Frequently asked questions about the Innovation Awards program.
Where do I go to access the nomination form?
The nomination form is at NetApp Innovation Awards 2012.
How do I submit a nomination?
All nominations must be submitted online, and no nominations will be accepted in any other format.
Who fills out the forms?
Customers can nominate themselves or be nominated by NetApp sales, channel, or technology partners; other companies; or colleagues.
What are the category descriptions?
- Efficiency Innovation: Efficiency innovators are at the forefront of virtualizing their data centers when using a NetApp® shared infrastructure. They are changing the economics of IT within their organizations—minimizing the time, resources, and effort of running IT services—and freeing up those resources to be deployed in other parts of the business. Because of their efforts, they are using quantifiably less budget for equipment, people, power, space, and capacity—with the end benefits of decreasing complexities and increasing operational efficiency.
- Flexibility Innovation: Flexibility innovators have created dynamic technology infrastructures that rapidly respond to changing business requirements, thereby enabling technology to scale or contract to drive measurable business value. This agility has allowed these organizations to capitalize on opportunities—that is, expand into new markets, manage change, develop new products, mitigate risk, and so on—in quantifiable ways.
- Visionary Leadership: Our Visionary Leadership Award highlights the people who have broken the mold, challenged the status quo, and/or overcome obstacles to move their businesses forward and position themselves more competitively in the marketplace. These visionaries are at the forefront of using technology as a tool for innovation within their organizations and would be seen by people inside and outside the company as true innovators.
How many categories can one company enter?
As many as appropriate.
How much information do I have to provide?
It's important to include as much information as possible in each of the questions. The judges will want to understand why this company or this individual is deserving of the award. To see a sample of a winning nomination, click here.
Do I include my contact information on the form as well?
Yes. Please include your information as the person submitting the nomination form in the first section of the form.
Does the customer need to divulge proprietary information on its deployment to the public?
Winning companies and individuals must agree to the use of their name and likeness in a press announcement and marketing collateral. However, winners will not be required to detail their deployment to the public.
How are the winners selected?
A third-party judging panel will select the winners using the following criteria:
- Business benefits: The nominee realized significant measurable business benefits from being built on a NetApp foundation.
- Business results: The nominee's business process was affected in an impactful and positive way by NetApp products.
- Solving business challenges: This submission was a compelling illustration of how technology enabled visible and quantifiable change within the business—most notably by improving the lives of customers or changing the trajectory of the business.
- Innovation: The NetApp implementation was innovative or created innovation for the nominee.
Do the winners need to be present to receive their award?
Winners must have a representative available to send to San Jose and be present to accept the award at a ceremony on June 20, 2012; allow for travel from June 19, 2012–June 21, 2012. NetApp will pay travel expenses, including accommodations, for the winners. If the winners cannot attend the awards ceremony, they will forfeit their entry and winnings.
What do the winners receive?
- Two roundtrip tickets to San Jose, California, and accommodations for two nights' stay to attend the awards event in San Jose, California June 19, 2012–June 21, 2012.
- Hand-crafted, prestigious award presented during an awards ceremony
- An exclusive Innovation Awards winner dinner with NetApp executives
- Public recognition and visibility in the industry
Where and when will the awards ceremony take place?
In San Jose, California on June 20, 2012; allow for travel from June 19, 2012–June 21, 2012.
What is the deadline to submit nomination forms?
All nominations must be received by midnight U.S Pacific Time on Wednesday, January 11, 2012.
Whom do I contact for more information?
Contact us at innovationawards2012@netapp.com.
