Employee Engagement SaaS

PulseSync

Uncover Team Pulse. Inspire Action.

PulseSync delivers instant, AI-powered team morale tracking for small business owners and team leads. Automated, anonymous pulse surveys and live dashboards reveal hidden disengagement, surfacing early warning signs managers usually miss. Cut turnover, spot emerging issues, and act fast—all without the overhead or complexity of traditional enterprise solutions.

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PulseSync

Product Details

Explore this AI-generated product idea in detail. Each aspect has been thoughtfully created to inspire your next venture.

Vision & Mission

Vision
Empower small businesses everywhere to build thriving workplaces by unlocking real-time, actionable insight into every team’s engagement and wellbeing.
Long Term Goal
By 2028, empower 100,000 small businesses to cut employee turnover by 30% and boost team satisfaction scores by 40% using real-time, AI-driven engagement insights.
Impact
Reduces employee turnover by 30% and saves small business managers over 5 hours per month by automating sentiment tracking and surfacing actionable morale trends, enabling earlier intervention and targeted culture improvements that cut disengagement and prevent costly, unexpected resignations.

Problem & Solution

Problem Statement
Small business owners and team leads lack affordable, real-time tools to detect hidden employee disengagement; existing platforms are costly, slow, or generic, causing unnoticed morale issues, preventable turnover, and delayed responses to emerging team challenges.
Solution Overview
PulseSync solves hidden disengagement by sending automated, anonymous pulse surveys and instantly visualizing team sentiment trends on intuitive dashboards, helping small business managers spot early warning signs and take targeted action before morale or turnover problems escalate.

Details & Audience

Description
PulseSync gives small business owners and team leads instant, actionable insight into team morale with AI-driven, real-time sentiment analysis. It tackles hidden employee disengagement and turnover by automating anonymous pulse surveys and surfacing emerging issues before they escalate. Unique trend dashboards reveal patterns managers would otherwise miss, empowering fast, proactive culture improvements without the overhead of enterprise platforms.
Target Audience
Small business owners and team leads (30-50) needing fast, actionable insight into team morale trends.
Inspiration
During a coffee break at my friend’s startup, I overheard hushed voices—frustrated teammates confiding in each other about feeling unheard, just weeks before a string of resignations blindsided the founder. That raw moment exposed how bottled-up morale issues can quietly upend small teams, inspiring me to create PulseSync: a way for leaders to spot silent discontent early and prevent crises before they erupt.

User Personas

Detailed profiles of the target users who would benefit most from this product.

S

Strategic Sarah

- 38-year-old business owner leading 15 staff - Urban Midwest location with $120K annual revenue - Bachelor's in business management - Manages marketing and design departments

Background

Former corporate strategist, Sarah left a Fortune 500 firm to launch her startup. Early staff burnout taught her the value of continuous sentiment monitoring.

Needs & Pain Points

Needs

1. Early detection of team disengagement trends 2. Integration of morale data into strategic planning 3. Concise reports linking sentiment to business objectives

Pain Points

1. Unseen morale dips undermining growth initiatives 2. Time-consuming manual survey analysis delays action 3. Disjointed data across multiple platforms

Psychographics

- Values proactive planning over reactive fixes - Trusts data to guide leadership decisions - Seeks long-term team stability and growth - Embraces innovation to foster engagement

Channels

1. Slack notifications 2. Email digests 3. PulseSync mobile 4. Google Sheets sync 5. LinkedIn communities

M

Metric-Minded Dan

- 32-year-old mid-level project manager - Oversees 8-member remote development team - Master’s in analytics - $80K salary in Austin, TX

Background

Dan started as a developer turned manager, growing frustrated by anecdotal feedback. A certification in data analytics cemented his belief in metrics-driven leadership.

Needs & Pain Points

Needs

1. Real-time sentiment metrics for agile adjustments 2. Customizable dashboards targeting key KPIs 3. Automated alerts highlighting critical mood shifts

Pain Points

1. Lagging data prevents timely workload balance 2. Manual reporting drains analytical resources 3. Lack of contextual feedback hinders interpretation

Psychographics

- Obsessed with numbers over gut feelings - Thrives on continuous performance improvement - Believes transparency builds team trust - Seeks clear ROI for every initiative

Channels

1. Microsoft Teams alerts 2. Tableau dashboard 3. Email reports 4. GitHub comments 5. LinkedIn Learning

E

Empathy-Driven Emma

- 29-year-old HR generalist in a tech startup - Manages 20-person cross-functional teams - SHRM-certified with psychology minor - $65K salary

Background

Emma’s early volunteer work in mental health nonprofits sparked her passion for empathetic leadership. Witnessing team burnout drove her to seek tools that humanize feedback and foster care.

Needs & Pain Points

Needs

1. Anonymous channels for honest emotional feedback 2. Tools to personalize recognition effectively 3. Resources linking sentiment to wellbeing initiatives

Pain Points

1. Hidden burnout signals leading to crisis 2. One-size-fits-all surveys miss personal nuances 3. Time-consuming manual follow-ups after surveys

Psychographics

- Prioritizes emotional wellbeing above productivity - Believes every voice deserves recognition - Motivated by building inclusive cultures - Seeks personal connections over metrics

Channels

1. Slack channels 2. PulseSync surveys 3. Zoom check-ins 4. Email newsletters 5. HRIS integrations

R

Remote-Ritual Ryan

- 35-year-old remote team leader based in Berlin - Manages 10 global employees across three time zones - Bachelor’s in communication - Fully remote setup

Background

Ryan’s transition to remote work in 2020 exposed gaps in team cohesion. He experimented with daily virtual rituals, realizing data-backed insights deepen connections across time zones.

