The Cube Awards 10

In partnership with… ITPRO FIT FOR BUSINESS

What, where, why, how, who, when?

Answers to your questions about The Cube Awards 10.

The winners of 2010's awards were announced on 16th November 2010.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are The Cube Awards?

The Cube Awards seek to recognise the efforts of individuals and organisations who develop solutions that are innovative and improve productivity through the use of FileMaker technology.

What is the Prize?

  • 1 x Winners of Winners Prize: CubeAward10 Crystal, Winners Logo and Certificate
  • 2 x Category Prizes: CubeAward10 Crystal, Winners Logo and Certificate
  • 2 x Runners Up Prizes: Runner Up Logo and Certificate
  • All shortlisted entries will receive a logo and certificate.

How many awards are offered?

There are 2 award categories

  1. Best Public Sector Solution
    Eligible solutions are those built for organisations in the Public Sector including local government, charities, education, health and central government.
  2. Best Private Sector Solution
    Eligible solutions are those built for commercial organisations whose objective is to make a profit.

Who is eligible to nominate for the awards?

Any developer using FileMaker Pro to build solutions for organisations including:

  • In-house Developers
  • FileMaker Business Alliance Members
  • FileMaker TechNet Members

How to enter

  1. Submit an entry using the online entry form. The closing date for entries is 7th October 2010.
  2. Some candidates may be invited to present their entries either in person or via webinar on 21st October 2010 at FileMaker International, 2 Furzeground Way, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB11 1BB. If you have not been invited, this does not mean that you are not still in the running.
  3. There will be no pre-announced shortlisted candidates.
  4. All winners will be announced at The CubeAwards10 luncheon event to be held on Tuesday 16th November 2010 at The Royal College of Physicians, 11 St Andrews Place, Regent's Park, London NW1 4LE.

What is the judging process?

From all the entries submitted via The CubeAwards10 online entry form, a panel of independent judges will select a winner and runner up for each category. A random selection of entrants will be invited to present their entries in person or via webinar, but those not invited may still be in the running.

If you are invited to present to the judges, presentations will last no longer than one hour per entry and up to 3 people may attend. Representation can be drawn from designers, developers or users. The presentation format will allow time for a formal presentation of around 20 minutes, questions and discussions.

The award winners for each award category will be based on the judging criteria outlined below. The judges may also select a number of entries as highly commended.

What are the judging criteria?

The entries which are well-presented with information which is well-written, clear and concise stand the best chance of being shortlisted. In addition, all entries will be evaluated against the following judging criteria:

User Experience

Judges will be looking for evidence that the solution has superior usability and a well-designed "look and feel" suitable for the users.

Learn more »

Functionality

Aspects by which judging will take place include the use of the solution by remote users, web connection, ESS links, integration with other systems and use of the latest features in FileMaker 11.

Learn more »

Total Value

Judges will be looking for evidence that the solution has enabled customers to deliver organisational gain through enhanced customer service, greater efficiency, organisational growth and/or ROI.

Learn more »

References and Evidence

Enter up to three genuine customer quotes that reference the benefits outlined under "Total Value".

PLEASE NOTE: Entries must be fully developed, implemented and in current use.

What are the conditions of entry?

  1. Entry is restricted to any developer who has built a solution using FileMaker for either a private or public sector organisation in the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Iceland, Spain or Portugal.
  2. Any developer is eligible to enter including but not exclusive to; in-house developers, members of the FileMaker Business Alliance and/or FileMaker Technical Network.
  3. Solutions must be completely documented and developed by the organisation or individual submitting the entry.
  4. Entries must be fully developed, implemented and in current use.
  5. Entrants must agree to assist in promotion and release their details for publicity purposes.
  6. By entering The CubeAwards10, the entrant accepts that FileMaker may use a submitted entry/solution for promotional purposes.
  7. Final judging will take place on 21st October 2010.
  8. The judges' decision will be final.

What are the key dates?

2nd September 2010 Entries open
7th October 2010 Entries closed
13th October 2010 Judging by selection panel
21st October 2010 Selected Presentations
21st October 2010 Judges Final Decision
16th November 2010 Awards Event

Where can I find out further information?

For further information about the CubeAwards10 – FileMaker Developers of Excellence, contact:

Chris Mann, 020 8268 6006
chris_mann@filemaker.com

Where can I read the terms and conditions?

You can read the terms and conditions on this website.

User Experience

Judges will be looking for evidence that the solution has superior usability and a well-designed 'look and feel' suitable for the users.

If you are invited to present your entry and to help you organise your presentation with the best chance of success, here are some of the aspects of your entry which judges will be examining in order to select a winning entry.

User Interface
  1. General screen, look and feel – layout design, graphics and typography
  2. Navigation, buttons and menus, ease of use, intuitive, apparent simplicity
  3. Feedback, processing dialogs, traps, etc
  4. Task/User need anticipation, process optimisation
  5. Avoidance of need for a manual/user training
  6. Effortless reporting
  7. Discreet 'behind the scenes' scripting
Data Presentation
  1. Solution organisation
    1. Sectional/Departmental
    2. User Workgroup requirements
  2. Clarity of information
    1. Data grouping
    2. Overloaded or thin
    3. Seamless related data display
  3. Task centricity/focus
    1. Appropriate context
    2. Minimised 'jumping around'
    3. Workflow management
Functionality

Aspects by which judging will take place include the use of the solution by remote users, web connection, ESS links, integration with other systems and use of the latest features in FM11.

If your entry is shortlisted, to help you organise your presentation with the best chance of success, here are some of the aspects of your entry which judges will be examining in order to select a winning entry.

  1. Unconventional challenges met and their resolution
    1. Use of advanced FileMaker techniques
    2. Integration with other applications/OS
    3. Incorporation of advanced technologies such as Flash, CSS, PHP, etc
  2. Use of FileMaker
    1. Inappropriate – this should never have been done in FileMaker Pro
    2. New boundaries broken with apparent ease
    3. Routine but professional
    4. "But you can't do that, can you? Really!"
    5. Fantastic new entry into previously unbroken market ground
  3. Under the hood
    1. Development standards, use of clear conventions
    2. Commenting
    3. Clean code
    4. Extensibility
    5. Specialised techniques, Arrays, Custom Functions, ESS, Plug-Ins, etc.
Total Value

Judges will be looking for evidence that the solution has enabled customers to deliver organisational gain through enhanced customer service, greater efficiency, organisational growth and/or ROI.

If your entry is shortlisted, to help you organise your presentation with the best chance of success, here are some of the aspects of your entry which judges will be examining in order to select a winning entry.

Customer Endorsement(s)
  1. Are genuine customer references attached to the submission?
  2. Has an ROI breakdown been submitted? / Cost/value equations
  3. What is the organisational gain – what can they now do that they weren't able to do before the solution was implemented?
  4. How will this benefit the organisation in the medium term?
  5. Are the gains qualitative / quantitative?
  6. Support data submitted?
Solution Fulfilment
  1. Overall elegance of solution delivered
    1. Scale and scope of the solution
    2. How well does it meet objectives?
    3. Complexity of brief vs. simplicity of execution
    4. Benefits vs. prior practices
    5. Limitations admitted/for future addition
    6. Added value?
  2. Originality "The Wow Factor"
    1. Fresh approach to old problem
    2. Completely new problem(s) solved
    3. "Just yet another CRM"
    4. "Goodness, I wish I had my name on that"
    5. "Brilliantly inventive!"
    6. "I can't believe it's a database!"