In a perfect world, an instructional designer (ID) is given content to work with and develop. But sometimes (or all too often) the content is not available because either the subject matter expert (SME) has been too busy to locate it, or the content is simply not available because the product is still in development. Resolving this involves research, interviewing the lead SME, locating product information, and finding other SMEs on other projects who can help you.

Having clearly defined requirements at the start of a project is extremely important. Requirements help establish and maintain a solid target throughout a project, help minimize wasted time and frustration, and can help ensure an organization maximizes its return on investment. This document contains suggested steps for discovering and defining business requirements.

Steve Wacker explains the importance of having effective communication skills with subject matter experts and clients when it comes to writing technical documentation.