Needs & Pain Points

Needs

1. Time-zone-friendly survey scheduling 2. Visual dashboards supporting virtual rituals 3. Automated follow-up prompts for remote check-ins

Pain Points

1. Survey fatigue among asynchronous teams 2. Disjointed tools hamper daily rituals 3. Low participation during off-hours

Psychographics

- Craves structured routines for team bonding - Values consistent remote communication rituals - Believes small gestures drive engagement - Seeks cultural alignment across borders

Channels

1. Slack workflows 2. Zoom plugins 3. Trello integrations 4. PulseSync web app 5. Email triggers

B

Budget-Savvy Bella

- 40-year-old operations manager at a manufacturing firm - Oversees 50 employees with limited engagement budget - MBA with finance focus - Quarterly budget under $10K

Background

Bella’s early career in nonprofit finance honed her fiscal prudence. Tasked with boosting morale on limited budgets, she learned to stretch every dollar through data-driven engagement tactics.

Needs & Pain Points

Needs

1. Clear cost-per-feedback metrics 2. High-impact engagement tools under budget 3. ROI dashboards linking spend to sentiment

Pain Points

1. Lack of budget-friendly engagement solutions 2. Unclear ROI delays spend approvals 3. Overpriced enterprise packages exceed budgets

Psychographics

- Obsessed with cost-efficiency and clear ROI - Values measurable impact over expensive perks - Seeks scalable morale solutions - Skeptical of unchecked spending

Channels

1. Email proposals 2. PulseSync pricing page 3. LinkedIn ads 4. Finance Slack channel 5. Webinar budgeting tips

Product Features

Key capabilities that make this product valuable to its target users.

MoodFlow

A dynamic, horizontal timeline of color-coded mood rings displaying granular sentiment shifts throughout the day, helping managers pinpoint exact times of high or low engagement for timely, targeted interventions.

Requirements

Real-time Mood Data Capture
"As a team lead, I want to capture mood data in real time so that I can monitor engagement trends as they happen and intervene promptly."
Description

System collects sentiment inputs continuously through AI-analyzed pulse surveys and team interaction data to feed instant mood readings on the timeline, ensuring data freshness and accuracy. Integrates with existing PulseSync survey engine and communication channels. Supports anonymous inputs, auto-syncs every five minutes with minimal performance impact.

Acceptance Criteria
Data Sync Interval Validation
Given the system is running continuously, When five minutes have elapsed since the last sync, Then the system automatically pushes the latest sentiment data to the MoodFlow timeline without manual intervention.
Anonymous Input Preservation
Given a team member submits a sentiment input, When the input is stored, Then no personal identifiers are saved and the input remains fully anonymous.
AI Sentiment Analysis Accuracy
Given a sample set of pulse survey and chat data, When processed by the AI engine, Then the sentiment scores match a manually validated baseline with at least 95% accuracy.
Performance Impact Threshold
Given the system is under peak operational load, When the five-minute auto-sync runs, Then CPU utilization increases by no more than 5% and response times remain under 200 milliseconds.
Integration End-to-End Verification
Given new survey responses and communication channel inputs are generated, When ingested by PulseSync, Then they appear on the MoodFlow timeline within five minutes with no data loss or duplication.
Dynamic Mood Timeline
"As a manager, I want to interact with a dynamic mood timeline so that I can explore engagement patterns at different times of the day."
Description

Present mood data on a horizontally scrollable timeline that updates dynamically as new data arrives. Each mood ring appears at its respective timestamp, allowing zoom in/out for different time ranges. Supports pinch-to-zoom and drag gestures on web and mobile interfaces, ensuring intuitive navigation.

Acceptance Criteria
Real-Time Timeline Update
Given the timeline is displayed When new mood data arrives Then the new mood ring is rendered in the correct position within 2 seconds without requiring a full refresh
Pinch-to-Zoom Functionality
Given a touch-enabled interface When the user performs a pinch gesture Then the timeline zooms in or out proportionally and updates the density of mood rings accordingly within 300ms
Drag-to-Scroll Navigation
Given the timeline viewport When the user drags horizontally Then the timeline scrolls smoothly following the drag distance without lag and updates the visible time range accurately
Mood Ring Timestamp Placement
Given multiple mood rings with timestamps When the timeline is viewed at any zoom level Then each ring is positioned exactly at its timestamp within a 5px horizontal tolerance without overlapping adjacent rings
Performance Under High Data Load
Given 10,000 mood data points over a 24-hour period When the timeline is loaded Then initial render completes within 1 second and subsequent updates within 2 seconds while maintaining at least 30 FPS
Zoom Level Persistence
Given a user sets a custom zoom level When the user navigates away and returns Then the timeline preserves the last zoom level and visible time range
Color-coded Mood Indicators
"As a user, I want color-coded mood indicators so that I can quickly interpret sentiment levels at a glance."
Description

Implement a standardized color palette mapping distinct mood states (e.g., green for positive, yellow for neutral, red for negative) to mood rings. Ensure accessibility compliance with WCAG contrast ratio guidelines. Provide legends and tooltips for clarity. Integrates seamlessly with the existing UI theme.

Acceptance Criteria
Daily Mood Timeline Overview
Given the user views the MoodFlow timeline, when mood data points are displayed, then each mood ring must use the standardized color palette mapping positive to green (#28a745), neutral to yellow (#ffc107), and negative to red (#dc3545).
Contrast Ratio Compliance Verification
Given the mood rings are rendered on various background colors, when assessed with a contrast checker, then each color must meet WCAG 2.1 AA minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 against the background.
Legend Display and Clarity
Given the MoodFlow component is loaded, then a legend must be present adjacent to the timeline, displaying color swatches with labels for “Positive,” “Neutral,” and “Negative,” with legend text at least 16px sans-serif.
Tooltip Information on Hover
Given the user hovers over any mood ring, then a tooltip must appear within 500ms showing the mood label, timestamp, and description, with tooltip background and text meeting a 3:1 contrast ratio.
UI Theme Consistency
Given the application theme is toggled between light and dark modes, when the MoodFlow timeline is displayed, then mood ring colors and legend adapt seamlessly, preserving color mappings and contrast without visual artifacts.
Granular Time Segmentation
"As a small business owner, I want to view mood data in different time segmentations so that I can pinpoint exact periods of high or low engagement."
Description

Enable segmentation of the mood timeline into customizable intervals (e.g., 15, 30, 60 minutes) allowing detailed analysis. Users can set default segmentation preferences in settings. Backend supports adjustable aggregation windows without reloading the entire dataset.

