Research methodology

Awards research – Asia 2011

The winners of the IR Magazine Awards are determined by a comprehensive and independent three-month-long research process that identifies the best corporate IR teams across a range of categories. The approach is rigorous and objective at every stage.

Stage 1: The sample selection
Listed companies are contacted every year for details of the professionals who currently cover their stock. This information is added to the extensive investment community databases IR magazine has been building up over the past 20 years.

Stage 2: The survey
These data are then passed to Fox Insight, which conducts a preliminary electronic survey of buy-side analysts, sell-side analysts and portfolio managers.

The results of this survey are sent to Mary Maude Research, and the telephone survey gets under way. Around 300 in-depth, 15 to 20-minute telephone interviews are conducted across Greater China and South East Asia. Each interviewee is asked to nominate and rank up to three companies in a host of different award categories, from best IRO to best reporting.

Stage 3: Results analysis
Analysis of the results begins once the survey stage of the research is complete. Points are allocated to each company depending on how frequently it is nominated: six points for every first-place ranking, three for second place and two for third. The companies with the highest point scores in each individual category make the short lists for that award. The top company will go on to win the award.

Stage 4: Short list announced
IR magazine receives the results and contacts all the short-listed companies to give them the good news. The short list is then published to the entire IR community a month before the event.

Stage 5: Corporate research
When the short lists are announced, IR Insight – the research arm of IR magazine – contacts the short-listed companies to seek best practice understanding of the top-rated IR programs and to provide context to the study. IROs at short-listed companies are interviewed about their roles and how they approach the challenges they face.

Stage 6: Awards and IPS
Finally, on December 1 in Hong Kong and December 6 in Singapore, the names of the winners are revealed and they receive their coveted trophies.

Shortly afterwards, the Investor Perception Study, Asia 2011/2012 is published on our website and in hard copy. The study includes all the results and analysis, as well as verbatim comments from respondents and the full rankings of the leading companies.

To pre-order your copy of the Investor Perception Study, Asia 2011/2012, please contact Jonathan Cardle at +44 20 7107 2566.