Does past performance affect future results (i.e., are past winners advantaged in any way)?
Past winners are given no inherent advantage throughout the process over non-winners or the companies that are applying for this first time. Typically, companies that have participated in the survey in previous years (both winners and non-winners) are more familiar with the process and are therefore more aptly prepared when it comes to completing the survey. However, as the methodology and survey questions have changed this year, so no applicant is any more prepared than others.