Acceptance Criteria
Default Interval Settings
Given the user accesses the segmentation settings page When they choose a default interval (15, 30, or 60 minutes) and save Then the default interval setting is stored successfully and reflected in the mood timeline upon next load
Live Segmentation Change
Given the mood timeline is displayed with current segmentation When the user selects a different interval from the timeline controls Then the timeline updates to the new interval without reloading the entire dataset
Persistent User Preference
Given the user has set and saved a default segmentation interval When they log out and log back in Then the previously saved interval is automatically applied to the mood timeline
Backend Aggregation Response
Given a request is sent to the aggregation API with a specified interval parameter When the API processes the request Then it returns mood data bucketed into time segments matching the requested interval within performance requirements
Unsupported Interval Handling
Given the user enters an unsupported or invalid interval value When they attempt to save the setting Then the system displays a validation error, rejects the change, and maintains the last valid interval setting
Automated Engagement Alerts
"As a manager, I want to receive automated alerts for prolonged negative mood so that I can address issues before they escalate."
Description

Generate automated alerts when mood rings show sustained negative sentiment over a configurable threshold time (e.g., 30 minutes). Alerts delivered via email, in-app notifications, or Slack integration. Configurable sensitivity levels to reduce noise and ensure relevance.

Acceptance Criteria
Email Alert for 30-Minute Negative Sentiment
Given the team's mood rings report continuous negative sentiment for at least 30 minutes, when the system evaluates sentiment data, then an email alert is sent to the specified manager's email within 1 minute of threshold breach.
In-App Notification for Continuous Low Mood
Given negative sentiment persists for a user-defined duration, when a manager opens the PulseSync app, then an in-app notification appears in the alerts panel indicating the user's identifier and duration of negative sentiment.
Slack Integration Alert Trigger
Given Slack integration is enabled and channel configured, when negative sentiment threshold is exceeded, then a message is posted to the specified Slack channel containing the team name, timestamp, and alert details.
Configurable Sensitivity Level Adjustment
Given sensitivity is set to "High" (15-minute threshold) or "Low" (60-minute threshold), when sentiment data is processed, then alerts are only generated according to the configured threshold to prevent false positives.
Threshold Exceedance Configuration Update
Given a threshold of sustained negative sentiment is configured, when threshold is updated in settings, then the new threshold is applied immediately and reflected in subsequent alert triggers.

Team Mosaic

Breaks down daily mood rings by department, project team, or demographic group, enabling leaders to spot specific group trends and address localized morale issues before they impact performance.

Requirements

Department Mood Dashboard
"As a department manager, I want to view daily mood trends for my department so that I can identify morale issues early and address them proactively."
Description

Provide an interactive dashboard that displays daily mood rings aggregated by department, including visuals for average sentiment scores, response rates, and trend lines. The dashboard should allow managers to quickly identify departments with positive, neutral, or negative morale. It must integrate seamlessly with the existing PulseSync UI, update in real time, and support drill-down to individual survey results.

Acceptance Criteria
Real-Time Department Mood Overview
Given a manager accesses the Department Mood Dashboard When the dashboard loads Then average sentiment scores for all departments are displayed within 5 seconds And response rates and 7-day trend lines are visible
Department Mood Drill-Down
Given the dashboard displays aggregated department data When the manager clicks on a specific department Then a detailed view opens showing individual survey responses, timestamps, and sentiment scores for that department
Positive, Neutral, Negative Mood Differentiation
Given department sentiment scores are calculated When sentiment is above 0.6 Then the mood ring displays green for positive; When sentiment is between 0.4 and 0.6 Then the mood ring displays yellow for neutral; When sentiment is below 0.4 Then the mood ring displays red for negative
Seamless PulseSync UI Integration
Given the existing PulseSync interface When the dashboard component is loaded Then it follows the same styling, navigation, and authentication flows as the rest of the application
Live Update on New Survey Submission
Given an employee submits a pulse survey When the survey is recorded Then the Department Mood Dashboard updates within 30 seconds to reflect the new sentiment score and response rate without requiring a page refresh
Project Team Mood View
"As a project lead, I want to compare mood scores across different project teams so that I can allocate resources or support to teams experiencing low morale."
Description

Implement a dedicated view that breaks down morale metrics by project team, enabling leaders to compare team engagement and identify specific project contexts where morale dips occur. This view should include sortable tables, visual charts, and heat maps, and integrate with the project metadata in PulseSync’s database.

Acceptance Criteria
Accessing the Project Team Mood View
Given a user is logged in and on the PulseSync dashboard When the user clicks on the Team Mosaic feature and selects "Project Team Mood View" Then the system displays a dedicated view containing a sortable table, at least one visual chart, and a heat map for all project teams And the view integrates project metadata (team name, project ID) from the database
Filtering and Sorting Team Mood Data
Given the Project Team Mood View is displayed When the user applies filters by project team or date range or demographic group Then the table, charts, and heat map update to reflect only the filtered data And the user can sort the table by any column header (e.g., team name, average mood score)
Visualizing Mood Trends with Charts and Heat Maps
Given the Project Team Mood View is loaded with data When the user views the chart and heat map components Then the line or bar chart plots average mood over time for each project team And the heat map uses color gradients to represent mood intensity per team per day And hovering over data points displays tooltips with date, team name, and mood score details
Comparing Mood Scores Across Project Teams
Given multiple project teams are selected in the Project Team Mood View When the user requests a comparison Then the visualization overlays mood trend lines for the selected teams on the same chart And the view calculates and displays the percentage difference in average mood between teams
Responding to No Data Conditions
Given a project team has no pulse survey data in the selected period When the Project Team Mood View is rendered Then the table shows "No data available" for that team and the charts/heat map leave gaps or show a placeholder message And no system errors or crashes occur
Demographic Group Configuration
"As an HR analyst, I want to create demographic segments so that I can analyze morale differences among key employee cohorts."
Description

Allow administrators to define and manage custom demographic groups (e.g., tenure, role level, location) for segmenting pulse survey results. The system should support creation, editing, and deletion of groups, and apply these configurations in all Team Mosaic analytics and visualizations.

