17 March 2008; Portland, Oregon:

Solari President, Rich Maggiani, spoke at the WritersUA conference for software assistance on “Effective Interviewing of Subject Matter Experts” (slides).

Through a storyboard concept, Maggiani presented basic techniques for interviewing, focusing on two often overlooked principles: making a personal connection with the interviewee, and listening then questioning effectively.

Through thoughtful, thorough interviews, professionals can obtain much needed information — about how the software works (from subject matter experts) and about how people use it (from your key audience). Attendees learned how to conduct an interview geared toward obtaining more considered information that can deepen your understanding and attain a more comprehensive grasp of the topic. Attendees learned how to prepare for an interview, how to create questions that can build on responses, and how to conduct an interview in-person, via email, and over the Internet in real-time.