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Business Transformation & Operational Excellence Summit & Industry Awards (BTOES)

The Premier Cross-Industry Gathering of Business Transformation & Operational Excellence Industry Leaders & Senior-Executives.

Date

- May 2026

Where

Orlando
Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld®

How to Enter The 2019 Project Awards

BTOES20 Organizational Awards - Intro - BTOES20

There are 19 Project Awards Categories

  • Best Achievement in Cultural Transformation & Sustainability to deliver a high performing Enterprise Excellence culture.

  • Best Achievement in Operational Excellence to deliver Business Transformation

  • Best Achievement in Operational Excellence to deliver Digital Transformation

  • Best Operational Excellence Program for Discovering, Nurturing and Fortifying Talent Management

  • Best Operational Excellence in Achieving Supply Chain Sustainability of Operations

  • Best Operational Excellence in Achieving Supply Chain Risk & Resiliency / Risk Management

  • Best Achievement in Operational Excellence to deliver an outstanding Value Creation or Innovation Execution project

  • Best Achievement in Operational Excellence to deliver an outstanding Customer Experience Excellence

  • Best Achievement in deployment of AI in the Enterprise

  • Best Achievement in deployment of AI in the Public Sector

  • Best Achievement in Process Automation (RPA, Low Code, Intelligent Automation, Hyper Automation, Machine Learning, Cognitive Learning, Blockchain etc)

  • Best Achievement in an Enterprise Architecture program

  • Best Achievement in a Process Mining program

  • Best Achievement in a Business Process Management Program

  • Best Achievement in an IT Infrastructure & Cloud Program

  • Most Outstanding Digital Workplace Transformation Program

  • Most Outstanding IOT Program

  • Best Achievement in Web 3.0 project

  • Best Achievement in a Metaverse project

BTOES19 - 3 - Project Awards - Entry Guidelines & Rules - BTOES19

How To Submit Your Entry

Guidelines for Project Category Entries

Each entry submitted to the Business Transformation & Operational Excellence Awards should represent a single project.

Entry Document Requirements:

  • Document Length: The document should not exceed four pages of A4 size. This brevity ensures relevance and focuses on the essentials, as judges prefer succinct presentations over lengthy descriptions.
  • Synopsis: Begin your document with a concise 250-word synopsis. This serves as an overview for the judges, highlighting the key aspects and significant results of your project.
  • Content: Outline the strategic objectives, scope, implementation process, and timeline of your project. Highlight the challenge, innovative approaches used, and any organizational development.
  • Impact and Results: Describe the project's impact, including customer benefits and value generation. Present business results in percentage terms (or raw data where appropriate), emphasizing both financial outcomes and strategic relevance.

 

Submission Process:

  • Complete the online entry form with detailed information about your project.
  • Multiple entries per category are welcome, and the same project can be entered into multiple relevant categories.
  • Projects should primarily pertain to the period 2021-2024, though they need not have started or concluded within this timeframe.

 

Special Feature for Shortlisted Entries:

  • If your entry is shortlisted, we will feature a 50-word summary of it in the Awards Book Of The Night, alongside other finalists. This book is presented to attendees at the awards ceremony and shared with over 1.8 million BTOES Insights subscribers post-ceremony.
  • Please provide a 50-word summary for each of your entries as part of your application. This summary will be your chance to succinctly highlight the essence of your project to a broad audience.

 

Focus Areas for Judging:

  • Ensure that your document covers all the required information, which will form the basis for scoring by the judges. Emphasize the link between your project and the organization's strategic goals.

 

The judges will consider the following criteria when grading all entries:

  1. Strategic Relevance: how does the project fit in with the organization’s strategic objectives
  2. Value Generation: how significant to the organization was the value generated from the  project
  3. Customer Benefit: the beneficial impact of the project results on customers
  4. Implementation: the quality of the implementation process
  5. Leadership Engagement: the level of senior management involvement and
  6. Organizational Learning: how did the organization develop as a result of the project.  
  7. Creative Use of Tools: how innovative was the project deployment

 

Scoring Criteria:

  1. Strategic Relevance

    • 1-3: Minimal role in organizational strategy.