Acceptance Criteria
Admin Creates a New Demographic Group
Given an authenticated administrator is on the “Create Demographic Group” page When they enter a unique group name and assign one or more demographic attributes And they click “Save” Then the new demographic group is added to the group list And a success notification is displayed
Admin Edits an Existing Demographic Group
Given an administrator is viewing the list of demographic groups When they select an existing group and click “Edit” And they modify the group name or attributes to valid values And they click “Save” Then the demographic group list reflects the updated name and attributes And a confirmation message is shown
Admin Deletes a Demographic Group
Given an administrator is viewing the list of demographic groups When they select a group and click “Delete” And they confirm the deletion in a prompt Then the demographic group is removed from the list And a deletion success message is displayed
Prevent Duplicate Demographic Group Names
Given an administrator attempts to create or rename a demographic group When they enter a name that already exists in the system And they click “Save” Then the system prevents the action And displays an error message indicating the name is already in use
Demographic Groups Displayed in Analytics
Given demographic groups have been configured When a user opens the Team Mosaic dashboard and clicks the demographic filter dropdown Then all configured demographic groups are listed as selectable options
Demographic Group Filtering of Survey Results
Given a demographic group is selected in the Team Mosaic demographic filter When the dashboard loads survey data Then only data from users in the selected demographic group is displayed And the segmentation in charts and tables reflects that group accurately
Trend Decomposition Filters
"As a team lead, I want to filter morale data by date and sentiment level so that I can investigate the root causes of recent mood changes."
Description

Create advanced filtering options that let users decompose mood trends over time by department, project team, or demographic group. Filters should support date ranges, sentiment thresholds, and category combinations, with instant update of charts and tables upon selection.

Acceptance Criteria
Date Range Filter Application
Given the user is viewing the Team Mosaic dashboard When the user selects a start date and an end date in the date range filter Then the charts and tables update to display only mood trend data within the selected date range And the displayed data count matches the number of available data points in that range
Department and Project Team Filter Combination
Given the user selects one or more departments and one or more project teams When the user applies the combined filters Then the dashboard displays mood trends for the intersection of the selected departments and project teams only And the active filters are clearly labeled on the dashboard
Sentiment Threshold Filtering
Given the user adjusts the sentiment threshold slider to a specific value When the user applies the threshold filter Then the trend charts display only data points that meet or exceed the selected sentiment threshold And the data table lists only entries with sentiment scores above the threshold
Demographic Group Decomposition
Given the user selects one or more demographic categories (e.g., role, location, tenure) When the user applies the demographic filters Then the mood trends are shown as separate series for each selected demographic option And each series is distinctly colored and labeled in the legend
Instant Chart and Table Updates
Given the user modifies any filter (date range, sentiment threshold, or category) When the filter value changes Then the charts and tables refresh within 500 milliseconds And a loading indicator appears if data retrieval exceeds 200 milliseconds
Alert & Notification System
"As a small business owner, I want to receive alerts when team morale declines sharply so that I can intervene before issues worsen."
Description

Build an automated alert mechanism that notifies managers when a department, team, or demographic group’s morale drops below predefined thresholds. Notifications should be configurable via email, SMS, or in-app alerts, and include a summary of recent trends and recommended actions.

Acceptance Criteria
Threshold Breach Email Alert
Given a department’s morale score drops below its predefined threshold for two consecutive pulse surveys When the system performs its periodic check Then an email notification is sent to the configured manager within 5 minutes containing the department name, current score, trend over the last 3 surveys, and recommended action steps
Threshold Breach SMS Alert
Given a project team’s morale score falls below its predefined threshold for two consecutive pulse surveys When the system performs its periodic check Then an SMS notification is sent to the manager’s registered phone number within 2 minutes containing the team name, current morale score, recent trend, and recommended actions
In-App Alert Display
Given a demographic group’s morale score crosses below its predefined threshold When the manager logs into the dashboard Then an in-app alert is prominently displayed at the top of the screen showing the group name, current score, trend summary, and a link to detailed recommendations
Notification Preference Configuration
Given a manager wants to update their alert preferences When they access the notification settings page Then they can successfully select or deselect email, SMS, and in-app notifications for each department, team, or demographic group and save changes, which are reflected immediately in their profile
Recommended Actions Content Verification
Given an alert is triggered for any group When the notification is generated Then it must include at least three context-relevant recommended actions based on recent trend data and best-practice guidelines
Insights Export
"As an executive, I want to export morale reports so that I can share insights with stakeholders during leadership meetings."
Description

Enable export functionality for Team Mosaic reports, allowing users to download mood dashboards and segmented trend data in PDF and CSV formats. Exports should preserve visual fidelity for charts and include metadata such as date range, filters applied, and group definitions.

Acceptance Criteria
Exporting Team Mosaic Dashboard to PDF
Given the user has selected a Team Mosaic dashboard view with defined date range and filters When the user clicks “Export to PDF” Then a PDF file is generated containing all dashboard charts at original resolution, including the date range header, applied filters summary, and group definitions And the user receives a download prompt within 5 seconds
Downloading Team Mosaic Data as CSV
Given the user has configured the Team Mosaic report with specific group segmentation When the user selects “Download CSV” Then a CSV file is generated including all mood score data points for each segment with headers for date, segment name, metric value And the file name includes the report name and date range
Export Metadata Inclusion
Given the user exports a Team Mosaic report in either PDF or CSV When the export is generated Then the file includes metadata sections detailing the report name, date range, applied filters, and group definitions in the header of the document or first rows
Visual Fidelity of Exported Charts
Given the user exports the Team Mosaic dashboard to PDF When reviewing the PDF Then all charts, colors, labels, and legends match the on-screen dashboard within 5% variance in layout And images are rendered at a minimum of 300 DPI
API-Driven Export Request
Given an authenticated API client requests an export for a specified Team Mosaic report with parameters (format, date range, filters) When the API call is made Then the system returns a signed URL within 2 seconds where the PDF or CSV can be downloaded And the exported file meets all criteria for content and metadata

Mood Alerts

Real-time notifications triggered by sudden spikes or dips in the color-coded mood rings, ensuring managers are immediately informed of significant sentiment changes and can take swift corrective action.

