Forum Post: Conglomerate Website Component - SME

The Subject Matter Expert (SME) component is as much a customer base builder for subsidiaries as it is a public information source.

There are two user types that interact:

• SMEs (subsidiary representatives and politically engaged citizens)

• researchers (consumers, etc.)

If I'm moving to a new house and need to hire professional movers, I look in the Directory of Subsidiaries first (because I want to support the movement). I don't move often so have lots of questions and don't know who to ask, so I use SME.

I ask "What is the best way to move my stuff?" As I submit my query, I'm prompted to answer a series of questions so the system can associate it with the appropriate Subject Matter Expert group.

If you represent/own a moving company (subsidiary), you may have registered to be a SME in this industry. If you registered with the same criteria I queried with, you will receive a notification for a pending query.

Other SMEs could be receiving the same notifications, so if you want to grow your business, you'd better respond quickly and professionally. I see new businesses utilizing SME to quickly build a customer base, though as they get busy, they will have less need or time to be/have SMEs.

Aside from subsidiaries, other individuals and entities will be motivated to register as SMEs. Examples could include educators, scientists and public sector service providers.

Queries and SME responses are public property housed in FreeInfo. When I query, I see results from a few places:

FreeInfo (Referenced http://occupywallst.org/forum/conglomerate-website-component-freeinfo/ )

• related queries and SME responses, and conversations stemming from them

Directory/Marketplace (Referenced http://occupywallst.org/forum/conglomerate-website-component-marketplace/ )

• search result hits for related subsidiary ads

Watchdog (Referenced http://occupywallst.org/forum/conglomerate-website-component-watchdog/ )

• notifications related to query criteria

Back to Topic References: http://occupywallst.org/forum/conglomerate-and-dgrc-topic-references/