2010 InformationWeek 500 Application Tips
The application consists of three sections:

  • Strategy & Tactics
  • Innovation Essay
  • Your IT Organization

    • The responses to these three sections are evaluated, weighted, and combined into a total score to rank the companies. The Innovation Essay carries considerable weight in the application evaluation process; completion of the essay is highly recommended. Organizations that completely fill out the application score consistently higher in the InformationWeek 500.

    Tips For Completing The Strategy & Tactics Section

  • Take time to fully evaluate each question and the available options.
  • If necessary, consult others within your organization to help you answer the questions.
  • Answer each question as accurately as possible; don't check off every option just because you think it will make your company look more innovative. In this instance, more does not equal better.

    • Tips For Completing The Innovation Essay

  • The Innovation Essay should highlight your company's most innovative business technology initiative completed in the last year.
  • This initiative can be either internal or customer-facing and across any technology category (e.g., emerging technology, supply chain, information security/privacy, wireless, productivity, etc.).
  • The essay can highlight a homegrown solution; however, if your company is in the IT industry, we ask that you do not use the essay to tout your company's own commercially available technology products.
  • The essay should include:
    • What about the initiative truly makes it innovative
    • What technology or business problem was behind the initiative
    • Scope of the initiative
    • Examples of ways the initiative succeeded
    • Business value derived from the initiative (e.g., revenue generation, measurable gains in productivity or efficiencies, cost savings, improved customer satisfaction, etc.)

    Tips For Completing The Section On Your IT Organization

  • This section asks about your company's IT budget plans-providing this information is not required, but it does help in establishing industry averages.
  • We are aware of Sarbanes-Oxley regulations and we are not asking you to project revenue.
  • Company-specific IT budgetary information is never disclosed.
  • We ask for both U.S. and global revenue. Companies that are U.S.-based only should supply only U.S. revenue; international companies are asked to supply U.S. revenue and global revenue (defined as U.S. + non-U.S. revenue).
  • Even if your company is privately held, we recommend you supply revenue figures from your most recently completed (or available) fiscal year-this information is used to confirm that companies qualify and to establish industry averages.

    • Contact Information

  • The person completing the application is asked to provide all requested contact information-this will make it easier for us to locate your application and help with any questions you may have. Additionally, if your company makes the list, you will receive the primary notification.
  • List the company name as it should appear in print.
  • Provide the name and title of your company's highest-ranking IT officer as it should appear in print. This ensures the correct person and title is listed should your company make the 2010 InformationWeek 500.
  • If your company has an internal or external (i.e., agency) PR/marketing contact, please provide their contact information. If your company makes the list, they will be sent information on logos, press release templates, etc. In the absence of a PR contact, this information will be sent to the person completing the application.


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