Requirements

Real-Time Alert Engine
"As a team manager, I want immediate notifications when my team’s mood scores change significantly so that I can address issues before they escalate."
Description

Implement a high-performance alert engine that continuously monitors mood ring data for sudden spikes or dips, processes sentiment scores in real time, and triggers notifications within seconds of threshold breaches. This engine must integrate seamlessly with the existing PulseSync data pipeline, leverage AI-driven anomaly detection, and ensure minimal latency to guarantee managers receive actionable insights immediately. The feature will support dynamic scaling to handle varying survey volumes and ensure reliability under peak load conditions.

Acceptance Criteria
Negative Sentiment Spike Alert
Given the alert engine is actively monitoring incoming sentiment data, When the average sentiment score for a team drops by 20% within a rolling 5-minute window, Then an alert must be triggered and delivered to the manager’s dashboard and email within 5 seconds.
Positive Sentiment Surge Alert
Given the alert engine is processing real-time mood rings, When the average sentiment score for a team increases by 25% within a rolling 5-minute window, Then an alert must be triggered and delivered to the manager’s dashboard and email within 5 seconds.
Peak Load Performance
Given the system is under peak load handling 10,000 survey responses per minute, When a threshold breach occurs, Then the alert engine must process the event and deliver notifications within 10 seconds without errors.
Seamless Data Pipeline Integration
Given new sentiment data is ingested into the PulseSync data pipeline, When the data reaches the alert engine, Then processing must begin within 2 seconds and result in either normal operation or alert triggering without data loss.
Dynamic Scaling Under Variable Load
Given a sudden 5x surge in survey volume, When the load increases beyond the current capacity, Then the alert engine must automatically scale processing nodes within 2 minutes and maintain alert delivery latency under 5 seconds.
Custom Alert Thresholds
"As a manager, I want to set personalized alert thresholds for my team’s mood swings so that alerts are meaningful and tailored to our context."
Description

Provide a user interface and underlying logic that allows managers to define custom threshold values for positive and negative mood changes. Users should be able to configure absolute percentage change or sentiment score deltas, set minimum survey counts to avoid false positives, and save multiple threshold profiles. The system must validate input ranges, persist settings per team or project, and apply thresholds in real time to drive the alert engine.

Acceptance Criteria
Setting Absolute Percentage Threshold
Given the manager is on the Custom Alert Thresholds configuration page When they enter an absolute percentage change value between 1% and 100% And click Save Then the system validates the input, persists the value for the selected team or project, and displays a confirmation message
Configuring Sentiment Score Delta Threshold
Given the manager selects sentiment score delta mode When they specify a positive or negative score delta between 0.1 and 5.0 And save the settings Then the system ensures the delta is within range, stores it in the profiles list, and marks it as active
Enforcing Minimum Survey Count
Given the manager sets a minimum survey count threshold When the count is below the system-wide minimum of 5 or above 100 Then the UI prevents saving and displays an inline validation error
Saving Multiple Threshold Profiles
Given the manager has configured one threshold profile When they save additional profiles up to a maximum of 10 Then each profile appears in the profiles list with unique names, and the manager can select any profile for activation
Applying Thresholds in Real-Time
Given real-time survey data is received When a configured threshold condition is met Then the system triggers a mood alert notification immediately to the manager’s dashboard and email
Multi-Channel Notification Delivery
"As a team lead, I want alerts sent to my preferred communication channels so that I never miss critical mood changes."
Description

Design a notification service that delivers mood alerts through configurable channels such as email, SMS, Slack, and in-app push notifications. This requirement covers integration with third-party messaging APIs, fallback procedures if primary channels fail, user preferences management, and rate limiting to prevent overload. Notifications should include contextual details like time, affected team or survey group, and suggested next steps.

Acceptance Criteria
Manager Receives Email Alert for Sudden Mood Dip
Given a team’s mood score drops by more than 20% within one hour When the notification service triggers a mood alert Then an email is sent to the configured manager address containing the team name, timestamp, current and previous mood scores, and suggested next steps And the email API returns a 200 OK response
Team Lead Gets SMS Fallback When Email Fails
Given the primary email channel returns an error or timeout When the notification service attempts fallback delivery Then an SMS is sent to the team lead’s phone number with identical alert content And the SMS gateway logs a successful delivery status
User Configures Slack as Preferred Notification Channel
Given a user updates their notification preferences to select Slack When a mood alert is generated Then the service posts a message to the user’s configured Slack channel including contextual details and an alert icon And the Slack API confirms message receipt with HTTP 200 OK
Rate Limiting Prevents Notification Overload
Given more than five mood alerts are triggered for the same recipient within ten minutes When the sixth alert occurs Then delivery is deferred and aggregated into a summary notification sent after ten minutes And an entry is logged indicating rate limiting was applied
In-App Push Notification Displays Contextual Details
Given a mood alert is generated for a monitored team When the recipient opens the app while notifications are enabled Then a push notification appears with team name, current sentiment indicator, and a brief action suggestion And tapping the notification navigates the user to the detailed mood dashboard for that team
Alert Acknowledgment and Actions
"As a manager, I want to acknowledge and log my response to mood alerts so that I can track actions taken and ensure accountability."
Description

Build a workflow allowing managers to acknowledge alerts, assign follow-up actions, and record notes within the PulseSync dashboard. The feature should support marking alerts as read, snoozing alerts for a defined period, delegating to team members, and tracking resolution status. All interactions must be logged for audit trails and surfaced in the team’s activity feed.

