What is the purpose of a hackathon?

Hackathons are not single-purpose events, but rather multifaceted opportunities for both the host organization(s) and participants to achieve a diverse set of objectives. Some of the most common applications for the host(s) include; discovering business solutions, accelerated product/service launch, staff training and engagement, canvassing for new talent, and improved developer relations.

What happens during a hackathon?

A hackathon is a versatile competition that brings together creative thinkers to solve various problems in a predetermined (typically short) amount of time. There is a wide variety of hackathon event structures but the typical framework is as follows; 1. The event challenges, objectives, rules, parameters and timelines are clearly defined by the host organization(s), 2. Members from ideal/target demographics are invited and encouraged to participate, 3. Participants form teams of 4-6 people, 4. Teams work to find creative solutions to the challenge and build a prototype of their concept, 5. Once complete teams demonstrate their product to a panel of expert judges, 6. Winners are announced and prizes awarded, the organizer announces the winning team

Why is it called a hackathon?

The term “hackathon” is an amalgamation (more formally known as a portmanteau) of the words “hacker” and “marathon”. A “hacker” generally refers to computer programmers, designers, innovators, and other domain experts. The marathon component is derived from the short time frame in which most hackathons are structured. Challenges typically push participants to work for extended hours without sleep in order to complete their prototype. The term hackathon was first coined in Calgary, Canada, on June 4, 1999 for the OpenBSD Hackathon. Check out our article What is a Hackathon?

How long is a hackathon?

Typically hackathons run for 24-48 hours depending on the expected outcome, however some extend beyond this typical frame if more extensive prototyping is needed.

How do I prepare for my first hackathon?

1. Study and explore previous hackathons by the host organization and winning solutions. These insights will help you to anticipate the types of challenges you’ll face, 2. Determine where to find the resources you will need during the hackathon, 3. Learn how to effectively work in teams, by attributing the right task to the individual with the correct skillset, 4. Explore and research the host organization’s industry

Are hackathons worth it?

Hackathons offer added value to both organizers and attendees. They are a great option when looking to find and assess business solutions, work with startups, train your staff, build a talent pool or launch a new product/service. As an attendee it’s a chance to network with others in similar fields, bring your ideas to life, learn new skills, or push outside your comfort zone and improve your skills.

Who can take part in Hackathon?

Each hackathon is unique and may or may not have specific prerequisites. Some events are open to anyone interested, while others may be specific to students, those with particular certifications or credentials, for example. It’s best to explore the guidelines before registering.

5 Ways Technology Improves Productivity in the Workplace

Posted on

December 22, 2021

Every business is pretty familiar with the challenges of putting together a collaborative and productive team. Even with countermeasures and strategies in place, there's no denying that enhancing and improving productivity within the workplace is a rather pressing concern for most companies.

Low productivity has an adverse impact on businesses in terms of business operations, work quality, employee engagement, revenue, and many more. So if you want to guarantee your firm's survival in the competitive realm of the business industry, you have to look for ways to increase productivity within your organization.

There are several ways to address productivity issues in your company—one of which is to implement the use of digital tools and resources in various departments. And if you're curious how technology can help you achieve more significant results, read on to find out more about how digitalization can improve efficiency and productivity in the workplace.
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1. It Allows Different Departments to Communicate Better

Communication plays a crucial role in running a business. To guarantee that operations will proceed as planned, various departments of your company need to communicate with each other. That being said, digitalization enables different sectors of your organization to gather information. As a result, the exchange of data between departments will become a lot smoother.

2. It Streamlines Complicated Processes and Operations

Nowadays, there are numerous software programs designed to streamline various tasks in different departments. Hence, jobs that usually take several days or weeks to accomplish can quickly be done in a couple of hours. With the suitable tool and platform, you can effortlessly facilitate complex affairs that take a lot of time and effort.

3. It Completely Mitigates the Risks of Employee Errors

There's an old saying that states to err is human. However, a simple mistake from one of your employees can sometimes be detrimental to the growth of your company. While such errors are sometimes inevitable, digitalization can help mitigate and reduce the risks of employees making mistakes, as it helps simplify and automate most processes involved.

4. It Helps Protect Sensitive Company Data and Information

Cybercriminals often target businesses and organizations through malware programs, which causes delays in business operations and loss of critical information. This also results in downtime that renders your employees unable to accomplish designated tasks.

For this reason, it's a must to incorporate digital business solutions and strategies that will protect your company from cyber threats that may negatively affect your bottom line.

5. It Boosts and Increases the Morale of Your Employees

According to statistics, stress is a major contributing factor to a decline in employee productivity. A survey also confirmed that most workers stress over the number of tasks they have to finish in a day. By implementing technological tools and resources, you can make it a lot easier for your employees to perform their duties, giving them enough time to take a break once in a while.
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Get Productive in the Workplace

Technology has the potential to bring about positive changes within your organization. So if you find yourself in need of a change of pace, it would be helpful to consider new digital business solutions in improving efficiency and productivity in your company.
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Are you interested in introducing employees to the implementation of technology in the workplace? In that case, it would be an excellent idea to launch a corporate hackathon focused on training and teaching your team the advantages of digitalization with Hackathon.com. Reach out to us today and we can help you organize!

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