The Judging Process.

Business success.

To determine a business' overall success, Judges for all categories will use the following criteria.

Economic sustainability

• Makes sound financial decisions and manages cash flow effectively
• Is profitable over a period and can clearly articulate potential profits
• Sustains goals and purpose over a period and can outline potential future impact
• Has proven examples of achieving mission-critical goals and objectives
• Considers competitor behaviours and how to counteract them
• Has examples of how they’ve found better ways to reach new markets
• Exceeds customer expectations and delivers brilliant experiences

Operational effectiveness and technology adoption

• Harnesses technology in innovative ways to move the business forward
• Changes course with agility to adapt to market changes
• Has developed new internal processes, production or services to operate more effectively
• Takes a creative approach to solving customer problems
• Tenaciously pushes the boundaries to maintain success

Progressive leadership and culture

• Has a visionary, future-facing business strategy
  
• Takes a courageous approach to risk, and adapts when necessary
• Fosters internal team culture by celebrating innovation, collaboration and diversity
• Invests in employee development and growth
• Is committed to reducing bias of any kind at any level and approaches hiring accordingly
• Proactively engages with diverse groups to understand different perspectives and apply them to their business
• Approaches customer feedback as an asset and uses it to enhance the business

Social and community contribution

• Purposefully contributes to the wellbeing of the communities they serve, or society in general
• Promotes the importance of social impact internally, and demonstrates this externally
• Provides or contributes measurable value to their communities or society at large
• Behaves and operates in a transparent and ethical manner

Positive impact in the chosen category.

A key focus for the Telstra Best of Business Awards is the positive impact a business is making. For businesses entering Accelerating Women, Championing Health, Building Communities, Embracing Innovation, Promoting Sustainability and Outstanding Growth, Judges will be looking for the visible difference they've made to move Australia forward. Positive impact will be determined by the following:

Positive and sustainable impact

• Is proactively finding solutions for a prevalent problem, gap or need
• Understands the overall significance of their service, product, solution or contribution
• Has a plan for how to achieve their vision in creating change or progress
• Can produce measurable evidence of how they’ve contributed to a key issue within their chosen category
• Creates a visible difference, provides value or delivers a marked effect on people, communities or industries
• Has created a legacy of positive impact that is sustained and will stand the test of time
• Possesses the scalability and growth potential to increase their impact or contribution

Thought leadership and innovation

• Takes an innovative approach to forge new paths and create progress for the category
• Uses creative and strategic thinking to solve problems and overcome barriers for their chosen challenge
• Challenges the status quo by celebrating and fostering fresh thinking in a way that demonstrably inspires others

Commitment and perseverance

• Purposefully seeks to motivate, create and affect positive change or progress
• Shows passion and courage in achieving their goals current and future goals
• Tenaciously approaches and overcomes any challenge