Acceptance Criteria
Acknowledging an Alert
Given a manager views an unread mood alert When the manager clicks the “Mark as Read” button Then the alert’s status updates to “Read” in the dashboard and the action is logged in the audit trail and activity feed
Snoozing an Alert
Given a manager identifies an alert requiring delayed action When the manager selects “Snooze” and chooses a snooze duration Then the alert is hidden from the active alerts list for the specified period and the snooze event is recorded in the audit log
Delegating an Alert
Given a manager receives an alert needing team member follow-up When the manager assigns the alert to a team member and selects “Delegate” Then the delegation is reflected in the alert details, the assignee receives a notification, and the delegation is documented in the activity feed
Recording Follow-up Notes
Given a manager or assignee working on an alert When they add notes or actions taken to the alert Then the notes are saved, visible in the alert timeline, and included in the audit trail with timestamp and user identifier
Tracking Resolution Status
Given an alert has assigned follow-up actions When the manager or assignee marks actions as complete Then the alert’s resolution status updates to “Resolved,” and the change is reflected in the dashboard and logged in the activity feed
Alert Escalation Policies
"As an HR director, I want critical mood alerts escalated if unaddressed so that senior leadership can intervene when needed."
Description

Enable configuration of escalation rules that automatically forward unacknowledged alerts to higher-level stakeholders after specified time intervals. The requirement includes defining multi-tier escalation chains, setting maximum retry attempts, and sending summary reports if alerts remain open. Integration points should cover email distribution lists and role-based access controls to ensure notifications reach the right personnel.

Acceptance Criteria
Escalation to Team Lead after Unacknowledged Alert
Given an alert is generated and remains unacknowledged for the configured time interval, When the time interval elapses, Then the system automatically forwards the alert notification to the designated team lead.
Tiered Escalation to Department Manager
Given a multi-tier escalation chain is defined, When the Tier 1 stakeholder fails to acknowledge the alert within its interval, Then the system escalates the alert to the Tier 2 stakeholder (department manager) without manual intervention.
Summary Report after Maximum Retry Attempts
Given an alert remains unacknowledged after the maximum number of retry attempts, When the final retry interval elapses, Then the system sends a summary report of the open alert, including timestamps and attempted recipients, to specified higher-level stakeholders.
Notification Delivery to Email Distribution List
Given an email distribution list is configured as an escalation endpoint, When an escalation rule triggers, Then the system sends the alert notification to every valid email address in the distribution list.
Role-Based Stakeholder Notification Verification
Given role-based access controls are configured for escalation, When an alert escalates, Then only users assigned to the specified roles receive the notification and no other users are sent the alert.
Historical Alert Analytics
"As a business owner, I want to review historical alert data so that I can spot patterns and improve team morale strategies."
Description

Develop analytics capabilities to visualize alert trends over time, including volume of spikes and dips, average acknowledgment response times, and resolution rates. Integrate charts and tables into the PulseSync dashboard, support filtering by team, date range, and alert type, and enable CSV export for further analysis. This will help managers identify recurring issues and measure the effectiveness of their interventions.

Acceptance Criteria
Alert Trend Visualization
Given a manager opens the PulseSync dashboard and selects Historical Alert Analytics, when the data is loaded for the chosen date range, then a line chart displaying daily counts of mood spikes and dips is rendered with tooltips showing exact values.
Average Acknowledgment Response Time Chart
Given there are acknowledged alerts in the system, when the manager selects the response time view, then a bar chart showing the average acknowledgment response time per team for the selected period is displayed and updated in real time.
Resolution Rate Table
Given historical alert data exists, when the manager views the resolution analytics section, then a table listing each alert type alongside the count of resolved versus unresolved alerts is presented, with sortable columns and pagination.
Filter by Team and Date Range
Given multiple teams and date ranges are available, when the manager applies team and date range filters on the analytics dashboard, then all charts and tables update instantly to reflect only the alerts matching those filters.
CSV Export of Alert Analytics
Given filters are applied or cleared, when the manager clicks the CSV export button, then a CSV file containing all currently displayed analytics data is generated and downloaded within five seconds.

Contextual Insights

Annotates mood rings with event markers—such as meetings, product launches, or policy changes—allowing users to correlate sentiment fluctuations with specific workplace events and understand underlying causes.

Requirements

Event Marker Annotation
"As a team lead, I want to see markers on the morale timeline indicating key events so that I can understand which workplace events influenced team sentiment."
Description

Automatically annotate mood ring charts with markers for key events by capturing timestamp, event type, and details. Markers appear as icons or labels on the timeline, and users can hover over them to view event information, providing clear contextual reference between events and sentiment fluctuations.

Acceptance Criteria
Meeting Event Annotation
Given a meeting event with timestamp, title, and description exists, when the mood ring chart loads, then a meeting icon marker is displayed at the correct timestamp and hovering over it shows the event title and description.
Product Launch Marker Display
Given a product launch event is recorded, when viewed on the mood ring timeline, then a launch marker icon appears at the event timestamp, and the tooltip shows launch details including date, time, and description.
Policy Change Annotation Validation
Given a policy change event exists in the system, when the user hovers over its marker on the timeline, then the tooltip displays the policy name, change summary, and effective date.
Multiple Events Overlapping
Given multiple events occur within the same day, when rendered on the mood ring, then markers are displayed without overlap or collision, and each event marker remains individually hoverable with correct details.
No Events Scenario
Given no events are recorded for a selected period, when the mood ring chart is displayed, then no event markers appear and the chart remains clean of icons or labels.
Custom Event Creation
"As a manager, I want to manually add custom events to the sentiment timeline so that I can include relevant company milestones not tracked automatically."
Description

Allow users to manually add, edit, or remove events through an intuitive interface. Users can specify event title, type (e.g., meeting, launch, policy change), date/time, and description. Added events integrate seamlessly with automatic markers and display on the dashboard timeline.

