"Ask the Expert" is the expertise sharing module provided by the Extension Server. It draws on the collective knowledge of an Extension's employees and members. It enables the users to execute their tasks in a timely manner by delivering internal expertise to extension related parties when they need it most.

The Extension Server's “Ask the Expert” module provides a vehicle by which the collective knowledge and best practices of the extension can be tapped into and delivered to the Extension customers, partners, educators and agents.

Features

• Directed Questions
  Users of the expertise system can field a question and specify the expert that they would like to answer their question. The question will then be posted and the expert notified by an email containing a link to the page where the question has been posted.
• Favorites Category
  Extension members can use a Favorites Category to maintain a list of topics and issues which are of interest to them. Ask the Expert updates their lists as new answers are entered to questions relating to topics in these categories.
• Expert's FAQ
  The experts in the Extension can maintain a FAQ list to which they can direct users fielding questions on recurring topics.
• Best Practice Nomination
  Extension employees and customers can nominate answers that are extremely accurate and succinctly satisfy their questions. These nominations are submitted for review and, if approved, become a best practice.
• Statistics
  Business analysts can track the expertise sharing trends of the Extension by making use of various statistics tracked by the Extension Solution's expertise module.
• Workflow Process
  Ask the Expert utilizes a sophisticated workflow process to make sure that an expert or a peer answers a question posed by an employee or customer, a timely manner. Answers to the questions are first processed to ensure their accuracy or that no sensitive information is being disclosed.