Debra Mars

Job Portal

A 24-hour cross-disciplinary tech sprint to create a digital solution for a challenge posed by 7SHIFTS.

Job Portal

A 24-hour cross-disciplinary tech sprint to create a digital solution for a challenge posed by 7SHIFTS.

Job Portal

A 24-hour cross-disciplinary tech sprint to create a digital solution for a challenge posed by 7SHIFTS.

Job Portal

A 24-hour cross-disciplinary tech sprint to create a digital solution for a challenge posed by 7SHIFTS.

Role:

UX researcher, UX designer, Ui Designer and Project Manager

Tools:

Figma

Timeline:

24 Hours

Role:

UX researcher, UX designer, Ui Designer and Project Manager

Tools:

Figma

Timeline:

24 Hours

Role:

UX researcher, UX designer, Ui Designer and Project Manager

Tools:

Figma

Timeline:

24 Hours

Role:

UX researcher, UX designer, Ui Designer and Project Manager

Tools:

Figma

Timeline:

24 Hours

Overview

The Client

7shifts is a team management software that aims to help restaurant managers schedule, evaluate, and communicate.
7shifts manages the entire employee cycle – from hiring to the retention of employees.
Trusted by more than 40,000 restaurants of all sizes

7shifts is a team management software that aims to help restaurant managers schedule, evaluate, and communicate.
7shifts manages the entire employee cycle – from hiring to the retention of employees.
Trusted by more than 40,000 restaurants of all sizes

The Challenge

We received a How Might We from 7SHIFTS: How might we help restaurant managers schedule shifts more efficiently?

Outcome

A Gamified Employee Rewards and Recognition Program

View Final Prototype

Problem Space

In the realm of restaurant management, the task of scheduling shifts for staff members poses significant challenges.

Restaurant managers are faced with the intricate puzzle of efficiently allocating shifts to a diverse team, considering factors such as employee availability, skill sets, labor laws, and business demands.

In the realm of restaurant management, the task of scheduling shifts for staff members poses significant challenges.

Secondary Research

To gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in efficient shift scheduling for restaurant managers, our approach involved conducting comprehensive secondary research.

Our team collaborated, with the data scientist focusing on sourcing and analyzing data sets and the designers and engineers working together on secondary research.

All the findings were subsequently shared within the team for collective discussion.

To gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in efficient shift scheduling for restaurant managers, our approach involved conducting comprehensive secondary research.

Our team collaborated, with the data scientist focusing on sourcing and analyzing data sets and the designers and engineers working together on secondary research.

All the findings were subsequently shared within the team for collective discussion.

`KEY FINDINGS`

$7 Billion

Unplanned absences cost employers over $7 billion annually.

That's $572 per employee on an average

2.64 Hours

The average restaurant manager spends making an employee schedule.

That’s 6.61% of the work week!

The average restaurant manager spends making an employee schedule.

That’s 6.61% of the work week!

52%

The study found that slightly more than half of incidental absence is not due to illness.

We wanted to investigate how incentivization in the workplace will affect employees. This is what studies show:

82% employees said“strongly” or “somewhat” agreed they wish they received more recognition at work

90% employees say when they receive recognition it motivates them to work harder

1 in 5 employees say their company or manager is “horrible” at recognizing them

As we aimed to refine the scope of our challenge, we directed our attention to a new set of "How Might We" questions.

How might we empower restaurant managers to incentivize performance and reduce recurring issues?

Persona

As we analyzed our research data, we created a character named Sarah Mitchell, who embodies the same frustrations, behaviours, and motivations as restaurant managers

The Solution

A Dynamic Employee Rewards and Recognition Program: The Power of Gamification

An employee rewards and recognition program is a system through which the achievements and actions of employees are recognized within a company.

Gamification is the application of game-design elements and game principles in non-game contexts

Using 7shifts

Drawing from Sarah's needs and challenges, we developed a task flow for our solution.

Implementing gamification in scheduling requires Sarah to offer an open shift and award points to encourage her employees to pick it up.

Check out the task flow below to see how she'll go about it.

Brainstorming

With the task flow now complete, we embarked on sketching the various screens within 7shifts to illustrate the utilization of 7Stars without any alterations to the existing page.