    • 4-6: Moderate role in organizational strategy.

    • 7-10: Central role in organizational strategy.

  2. Value Generation

    • 1-3: Limited impact.

    • 4-6: Notable impact.

    • 7-10: Exceptional impact.

  3. Customer Benefit

    • 1-3: Limited evidence of benefit.

    • 4-6: Moderate evidence of benefit.

    • 7-10: Clear, significant benefit.

  4. Implementation

    • 1-3: Basic implementation.

    • 4-6: Competent implementation.

    • 7-10: Exemplary implementation.

  5. Organizational Learning

    • 1-3: Minimal development.

    • 4-6: Moderate development.

    • 7-10: Significant development.

  6. Creative Use of Tools

    • 1-3: Limited innovation.

    • 4-6: Moderate innovation.

    • 7-10: High level of innovation.

 

We look forward to receiving entries that reflect the innovation and excellence in your projects. For submissions or further assistance, please contact us at awards@proqis.com.

 

Criteria for the Judging Panel

The judges will consider the following criteria when grading all entries:

  1. Strategic Relevance: how does the project fit in with the organization’s strategic objectives
  2. Value Generation: how significant to the organization was the value generated from the  project
  3. Customer Benefit: the beneficial impact of the project results on customers
  4. Implementation: the quality of the implementation process
  5. Leadership Engagement: the level of senior management involvement and
  6. Organizational Learning: how did the organization develop as a result of the project.  
  7. Creative Use of Tools: how innovative was the project deployment

The Scoring Matrix is as follows:

Strategic Relevance

 

Score 1-3 - Digital Transformation or Operational Excellence does not factor strongly within the organizational strategy

 

Score 4-6 - Digital Transformation or Operational Excellence plays a reasonable role within organizational strategy

 

Score 7-10 - Digital Transformation or  Operational Excellence has a key role within the organizational strategy

Value Generation

 

Score 1-3 - Results not that impressive

 

Score 4-6 - Results fairly impressive

 

Score 7-10 Results very to exceedingly Impressive

Customer Benefit

 

Score 1-3 - No strong evidence of customer benefit

 

Score 4-6 - Entry shows reasonable level of customer benefit

 

Score 7-10- Evident that there has been significant customer benefit

Implementation

 

Score 1-3 - Implementation process is not impressive

 

Score 4-6 - Implementation process is to a reasonable standard

 

Score 7-10 - Implemenation process is of an impressive standard

Organizational Learning

 

Score 1-3  - No clear signs of organizational development through Digital Transformation or  Operational Excellence

 

Score 4-6 - Entry shows reasonable levels of organziational development through Digital Transformation or  Operational Excellence

 

Score 7-10 - Evident that there has been significant organizational development though Digital Transformation or  Operational Excellence

Creative Use of Tools

 

Score 1-3 - Project deployment shows little or no evidence of being innovative

 

Score 4-6 - Project deployment shows reasonable evidence of being innovative

 

 Score 7-10 - Project deployment shows significant evidence of being innovative

 

Project Awards - Eligibility Period

Supporting Materials

Entrants may supply supporting materials to provide further insight. These materials must be no longer than two pages of A4. Typically they may include examples of internal documentation, organograms, internal and expert reports.

Entries do not need to have supporting materials, but if you do include them do cross reference them within your main entry document so that the judges are actively encouraged to read them.

We used to allow more pagination for supporting materials but the judges found that generally there was too much material supplied that was not directly pertinent to the entry and thus were less than enthusiastic about reading through it.

Support documents can be supplied in confidence, please mark this on the supporting document, and they will be destroyed after view. 

Best Practises for your Main Entry Document

Guidelines for the Main Entry Document

Your submission should start with a 250-word synopsis and be confined to four pages of A4. This document is your central pitch, encapsulating all key aspects of your project.

  1. 250-Word Synopsis: This is an overview for the judges, providing a snapshot of your entry and guiding them through the significant outcomes.

  2. Document Length and Focus: Limit your document to four pages to maintain relevance and clarity. Judges prefer concise, fact-based entries over lengthy narratives.

