AWARDING STRATEGIES
Winning Formulae
Deepal Sooriyaarachchi
Q: What do you believe is the most important facet of an award – recognition, validation or motivation for continued excellence?
A: Awards serve as recognition, validation and motivation for continued excellence. Beyond these factors, well designed award schemes play a transformative role in driving enterprise success and fostering a culture of excellence.
They institutionalise best practices, inspire innovation, set benchmarks in industries and raise the overall standards of performance.
By celebrating achievements, awards not only encourage individuals and organisations to strive for greatness but also contribute to a thriving and competitive business environment, which ultimately elevates the collective potential of entire sectors.
Q: What measures should be taken to maintain transparency and impartiality in the evaluation and selection criteria?
A: To maintain transparency and impartiality in evaluation and selection, assessments should focus on verifiable facts and objective criteria.
Marking schemes must be carefully designed to eliminate bias. Judges should disclose any conflicts of interest, whether arising from business relationships or personal prejudice, to ensure fairness.
Appointing a diverse panel of judges helps mitigate individual bias and fosters balanced decision making. Prior to finalising the results, the judges should collectively review and take responsibility for the fairness and integrity of the selection process.
Q: And what steps should be taken to ensure that awards are more inclusive and representative of smaller or emerging businesses?
A: To ensure that awards are inclusive and representative of smaller or emerging businesses, the evaluation criteria should be tailored to accommodate their unique challenges – such as limited resources and less comprehensive data submissions.
Award schemes must focus on potential, innovation and impact rather than scale alone. Simplifying application processes and providing clear guidelines will encourage participation.
Additionally, creating specific categories for smaller enterprises ensures fair competition and highlights their contributions. This also fosters a more inclusive recognition platform that celebrates diverse achievements across all business sizes.
Q: How has the landscape of awards changed over the years?
A: It has evolved significantly over the years with a notable increase in both the number and variety of awards. Today, awards are presented by diverse entities including professional institutions, governments and trade chambers, and they cater to a wide range of industries and achievements.
Additionally, some awards have emerged as extensions of business strategies, and align recognition with branding or marketing objectives. However, as the number of participants and winners becomes crucial to the sustainability of certain award programmes, there is a risk of compromising on quality and credibility.
To maintain their value, awards must prioritise integrity and excellence over commercial interests, and ensure that they remain genuine platforms for recognising and celebrating outstanding contributions rather than mere business ventures.
Q: What advice would you offer to organisations operating in this country, which are aspiring to win international awards?
A: Organisations aspiring to win international awards should ensure that their efforts align with their business goals and strategic vision.
Pursuing an award should not be merely for recognition; it should also add tangible value to the enterprise such as enhancing credibility, opening new markets or driving industry leadership.
Carefully researched award criteria must ensure alignment with the organisation’s strengths and achievements. Since preparation is key, focus on showcasing innovation, impact and measurable results.
Lastly, maintain authenticity and integrity throughout the process, as genuine excellence is the foundation for earning meaningful and respected recognition on the international stage.