Finding the Solution

After the brainstorming, sketching, and wireframe finalization, we translated our designs into high-fidelity prototypes for presentation to the 7Shifts panellists.

In addition, we optimized the process for adding points and badges as incentives for employees while retaining the current 7Shifts layout and utilizing their existing page for this purpose.

After the brainstorming, sketching, and wireframe finalization, we translated our designs into high-fidelity prototypes for presentation to the 7Shifts panellists.

In addition, we optimized the process for adding points and badges as incentives for employees while retaining the current 7Shifts layout and utilizing their existing page for this purpose.

Badges

We began developing a badge system designed specifically for our restaurant management system. In this process, our primary aim was to create a set of distinct titles that would provide Sarah with a clear and intuitive way to identify reliable employees.

Our goal was to provide Sarah with a valuable tool that would assist her in making informed decisions regarding team scheduling. This system would also serve as a valuable resource when she needed to select suitable employees to cover shifts in the absence of their coworkers.

We began developing a badge system designed specifically for 7Shifts. In this process, our primary aim was to create a set of distinct titles that would provide Sarah with a clear and intuitive way to identify reliable employees.

Points

After the brainstorming, sketching, and wireframe finalization, we translated our designs into high-fidelity prototypes for presentation to the 7Shifts panellists.

In addition, we optimized the process for adding points and badges as incentives for employees while retaining the current 7Shifts layout and utilizing their existing page for this purpose.

Continuing with the development of our solution, we turned our attention to integrating a points system into the 7shifts platform. Our initial step involved a thorough analysis of Sarah's workflow as she creates open shifts that require filling due to employee absences, without specific assignments to employees.

The introduction of the points system aims to provide an incentive when such open shifts are available and need employees to bid on them. Through this system, employees can accumulate points, which can be redeemed for various rewards such as additional free time, goods, or other benefits.

High-fidelity prototype

Upon confirming the feasibility of our final sketches with the web developers, we commenced crafting low-fidelity wireframes and then moving to a high-fidelity prototype, adhering to the components and branding guidelines from the 7Shifts design system.

High-fidelity prototype

View Final Prototype

Impact

In order to demonstrate the transformative impact of gamification in the workplace, we embarked on a quest to uncover studies that would substantiate and support our innovative solution.

Research indicates that 88% of employees express positive impact in their workplace when the software they use incorporates gamification elements

92% Agree when they’re recognised for a specific action, they’re more likely
to take that action again in the future

By implementing gamification to enhance employee retention, a company found that their initial turnover rate decreased from 25% to 8%

Research indicates that 88% of employees express positive impact in their workplace when the software they use incorporates gamification elements

92% Agree when they’re recognised for a specific action, they’re more likely
to take that action again in the future

By implementing gamification to enhance employee retention, a company found that their initial turnover rate decreased from 25% to 8%

Next Steps

01.

Augment the 7Shifts Employee Performance Beta Feature

02.

Track, Analyze, and Report on the impact of the 7Stars system

03.

Conduct thorough user tests and A/B tests

04.

Monitor metrics pertaining to restaurant success and suggest new rewards/incentives to improve key metrics

Next Steps

01.

Augment the 7Shifts Employee Performance Beta Feature

02.

Track, Analyze, and Report on the impact of the 7Stars system

03.

Conduct thorough user tests and A/B tests

04.

Monitor metrics pertaining to restaurant success and suggest new rewards/incentives to improve key metrics

Key Learnings

Facilitating Collaboration and Communication

Instead of delaying interactions until project completion, we upheld an ongoing dialogue that involved the UX design, data science, and software engineering teams. This approach allowed us to assess design feasibility within the 24-hour timeframe and ensured smooth coordination among the teams. Together, we worked towards our shared goal effectively.

Constraints Spark Clarity

The limited timeframe imposed constraints that paradoxically fueled our clarity.

It clarified priorities, streamlined decision-making, and prompted us to focus on what truly mattered.

Facilitating Collaboration and Communication

Constraints Spark Clarity

The limited timeframe imposed constraints that paradoxically fueled our clarity.

It clarified priorities, streamlined decision-making, and prompted us to focus on what truly mattered.

Thank You!