  3. Attention to Detail: Adhere closely to the guidelines relevant to your category to avoid missing crucial points. Even small details can impact your entry's scoring.

  4. Effective Writing: Seek assistance from skilled writers, such as your Communications Department, for a polished and engaging entry. Well-written submissions often make a stronger impact.

  5. Consider Your Audience: Treat your document like a 10-minute pitch. Captivate the judges initially, and they will be more inclined to consider your entry favorably.

  6. Conciseness is Key: Avoid filling space with irrelevant content. An entry that is direct and to the point is often more successful.

  7. Results-Focused: Highlight key results such as cost reductions, sales growth, or productivity improvements. Use clear charts and factual data for a compelling presentation.

  8. External Review: Have your entry reviewed by someone outside your team to ensure clarity and objectivity. This helps in making your document accessible to external judges.

  9. Clear Structure: Organize your document logically with clear and informative visuals. A well-structured, easy-to-read entry will stand out in a field of numerous applications.

Remember, your entry is not just a formality; it's an opportunity to showcase your project's impact and innovation. Make every word count!

Awards - Who can enter and how to enter

Enhancing Your Entry: Practical Tips

While some of these suggestions may seem straightforward, their importance cannot be overstated:

  • Thoroughly Review Guidelines: Ensure your entry adheres closely to the guidelines, covering all necessary information to avoid losing points.

  • Understand Category Requirements: Each category has specific requirements. Familiarize yourself with them to ensure your entry aligns perfectly.

  • Choose Your Best Work: Select achievements that best represent your strengths and success.

  • Adhere to Material Limits: Do not exceed the set page limits (e.g., 4 pages for the Main Entry Document) to avoid disqualification.

  • Conciseness and Relevance: Keep your entry focused and pertinent. Resist the urge to fill space with unnecessary content. Remember, brevity can be more impactful.

  • Professional Writing Assistance: Engage with your Communications Department for a well-crafted entry. Judges appreciate entries that are clear, engaging, and professionally written.

  • Objective Feedback: Get an unbiased review of your entry from colleagues outside your team to ensure it resonates with an external audience.

  • Treat It as a Pitch: Consider your entry as a 10-minute pitch to the judges. Captivating them quickly can lead to more thorough consideration and higher scores.

  • Highlight Results: Emphasize key achievements and outcomes such as cost reductions, sales growth, or productivity improvements. Facts and data speak louder than descriptions.

  • Proofreading: Have someone outside your immediate team review your entry for clarity and objectivity.

  • Correct Category Selection: Make sure your entry is submitted in the most appropriate category for a better chance of success.

  • Cross-Reference Supporting Materials: Link any charts, graphs, or reports from your supporting materials directly to your main entry.

  • Avoid Basic Errors: Pay attention to spelling and grammar to maintain professionalism.

  • Follow the Rules: Adhering to the rules is crucial. Attempts to circumvent them can lead to disqualification and diminish your credibility.

 

By incorporating these tips, your entry can stand out for its clarity, coherence, and focus on key achievements.

Common Pitfalls We See In Entries to Avoid.

  • Very poor presentation of the facts.
  • Too much irrelevant material.
  • Links that do not lead to the right information.
  • Blinded by too much data and not enough narrative.
  • Not concise, relevant and to the point.
  • No mention of the customer benefit?
  • Too long – they broke the rules.
  • Did not select the best materials to submit.

Previous Winning Case Studies

This awards program started back in 2006, as The Global Six Sigma Awards and took place in conjunction with the Global Lean Six Sigma and Business Improvement Summit, and quickly became the industry’s most prestigious program. This was not only due to its size, but importantly due to the two-step scoring & judging ratification process, a strict policy to avoid no conflicts of interest, and a confidentiality agreement that judges sign-up to, which still exists in today awards.

BTOES has taken over this elite awards program and has taken it into the new age of Operational Excellence focused not just on Lean Six Sigma and incremental improvements at the operational level, but also strongly aligned with strategy execution, value creation, customer experience, and business transformation to create the future.

Please click here to view a list of previous winning case studies