KUDOS — The Case Study

In today’s workplace, the need for an app that fosters a culture of appreciation and incentivizes outstanding performance through tangible rewards has never been greater.

Kudos revolutionizes employee recognition by allowing colleagues and managers to reward outstanding efforts with virtual free lunches which can be converted into real monetary benefits.

Role — Product Designer

Year — 2023

Background

Employee recognition and motivation are fundamental pillars of a thriving workplace culture. In today’s dynamic business landscape, companies across the globe are recognizing the importance of nurturing a positive and productive work environment to retain top talent and boost overall performance. To address this need, the “Kudos” app was conceived.

Statistics

>>>According to a survey by Forbes, 66% of employees consider leaving their job when they feel unappreciated.

>>>A Gallup study revealed that companies with high levels of employee engagement outperform their peers by 147% in earnings per share.

>>>A report by Glassdoor stated that 81% of employees are motivated to work harder when their contributions are recognized.

>>>The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that 69% of employees would work harder if they felt their efforts were better appreciated.

The “Kudos” app, with its innovative approach to employee recognition, aims to harness these insights by providing a platform for peers and managers to recognize and reward outstanding employees promptly and effectively, thus enhancing workplace morale and productivity.

My Role

My major goal for this app was to create a delightful and user-centered experience that encourages employee engagement and makes the process of rewarding and redeeming free lunches enjoyable and efficient.

Research

I conducted thorough research into apps that offer employee recognition and rewards features. I discovered three notable apps during my research:

1. Bonusly: This app allows colleagues to give each other points for their accomplishments, which can be redeemed for various rewards, including free lunches or gift cards.
2. Kazoo: Kazoo is an employee engagement platform that enables companies to recognize and reward their employees. It offers a feature where managers or coworkers can give virtual rewards, such as free lunches, which can be redeemed through the app.
3. Achievers: This app focuses on employee recognition and rewards, allowing colleagues to acknowledge and reward each other’s achievements. It also provides a feature where employees can receive virtual rewards, including free lunches, which can be redeemed through the app.

With these apps and their features, I gained valuable insights that guided my own design process. This research likely helped me make informed decisions about the features I wanted to incorporate into the mobile application.

Creating Personas

The purpose of creating personas was to develop a clear understanding and mental image of the different types of users I would encounter.This allowed me to empathize with the users effectively and cater to their needs appropriately.

Brainstorming with HMW (How might we)

Taking further steps to refine the problems with how I might help to see the solutions from the user’s pain points and find the best ways to offer value and solutions to the users.

Design Decisions

Based on a comprehensive analysis of the data and considering the limitations of time and the MVP, I have formulated the following solutions.

Home Screen

At the heart of the “Kudos” app is the home screen, thoughtfully designed for our users. It showcases a profile picture of the logged-in user, providing a personalized touch. Displayed prominently is the current date, keeping everyone connected with the pulse of time.

Right below, you’ll find your current “Lunch” balance — an exciting way to acknowledge the rewards you’ve received. To keep you informed, a progress bar indicates when you’ll become eligible to convert these “Lunches” sent by your colleagues to real rewards.

For quick access to redeem your “Lunches,” a conspicuous button labeled “Redeem” is at your fingertips, making the process hassle-free.

Efficiency is at the core of the “Kudos” app. You can easily search for your colleagues by their name, ensuring you can find and reward your peers with ease.

To enhance accessibility, we’ve integrated an audio icon, allowing you to speak instead of typing. Just click on the icon, and your voice will do the talking.

Additionally, a list of your co-workers and colleagues is displayed for quick recognition, and you can reward them right from the home screen by clicking on the “Send Lunch” button.

Search Explorer

For our logged-in employees, the “Search” feature is your gateway to easily finding and connecting with your colleagues. As you tap on the search tab, you’re greeted with an intuitive search field.

With a sleek and responsive design, as you start typing a name, the app seamlessly filters employees whose names begin with the same letter you’ve entered. Instantly, their names, roles within the company, and profile pictures elegantly populate on the screen, ensuring that you can quickly identify and reach out to your co-workers.

This feature not only simplifies the process of finding the right colleague but also adds a touch of efficiency and connectivity to your workplace interactions, making it a breeze to navigate and communicate within your professional network.

