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How Do the CODiEs Work? For Software & Information Companies
What’s a CODiE and How Do I Get One? For Education Companies
Answers to the forllowing questions:
GENERAL
What is SIIA?
The Software & Information Industry Association is the principal trade association for the software and digital content industry. SIIA provides global services in government relations, business development, corporate education and intellectual property protection to the leading companies that are setting the pace for the digital age. SIIA's principal mission is to:
- Promote the Industry: SIIA promotes the common interests of the software and digital content industry as a whole, as well as its component parts.
- Protect the Industry: SIIA protects the intellectual property of member companies, and advocates a legal and regulatory environment that benefits the entire industry.
- Inform the Industry: SIIA informs the industry and the broader public by serving as a resource on trends, technologies, policies and related issues that affect member firms and demonstrate the contribution of the industry to the broader economy.
What are the Codie Awards?
The Codie Awards holds the distinction of being the only peer-recognition awards program of its kind in the industry, providing a unique opportunity for companies to earn the praise of their competitors. The Codie Awards program, now in its twenty-first year, remains the standard-bearer for celebrating outstanding achievement and vision in our industry.
NOMINATIONS
How do I enter a product?
To nominate a product for the Codie Awards, simply fill out the form on this website. You can nominate online, or you can download the PDF and fax it to Lisa Mitchell at +1.202.289.7097. Nominations are open until October 26.
How do I enter my company for a corporate award?
To nominate for one of the Corporate Awards, complete the basic information online. The two-page nomination statements for corporate awards are due at a later date than the product nominations. They should be e-mailed to Lisa Mitchell by December 14, 2007.
How much does it cost to enter?
- SIIA Members & Non-profit Organizations
1 category per product: $295
2 categories per product (10% discount): $531
3 categories per product (20% discount): $708
- Nonmembers
1 category per product: $595
2 categories per product (10% discount): $1071
3 categories per product (20% discount): $1428
Please Note: Discounted pricing applies only to the same product nominated in more than one category. Each product nominated must have a separate nomination form.
What if I have questions on completing the form?
Contact Lisa Mitchell at lmitchell@siia.net.
What do I do after I send in my nomination form?
Once the nomination period is over, you will receive a list of the judges assigned to your category(s) and their contact information. We expect this process to begin November 19, 2007. You will send your product directly to the judges for review.
My company's product is in beta testing. Is it eligible?
Products must launch before October 26, 2007 in order to be eligible for the 2008 CODiE Awards.
Does my product need to be new this year to be eligible?
No. As long as your product launched before October 26, 2007, it is eligible for the 2008 CODiE Awards.
If my product was a nominee/finalist/winner last year, is it eligible?
Yes.
How will I know if SIIA received my nomination?
You will receive confirmation of your entry immediately after you submit it online. This will also serve as your invoice, so be sure to print it out. If you do not receive a written confirmation, you may fairly presume that SIIA did not receive your nomination.
On November 19, 2007 you will receive a list of the judges assigned to your category(s). If you do not receive a list of judges by November 21, please contact Lisa Mitchell at
lmitchell@siia.net.
What do I send to the judges?
Before December 14, 2007, please send at least ONE of the following to all of the judges in your category, as well as to SIIA:
- Copy of Nominated Product (preferred)
- Website URL and login information for online products
- Self-running CD Demo
- Self-running Online Demo Instructions
I would like to offer a guided demo to the judges in my category. Is this allowed?
ONLY with the agreement of the judge. Judges are volunteers, their wishes are to be respected, and nominees may not harass judges to view guided demos.
I want to send a non-disclosure agreement with my product. Is this allowed?
Judges are not required to sign non-disclosure agreements.
JUDGING
How does judging work?
In the first round of the CODiE Awards, SIIA assigns multiple judges to each category. Each judge reviews the nominated products and submits his/her top 5 choices, ranked. The lists are compiled and weighted and finalists are named.
In order to ensure a review of every product, categories with more than 20 nominations are divided among judges, so that each judge reviews no more than 10-15 products and all products are reviewed by at least 2 judges. The top products from this initial review are compiled. From this review, finalists are named.
In the second round, finalists are submitted to SIIA Member companies for voting.
This year, a third round of voting has been instituted. This additional voting process will expand the voting pool and enable a SIIA member company attending any of any of the two SIIA spring conferences [Ed Tech industry Summit and NetGain] to review the products and services voted as Finalists in person.
Winners will be determined from a combination of first round judge rankings and SIIA Member votes when all rounds of voting will be summed and weighted. First round judges receive a 50% weight, second and third round votes will be summed and also receive a 50% weight.
How does SIIA determine the judges for the Codie Awards?
First round Codie Awards Judges are made up of representatives from the software and information industry trade press, mainstream technology writers, analysts, consultants and subject-matter experts. Judges must submit an application, which is reviewed for relevant experience.
Second and third round judges are made up of SIIA Member companies, making the CODiE Awards the only peer-reviewed awards program of its kind.
What is the timeline for judging?
First round judging takes place in November 2007 through January 2008. Finalists will be announced in early February 2008. First Round SIIA Member voting takes place March through April, 2008. Third Round SIIA Member voting will take place on the evening of Monday, May 19 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco.
Winners will be announced at the CODiE Awards Gala on May 20, 2008.
Why does judging take so long?
Judges thoroughly review 10 - 20 products submitted to the CODiE Awards in order to name finalists. Finalists are then submitted to SIIA Member companies for voting.
Will I receive judge feedback on my nominated product?
SIIA strongly encourages judges to provide comments on the products they review. We feel that this is one of the major factors that set the CODiE Awards apart from other programs. But, we cannot guarantee that judges will comment on every product.
It is our goal for each nominee to understand the judges' thought process as well as to provide constructive comments to help companies know how to improve their products for the future. We recognize that feedback from judges is an important benefit of entering a product. We have implemented a new review form that makes it easy for judges to submit comments back to us.
After the finalists have been announced (in February, 2008), nominees may request judge feedback by contacting Lisa Mitchell a
lmitchell@siia.net.
The Codie Awards logo, re-designed in 2004, brings together the word "CODE" and the symbol for information ("i"), to visually emphasize the Codie Awards' focus on the software and digital content industries.
