Optus Launches Ultimate IT Challenge
- $100,000 worth of prizes
- One Enterprise winner; 3 SMB winners
- Compete against Chris Judd/Matt Giteau
Optus Business is calling on IT teams across Australia to demonstrate innovation and teamwork in overcoming their IT challenges with the launch of the Ultimate IT Challenge.
Closing 15 January 2011, the competition is currently open to Australian businesses of any size to recognise and reward innovation within their IT teams, with the opportunity for their business to win a share of $100,000 worth of Optus products and services or the option of funds to help promote their business. The IT Challenge will honour four winners in total, including one enterprise and three small to medium business (SMB) IT teams, with an additional people’s choice award to be determined by public vote.
To enter the competition, an IT team must describe how they overcame their biggest IT challenge, whether it be mobility, security, service, communications or network-related, by demonstrating innovation and teamwork. Nine teams will be short-listed as finalists and will also have the opportunity to experience the ultimate sports challenge by spending a day competing against Australia’s top sporting talent, including Carlton Captain and Brownlow Medallist Chris Judd, Wallaby Matt Giteau and Tennis Olympian Alicia Molik.
Scott Mason, Director of Fixed Products, Marketing and Strategy, Optus Business, said “Optus has launched this competition to celebrate innovation and teamwork amongst IT teams across Australia, from large enterprise IT departments to two-person teams supporting smaller businesses. We’re looking to reward IT teams that have addressed business challenges in an innovative way, whether it be the unique application of a particular technology or process improvement.”
Phil Offer, Marketing Director of Optus Small and Medium Business, said “IT teams are often the ‘unsung heroes’ working tirelessly behind the scenes so the Ultimate IT Challenge is an opportunity for their innovative work to get publicly recognised. We’re also looking to ignite the finalists’ competitive spirit by giving them the chance to spend a day out of the office to play tennis, rugby or football with the country’s top sporting talent. To help businesses conquer their future IT challenges, we’re offering Optus products and services as a prize option.”
The Ultimate IT Challenge will be judged by a panel of IT experts, including Bruce Lakin, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Computer Society (ACS).
“The ACS is pleased to support Optus Business in launching the Ultimate IT Challenge,” said Lakin. “As the recognised society for Information and Communications Technology practitioners, we promote professional excellence in ICT. The Ultimate IT Challenge is a great initiative to raise awareness of innovation among ICT practitioners and we’re very excited about our involvement in this year’s program.”
Entry process and criteria Individuals can nominate their IT team or teams can enter directly at www.optus.com.au/ITChallenge in either the SMB (under 200 employees) or enterprise (200 plus employees) categories. Entrants must answer three questions and submit their entry online, and can also upload videos and photos of their IT team. Entries are open now and close 15 January 2010. The first 100 entries will win an HP Mini Netbook 5102 (RRP $969).
Nine teams will be short listed by a panel of expert judges on 27 January 2010, including six in the SMB category and three in the enterprise category. The four winning teams will be announced on 11 February 2011 at a special awards ceremony to be held in Melbourne. The sports day challenge event will also take place on 11 February 2010, although this has no bearing on the final winning result.
Additionally, the public has the opportunity to vote for their favourite entry on the IT Challenge website. The winner of the people’s choice award will win a HP Mini 5012 Netbook and have the opportunity to participate in the sports day challenge event. They do not automatically qualify for the finalist shortlist unless selected by the expert judging panel.
Enterprise Winner: The winning team will have the option of Optus products or services to the value of $50,000 for the business which employs the winner; or $25,000 to help promote the business which employs the winner (including but not limited to a payment towards advertising costs, website development, signage, marketing consultants)
SMB Winners: The three winning teams will have the option of: Optus products or services to the value of $16,900 for the business which employs the winner; or $10,000 to help promote the business which employs the winner (including but not limited to a payment towards advertising costs, website development, signage, marketing consultants)
