A key part of the mission of the Computerworld Honors is to seek out, honor, and provide special recognition to organizations and individuals whose contribution to the history of the information technology revolution is exceptionally innovative, particularly effective, and especially worthy.

The Honors Program does this by having two Special Recognition Programs: one recognizing organizations, and the other individuals.

First, it provides special recognition and places in the historic record to those organizations among its Laureates judged as conspicuously outstanding even within this group of exalted peers.

Second, it provides special recognition and a place in the historic record to those individuals whose life, work, personal insight, leadership, and achievement have had a truly extraordinary impact not only on information technology but also on the larger world that forms its context.