • 2013
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • 2012
  • December 2012
  • Privacy Policy

    (c) 2025 To Be Agile

    • February 10, 2016
    • Bits and Pieces

    SME stands for Subject Matter Expert. This is a key role in the development of software. The level of understanding one must have to write software is very deep. Developers have to become SMEs when they work on a project.

    In my career as a software developer I have learned tons of things in many fields from navigating boats to image processing.

    Sometimes new developers ask questions that even subject matter experts don’t know the answer to, or perhaps they know intuitively but aren’t able to easily explain it. So much of the process of developing software is to take that implicit knowledge and make it explicit in the software we write. Even if it’s a situation that occurs one time in a million, we still have to be able to handle it or risk the computer being thrown into an error state. Sometimes the questions developers ask require a little bit of research on the part of the SME.

    But developer expertise is different than regular subject matter experts. I have written a lot of software for financial markets over the years and was involved in stocks and mutual fund modelling for many years. The software I maintained provided value per investment advice. But personally I recognize that I am a poor investor, myself. Although I am an expert at modelling the stock market in software I am far from an expert investor.

    While developers need to have a deep knowledge of the domain they’re modelling, we still need a product owner to answer questions and help us stay directed to build the most important features next. Product owners are like super SMEs. They have to have an intimate knowledge of the system being built. Although this is not necessarily a technical position, product owners have to thoroughly understand what the product is and how it will be used in order to direct the team to build the right things.

    Developers must understand the domain they’re working in. Use domain language and operate from the domain model. We must think like domain experts and embody that thinking in the system we build. When we do this we can build a system that is not only useful but highly consistent. We can focus our attention around concepts in the domain model so that developers can use the same terminology and concepts that our users or subject matter experts are using. This helps increase the flow of information between developers and users and makes the system a working system.

    In a sense, every system that is built is an expert system in that it embodies expert knowledge. That expert knowledge is often the core competitive edge that a company has, so making sure to be accurate and relevant is essential.

    Development is informed by our knowledge of the domain. It helps us build a product that is more valuable to our users.

    Previous Post: « Crossing the Chasm

    Next Post: Do This Because »

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Solutions

    I Can Help
    • Define
    • Educate
    • Integrate
    • Advise

    Consultation
    • Assessments
    • Design Reviews
    • Code Inspections
    • Ongoing Support

    Testimonials Clients

    Resources

    • Blog
    • My Book: Beyond Legacy Code
    • Referral Program
    • Associates


    Read my book!
    Schedule a Call

    Training

    • Training Schedule
    • Learning Roadmap
    • On-Site Classes
    • Online Training
    • Customized Coaching and Mob Facilitation

    Course Descriptions
    • Developer Essentials Training
      • Agile Analysis and Design Patterns
      • Hands-On: Extreme Programming Practices
    • Object-Oriented Analysis and Design Patterns
    • Scrum Software Developer Essentials
    • Agile Software Developer Essentials
    • Agile Software Developer Intensives

    Copyright 2025 © To Be Agile. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. I'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    SAVE & ACCEPT