Acceptance Criteria
User Adds a New Event Successfully
Given the user is on the Custom Event Creation interface When the user enters a valid event title, selects an event type, picks a future date/time, adds a description, and clicks 'Save' Then the system saves the event, displays it in the user’s event list, and shows it as a marker on the dashboard timeline at the correct date/time And a confirmation message 'Event created successfully' is displayed
User Edits an Existing Event
Given an existing custom event is listed in the user’s event list When the user selects the event, changes one or more fields (title, type, date/time, or description), and clicks 'Update' Then the system saves the updates, reflects the changes in the event list, and updates the marker position or details on the dashboard timeline And a notification 'Event updated successfully' is displayed
User Removes an Event
Given an existing custom event is listed in the user’s event list When the user clicks 'Delete' on the event and confirms the action in the prompt Then the system removes the event from the event list and deletes the marker from the dashboard timeline And a message 'Event deleted successfully' is displayed
Custom and Automatic Events Merge Correctly on Timeline
Given the dashboard timeline contains both automatic and user-created event markers When the user views the timeline for a selected date range Then custom events appear alongside automatic markers, correctly ordered by date/time, with distinct icons for each event type And hovering over any marker shows the correct event details
Validation Errors for Missing Event Fields
Given the user is on the Custom Event Creation or Edit interface When the user leaves required fields (title, type, or date/time) blank and attempts to save Then the system blocks submission, highlights each missing field, and displays an inline error message for each required field
Event-Sentiment Correlation Analytics
"As a small business owner, I want to know which events had the strongest correlation with sentiment shifts so that I can prioritize effective interventions."
Description

Calculate statistical correlations between event occurrences and sentiment score changes over customizable time windows. Present correlation metrics, confidence levels, and visual highlights of significant event-sentiment relationships to help users identify which events most impacted team morale.

Acceptance Criteria
Correlation Calculation with Default Time Window
Given the user has selected the default 7-day time window for analysis, when they initiate the correlation computation, then the system calculates and displays the correlation coefficient, p-value, and 95% confidence interval for each event-sentiment pair.
Custom Time Window Selection
Given the user specifies a custom start and end date, when they apply the custom time window, then the system recalculates and presents updated correlation metrics and confidence levels reflecting only the specified period.
Significant Event Highlighting
Given the correlation results include events with p-value ≤ 0.05, when results are rendered on the dashboard, then each statistically significant event is visually highlighted and annotated with its exact correlation coefficient and confidence level.
Dashboard Performance Under Load
Given a data set containing at least 1,000 events and daily sentiment scores, when the user requests correlation analysis, then the system completes the computation and renders the results within 2 seconds on average.
Export of Correlation Data
Given correlation metrics are displayed on the dashboard, when the user selects the export option, then the system generates and downloads a CSV file containing event names, correlation coefficients, p-values, and confidence intervals.
Interactive Timeline Filter
"As a team lead, I want to filter the timeline by event type and date range so that I can focus on specific periods and events influencing morale."
Description

Provide dynamic filters for event type, date range, and sentiment thresholds, allowing users to drill down into specific segments of the timeline. The timeline view updates in real time based on selected filters, highlighting relevant markers and sentiment patterns.

Acceptance Criteria
Filter by Single Event Type
Given the user opens the timeline view When the user selects "Team Meeting" in the event type filter Then only markers labeled "Team Meeting" are displayed on the timeline And non-matching markers are hidden And the sentiment curve renders only data points within those events
Filter by Date Range
Given the timeline is loaded with markers from January to June When the user sets the start date to 2025-03-01 and the end date to 2025-03-31 Then only markers occurring between March 1 and March 31, 2025 are displayed And the sentiment line graph updates to reflect data within that period
Filter by Sentiment Threshold
Given the timeline shows sentiment scores from -5 to +5 When the user adjusts the sentiment threshold slider to show scores above +2 Then markers with sentiment scores below or equal to +2 are hidden And the graph only plots sentiment values greater than +2
Combine Multiple Filters
Given the user has selected the date range April 1–April 30, 2025 and event type "Policy Change" When the user sets the sentiment threshold to below 0 Then only markers for "Policy Change" events in April with negative sentiment are displayed And the timeline and sentiment graph reflect this combined filter set
Real-Time Update on Filter Change
Given any filter panel is open When the user toggles a filter criterion (event type, date range, or sentiment threshold) Then the timeline view updates instantly without page reload And a loading spinner appears for no more than 1 second And the updated markers and sentiment line are shown immediately after
Insight Export and Reporting
"As a manager, I want to export contextual sentiment reports so that I can share findings with stakeholders and archive historical data."
Description

Enable exporting of annotated dashboards and correlation analytics into PDF and CSV formats. Users can select content to include—charts, event lists, correlation summaries, and annotations—and schedule automated report generation and delivery for stakeholder sharing.

Acceptance Criteria
PDF Export via Manual Download
Given a user views an annotated dashboard, when the user selects "Export to PDF" and confirms, then the system generates and downloads a PDF containing all visible charts, event markers, correlation summaries, and annotations identical to the dashboard view within 10 seconds.
CSV Export via Manual Download
Given a user views annotation data, when the user selects "Export to CSV" and confirms, then the system generates and downloads a CSV file including separate sheets or sections for chart data, event lists, and correlation summaries with headers matching dashboard labels.
Customized Content Selection
Given a user initiates an export, when the user chooses specific content types (charts, events, correlation summaries, annotations) and confirms, then the generated PDF or CSV includes only the selected content and excludes unselected items.
Scheduled Report Setup
Given a user configures an automated report, when the user sets a schedule, selects format(s), and designates recipients, then the system saves the schedule, triggers report generation at the specified times, and logs scheduled tasks in the reporting module.
Automated Report Delivery Notification
Given an automated report is generated, when the report is successfully delivered, then the system sends a notification email to designated recipients with report attachments or secure download links and records delivery success in the user’s activity log.

Mood Forecast

AI-driven projections of next-day sentiment based on recent mood ring patterns, equipping managers with predictive insights to proactively address potential engagement dips before they occur.

Requirements

Data Ingestion Pipeline
"As a data analyst, I want the system to automatically collect and preprocess team mood data so that forecasting algorithms have clean and reliable inputs."
Description

Automate the extraction, transformation, and loading of mood survey data into a structured time-series database. This includes data validation, cleansing, normalization, handling of missing values, and timestamp alignment to ensure high-quality inputs for forecasting algorithms.

