Workflow Milestone Reward Dispensing via Networked Dispensers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current project management software lacks efficient mechanisms for consistently recognizing and rewarding employee accomplishments, particularly in remote or large workgroups, leading to inconsistent recognition and potential overlooking of milestones and goals.

Innovation Solution

A digital workflow system that integrates with networked dispensers to automatically dispense physical rewards when specific milestones or goals are achieved, using a processor to track milestones, access rules for conditional triggers, and transmit signals to remotely located dispensers to deliver rewards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual recognition and rewarding of employee accomplishments is used, then flexibility in recognition methods is maintained, but consistency and reliability of reward distribution deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistency of reward distributionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic self-service functionality where the workflow management system automatically detects milestone completion and triggers reward dispensing without requiring manual intervention from managers or administrators. The system monitors workflow tables, evaluates conditions against stored rules, and autonomously activates dispensers to provide rewards, thereby ensuring consistent and reliable reward distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback loops by monitoring workflow milestone data in real-time, comparing current state against predefined conditions in stored rules, and automatically triggering reward dispensing when conditions are met. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that rewards are distributed consistently and reliably based on objective workflow completion data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If automated reward dispensing system is implemented, then consistency and reliability of recognition is improved, but device complexity and integration requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistency of reward distributionVSAvoidsystem integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the reward dispensing functionality with the existing workflow management system by integrating dispenser activation directly into the workflow automation platform. The dispenser control module communicates with the workflow management system through standardized interfaces, allowing the reward dispensing function to be combined with milestone tracking and rule evaluation without requiring separate complex integration infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The workflow management system is enhanced to serve multiple functions: it continues to manage workflow processes while simultaneously tracking milestones, evaluating reward conditions, and triggering reward dispensing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated reward management systems and simplifies overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If remote dispensers are used to provide rewards, then accessibility for remote workers is improved, but network dependency and system reliability risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility for remote workersVSAvoidnetwork dependency risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring reward rules and conditions in the workflow management system before milestone completion occurs. When a milestone is achieved, the system has already prepared the appropriate reward dispensing instructions, allowing for immediate activation of remote dispensers without requiring complex real-time decision-making or network-intensive operations during the reward trigger moment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11675972B2Digital processing systems and methods for digital workflow system dispensing physical reward in collaborative work systems

Publication Date: 2023.06.13 MONDAY COM LTD

AI summary

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for providing physical rewards from disbursed networked dispensers are disclosed. The systems and methods may involve at least one processor configured to: maintain and cause to be displayed a workflow table having rows, columns and cells; track a workflow milestone via a designated cell configured to maintain data indicating that the workflow milestone is reached; access a data structure storing a rule containing a condition associated with the designated cell and a conditional trigger associated with at least one dispenser; receive an input via the designated cell; compare the input with the condition to determine a match; and activate the conditional trigger to cause at least one dispensing signal to be transmitted over a network to the at least one dispenser to cause the at least one dispenser to dispense a physical item as a result of the milestone being reached.