How to Preview an Observation

Locate and review a job function observation in read-only mode, or start one against an associate for testing.

Written by Noopur Desai
Updated this week

Reviewing an observation allows administrators and content owners to check that topics, prompts, guidance, and response options are accurate before associates encounter them in the field, and to revisit completed configurations at any time.

This guide walks through how to locate and review an observation from the Library, as well as an alternative path to step through an observation interactively during testing.

This guide includes:

• Accessing the Library
• Locating the Observation
• Reviewing in Read-Only Mode
• What to Verify
• Best Practices

Accessing the Library

Sign in to Smart Access at app.smartaccess.io, then select Library from the navigation. The Library organizes observations under their associated Job Functions, making it the starting point for most reviews.

Locating the Observation

Once in the Library, an observation can be found in one of two ways:

• Select the relevant Job Function, then scroll to its Observations section to find the one to review.
• Use the universal search and enter the name of the observation directly, which is faster when the job function is not already known.

Reviewing in Read-Only Mode

Selecting the observation from either the Job Function or search results opens it in read-only mode. This view displays the full observation exactly as an observer would see it, including topics, prompts, guidance, images, and response options, without the ability to make changes. Read-only mode is the standard way to review an existing observation and does not begin or save a live record.

What to Verify

While reviewing an observation, confirm the following:

• Topics and sequence - all required topics are included and appear in the correct process order.
• Prompt wording - each prompt is clear, accurate, and easy for the observer to understand.
• Guidance - any Correct Process Tips reflect the correct process expectations.
• Images - each image is clear, current, and supports the prompt.
• Response options - the selections accurately reflect the behaviors or conditions being observed.

Best Practices

• Use the Library and universal search together; search is faster when the observation name is known, while browsing by Job Function is useful when confirming everything under a role is accounted for.
• Default to read-only review whenever possible, since it reflects the observation exactly as an observer will experience it without risk of creating stray records.
• Reserve the associate-based method for genuine testing needs and confirm with your team whether the resulting record should be discarded afterward.