Telephone Interviews Experts, people who know what you want to find out, are generally a better source of information than publications research. They give you the most current picture available, and will save time on your learning curve. Use the telephone to interview sources. Before you call, define your strategy. Be flexible and use common sense.
First impressions count.
Be prepared to take a back door approach to getting your desired information. Rethink the problem and decide what pieces would help you fill your puzzle. Several little pieces may be easier to get than one big piece. If your source is more comfortable talking around an issue than speaking directly, let them. Try to work backward, getting as specific as the source will allow.