Sending Lunch

Whether you’re an employer or a logged-in user, the “Send Lunch” screen empowers you to recognize and reward your fellow employees with ease. Upon selecting the colleague you’d like to send a “Lunch” to, you’re presented with an interface designed for simplicity and convenience.

You can enter the amount you wish to send as a “Lunch.” To ensure a smooth transaction, your payment card details must be securely stored within the app.

To streamline the process further, there’s an option to auto-fill the selected amount from the search box, eliminating the need for redundant data entry. This thoughtful design not only simplifies the user experience but also encourages seamless and spontaneous acts of recognition, fostering a culture of appreciation and connectivity in your workplace.

With the “Send Lunch” screen, recognizing and rewarding your colleagues becomes a straightforward and efficient endeavor, making it a pleasure to acknowledge their efforts.

Confirm Lunch

Before proceeding with the act of kindness, you are presented with a delightful visual — a picture of a scrumptious meal — adding an inviting touch to the process. Alongside it, a pop-up message thoughtfully asks, “Are you prepared to send this amount of money for lunch to your colleague?”

To ensure clarity and prevent accidental actions, two distinct buttons stand out. The “Send Lunch” button signifies your commitment to proceed, making it clear that you’re ready to send your colleague a well-deserved “Lunch.”

However, life can be unpredictable, and sometimes plans change. For those instances, the “Cancel” button offers a courteous and understanding way to step back. It’s designed to be easily accessible and prevents any unnecessary inconvenience.

Review Lunch details

Before finalizing your kind gesture, you are provided with a comprehensive review of the lunch you intend to send to your colleague. The design is thoughtful and user-friendly, ensuring that every detail aligns with your intentions.

- **Editable Title:** You have the flexibility to tailor the title to your specific message, adding a personal touch to your recognition.

- **Short Description:** For added context or a brief note, a space for a short description is available, enabling you to express your appreciation or any specific sentiments.

- **Amount:** The amount you’re sending is displayed prominently, ensuring complete transparency in the transaction.

- **Total:** This section summarizes the entire “Lunch” gesture, displaying all the elements you’ve customized.

Finally, a distinct and inviting “Send Lunch” button allows you to confirm and send your appreciation in a personalized and meaningful way, making your gesture memorable and genuine.

Lunch Sent Screen

After successfully sending your “Lunch,” the screen is designed to leave a lasting impression. The central focus is a marked icon, indicating that your gesture has been sent and received.

Beneath the icon, a warm and friendly message reads, “Bon Appétit, my friend, and enjoy your scrumptious meal.” This message not only conveys your good wishes but also adds a personal touch, making the experience memorable and heartfelt.

Key Takeaways

1. **Employee Recognition Reinvented:** “Kudos” empowers companies to revamp their employee recognition programs, fostering a culture of appreciation and motivation.

2. **Virtual “Lunch” Rewards:** Employees can recognize each other’s exceptional efforts with virtual “Lunch” rewards, which can be converted into tangible monetary benefits.

3. **User-Centric Design:** The app offers a user-friendly and intuitive interface, simplifying the process of sending and receiving “Lunch” rewards.

4. **Efficiency and Accessibility:** The app streamlines recognition and communication through features like easy search, voice input, and one-click sending of “Lunch” rewards.

5. **Personalization:** Users can customize “Lunch” details, including titles, descriptions, and star ratings, allowing for meaningful and personalized gestures.

6. **Warm Confirmation:** The confirmation screen features a marked icon and a friendly message, ensuring that sending and receiving “Lunch” rewards is a heartfelt and memorable experience.

7. **Cultivating Workplace Connection:** “Kudos” contributes to a sense of community and connection in the workplace, enhancing morale and productivity.

8. **Transparent Progress Tracking:** Users can monitor their “Lunch” balances and eligibility through a progress bar, promoting transparency and anticipation.

9. **Flexibility:** The app is adaptable for both employers and employees, making it a versatile tool for recognizing and rewarding exceptional efforts.

10. **Positive Workplace Culture:** “Kudos” promotes a culture where recognition and appreciation are central, contributing to higher employee engagement and job satisfaction.

Conclusion

In a world where organizations are increasingly recognizing the value of their people, “Kudos” stands as a beacon, a testament to the transformative power of appreciation and recognition. It’s more than just an app; it’s the embodiment of a culture that appreciates the effort and dedication of its employees, fostering an environment of positivity, motivation, and mutual respect. With “Kudos,” recognition has found its rightful place, and employees have found their voice.