This kind of research is incomplete if it does not involve interviewing knowledgeable people identified during the information gathering stage. Written material tends to highlight the positives and gloss over the negatives of most stories. Consequently, it is very important to talk to people involved in the projects that interest you to get an insider's view. Fortunately, most public managers are very willing to share their knowledge with colleagues. It may be more difficult to identify and contact someone in the private sector, but it is worth a serious effort. The staff person (or team) conducting current and best practices research must not only have good research skills, but also good interviewing skills. Often, people assigned to conduct current and best practices research delay interviews as they often feel they need to know the topic thoroughly before they can talk to someone about it. This is not necessary and will delay the learning process-it is better to ask recognized experts about what they know than try to become an expert yourself.

A staff member conducting the current and best practices research should:

• Feel comfortable talking to people, and asking for help and advice.
• Be able to describe your project accurately, but briefly .
• Identify the right person to talk to. If the person you are talking to does not seem knowledgeable enough, asking to be directed to someone who knows more about the issue will save time and frustration on both sides.
• Ask targeted questions: "What do you know about...? Who in your organization knows about...? Can you tell me more about how you...?"
• Know how and when to ask difficult questions (usually about problems and failures).
• Have a standard method for documenting the interview results.