Spanning 21 industries and a universe of large U.S. companies, the InformationWeek 500 provides unrivaled insight into the business-technology practices of the nation's most innovative IT users. To qualify for the study, a company completed a comprehensive qualifying application that detailed management priorities, technology strategies, staffing initiatives, and budget plans. InformationWeek editors authored the application and chose the criteria used in the selection process. They also created the proprietary weighting system used to identify and rank the innovators. Companies that filled out the qualifying application completely scored consistently higher than those that didn't.

We would like to thank CIC Research, which hosted the online application and assisted in compiling the 2004 research results. Special thanks also go to Hoover's Online (www.hoovers.com), which provided financial information about eligible companies.

Although InformationWeek 500 candidates reveal key elements about their operations, information is disclosed only in aggregate across the top 100 sites and the full 500 companies, and by industry. Individual company responses are never divulged.

To have your company considered for next year's study, please send an E-mail to iw500@cmp.com.

Return to main story, InformationWeek 500 Overview: Measure Up, Or Move Out

TOP INDUSTRY PERFORMERS Industry Company Revenue in millions Automotive JM Family Enterprises Inc. $7,800 Banking & Financial Services Capital One Financial Corp. $10,239 Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals Wyeth $15,851 Chemicals Eastman Chemical Co. $5,800 Construction & Engineering Gilbane Inc. $2,771 Consulting & Business Services Xerox Corp. $15,701 Consumer Goods E.&J. Gallo Winery -- Distribution Avnet Inc. $10,245 Electronics Micron Technology Inc. $3,091 Energy & Utilities Xcel Energy $7,938 Health Care & Medical UPMC Health System $4,000 Hospitality & Travel Marriott International Inc. $9,014 Information Technology Cisco Systems Inc. $22,000 Insurance Cigna Corp. $18,808 Logistics & Transportation FedEx Corp. $24,710 Manufacturing Emerson $13,958 Media & Entertainment Harrah's Entertainment Inc. $4,323 Metals & Natural Resources Louisiana-Pacific Corp. $2,300 Retail: General Merchandising Saks Inc. $6,055 Retail: Speciality Merchandising Tiffany & Co. $2,000 Telecommunications Verizon Communications $67,752 Financial data is from public sources and company supplied. Revenue is for latest fiscal year. Dashes indicate companies requesting financial information not be disclosed. View full industry listing for 2004

Photographs by Pete McArthur