So I've screwed up my review process...

Jun 23, 2015

Holly Jarvis
By Holly Jarvis

How can I rescue this situation? 

I gave my Ph.D. level SME group a rapid prototype for a course that is a grant deliverable. They want to completely eliminate every piece of content that is mapped to the values learning outcomes, only keeping skills and knowledge outcomes. Frankly, they are losing all of the interesting content - all scenario and story based. They also want to eliminate content that relates to a solid recommendation they make elsewhere in the course - making the entire experience internally inconsistent. 

I knew this course design was risky with this group, but the main contact person wanted something innovative. And I'm caught in the middle.

What strategies can y'all recommend for me? 

3 Replies
Alexander Salas
almost 9 years ago06/24/15 at 12:55 am (UTC)

Have a discussion with the main contact to ensure communication is transparent and document the changes.  The most important part is to keep the focus on the target audience and level off with the SME group.  More often than not we end up developing a page turner when we don't really want to, but that's the nature of the beast at times. Good luck!

Bob S
almost 9 years ago06/24/15 at 4:18 pm (UTC)

Tough one, but it does happen.  Here are some random thoughts you might string together into a plan....

  • First, take back control by supporting, not confronting, the SMEs input.  But do so in a way that's win-win.   Look past what they've cut, and get to the heart of WHY they cut it.   Was the course too long?  Did they think it would endanger future grants?     
  • Validate their intention (not their specific recommendations necessarily) and offer up solutions.   For example, if they felt the course was too long then agree with them (!!!) and offer up ways you can streamline other content to still allow for the engagement that the learners need. NOTE:  Do not be too eager to offer these solutions up right away.  Be circumspect, demonstrate you are taking their feedback to heart. This is a time where appearances matter so make it a point of letting them know you will use their feedback to retool things appropriately.
  • Have a re-alignment meeting where again, you validate the overall rationale of the SME input and frame up solutions that still put the learner (and your key stakeholder) as key considerations.  This meeting can include your stakeholder and all (or at least the most influential) SME(s).  Broker this discussion carefully, being sure to never pit them against one another.  You might even explain to the stakeholder before hand the approach you will take to appease the SMEs.
  • Stroke egos.  Make the SMEs "heroes" for keeping things on track and give THEM credit for achieving the compromise solution that honors the stakeholders vision.  The people that really matter will know the reality and see you as a miracle worker. :)

Good luck!

Holly Jarvis
almost 9 years ago06/24/15 at 4:23 pm (UTC)

Great suggestions - I love the "stroke the ego" bit. My knee-jerk reaction is to defend my position, provide logic behind the decisions and explain. I appreciate the feedback that listening > talking.

Holly D. Jarvis Whitaker, Ph.D.
Coordinator of Educational Media and Online Curriculum Development
AgriLife Communications | Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
hollydjarvis@tamu.edu
979.458.5911

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