Expertise referrals using a real-time communication system

A system for performing expertise based referrals, the system comprising:

• a processor executing computer-usable program code, wherein the processor:
• receives, from a first messaging client associated with a first user, a voucher specifying a second user associated with a second messaging client seeking expertise and a third user associated with a third messaging client as a potential subject matter expert;
• assigns a role of potential maven to the first user and a role of potential subject matter expert to the third user;
• responsive to execution of the voucher, establishes an instant messaging session between the second messaging client and the third messaging client;
• receives an input from the second messaging client indicating whether a question posed by the second user is resolved;
• and
• when the posed question is resolved, assigns a role of maven to the first user and a role of subject matter expert to the third user, and stores, as part of a referral transaction, a transcript of the instant messaging session between the second messaging client and the third messaging client, a reference to the first user with the assigned role, and a reference to the third user with the assigned role.

A computer program product comprising:

• a computer-usable medium comprising computer-usable program code that, when executed by a computer, provides expertise based referrals, the computer-usable medium comprising:
• computer-usable program code that receives, from a first messaging client associated with a first user, a voucher specifying a second user associated with a second messaging client seeking expertise and a third user associated with a third messaging client as a potential subject matter expert;
• computer-usable program code that assigns a role of potential maven to the first user and a role of potential subject matter expert to the third user;
• computer-usable program code that, responsive to execution of the voucher, establishes an instant messaging session between the second messaging client and the third messaging client;
• computer-usable program code that receives an input from the second messaging client indicating whether a posted question from the second user is resolved;
• and
• computer-usable program code that, when the posed question is resolved, assigns a role of maven to the first user and a role of subject matter expert to the third user, and stores, as part of a referral transaction, a transcript of the instant messaging session between the second messaging client and the third messaging client, a reference to the first user with the assigned role, and a reference to the third user with the assigned role.