Acceptance Criteria
Scheduled Extraction of Mood Survey Data
The pipeline retrieves 100% of new survey entries from the source system within 5 minutes of the scheduled extraction time.
Validation and Cleansing of Survey Entries
All incoming records missing mandatory fields (user ID, timestamp, or response value) are flagged and routed to the error queue with an error code within 2 minutes of ingestion.
Normalization of Survey Scores
All survey score values are normalized to a 0-1 scale using the defined transformation formula, with no values outside this range after processing.
Handling Missing and Null Values
Records with missing mood responses are imputed using the user's median past responses, ensuring no null values are inserted into the time-series database.
Timestamp Alignment Verification
All timestamps are converted to UTC and aligned to the nearest 5-minute interval, with 100% accuracy verified against the original submission time.
Data Load into Time-Series Database
Processed records are batch loaded into the time-series database within 10 minutes of validation completion, with zero load failures.
Error Notification and Logging
Any pipeline errors are logged in the monitoring system and trigger an alert to the DevOps channel within 1 minute of occurrence.
Forecast Algorithm Development
"As a team lead, I want predictive insights on tomorrow’s team morale so that I can take proactive measures to maintain engagement."
Description

Design and implement an AI-driven projection model that analyzes recent mood ring patterns to predict next-day team sentiment. The algorithm should support configurable parameters, incorporate trend analysis, and provide confidence scores for each forecast.

Acceptance Criteria
Initial Algorithm Configuration Scenario
Given a system admin has set the window size and weighting parameters, when the forecast algorithm runs on the latest mood ring data, then it uses the configured parameters to generate the forecast.
Trend Analysis Detection Scenario
Given the last five days of mood ring patterns show a consistent decline, when analyzing the trend, then the algorithm flags a downward trend and predicts lower next-day sentiment with at least 70% probability.
Confidence Score Calculation Scenario
Given the model generates a next-day sentiment forecast, when attaching a confidence score, then the score is calculated based on historical accuracy and presented as a percentage between 0 and 100%.
Next-Day Sentiment Forecast Scenario
Given new pulse survey data is available, when the forecast algorithm processes the data, then it outputs a predicted sentiment value for the next day within 10 minutes of data ingestion.
Parameter Update Impact Scenario
Given the configuration parameters are updated post-deployment, when the algorithm runs subsequent forecasts, then the results reflect the updated parameters and differ from forecasts generated with previous settings.
Real-time Dashboard Integration
"As a manager, I want to view next-day sentiment projections alongside current mood metrics so that I can quickly assess potential issues in one place."
Description

Embed the Mood Forecast feature into the existing dashboard with visual charts, confidence intervals, and trend indicators. Ensure seamless interaction, responsive design, and alignment with PulseSync’s UI/UX standards for easy interpretation of predictive insights.

Acceptance Criteria
Forecast Chart Display
Given the user opens the dashboard, When the Mood Forecast feature is enabled, Then a line chart showing predicted sentiment for the next day appears within the dashboard’s main panel.
Interactive Data Point Details
When the user hovers or taps on any point in the forecast chart, Then a tooltip displays the exact predicted sentiment value, timestamp, and confidence interval percentage.
Responsive Design on Different Viewports
Given the dashboard is viewed on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices, Then the forecast chart and its controls adjust layout and size to maintain readability without horizontal scrolling.
Confidence Interval Visualization
Given the forecast chart is displayed, Then the upper and lower bounds of the confidence interval are rendered as shaded areas around the forecast line, with opacity matching design standards.
Live Data Update Handling
When new mood input data is received in real-time, Then the forecast chart automatically refreshes to incorporate updated predictions without requiring a page reload or manual refresh.
Alert & Notification System
"As a team lead, I want to receive alerts when tomorrow’s forecasted morale dips critically so that I can address concerns before they escalate."
Description

Develop an automated notification mechanism that triggers alerts when predicted sentiment drops below configurable thresholds. Support delivery via email, in-app notifications, and Slack integration to ensure managers receive timely warnings.

Acceptance Criteria
Threshold Breach Email Alert
Given a manager has set a sentiment threshold of X% When the AI forecast predicts next-day team sentiment below X% Then the system must send an email alert to the manager’s registered address within 5 minutes
In-App Notification Display
Given the manager is logged into PulseSync When the predicted sentiment drops below the configured threshold Then an in-app notification banner must appear on the dashboard with summary details and a link to the full Mood Forecast view
Slack Message for Low Sentiment
Given the manager has connected a Slack workspace and channel When the forecasted sentiment falls under the threshold Then the system must post a structured Slack message in the specified channel within 5 minutes, including sentiment score and recommended actions
Threshold Adjustment Confirmation
Given a manager updates the sentiment threshold value in settings When they save changes Then the system must display a confirmation message and send a test notification via each enabled channel to verify delivery
Channel Fallback Handling
Given a manager has enabled multiple notification channels and one channel fails When a sentiment alert is triggered Then the system must retry that channel up to three times, and if still unsuccessful, send the alert via the next available channel
User-configurable Forecast Settings
"As a manager, I want to customize the forecast sensitivity and alert thresholds so that predictions align with my team’s specific dynamics."
Description

Provide a settings interface allowing users to adjust forecast parameters such as sensitivity levels, time windows for analysis, and notification thresholds. Ensure changes are persisted and reflected immediately in the forecasting results.

Acceptance Criteria
Adjusting Sensitivity Levels
Given a manager is on the Forecast Settings page, When they set the sensitivity level to High and click Save, Then the new sensitivity setting is persisted and the forecast algorithm immediately uses it to generate updated next-day sentiment projections.
Modifying Time Window for Analysis
Given a manager is on the Forecast Settings page, When they select a custom time window of 7 days and click Save, Then the system saves the time window preference and forecasts for the next day are recalculated based on the last 7 days of mood data.
Setting Notification Thresholds
Given a manager is on the Forecast Settings page, When they set the notification threshold to 10% change and click Save, Then the threshold is saved and the system sends an alert if the predicted mood change exceeds 10%.
Immediate Persistence of Settings
Given a manager changes any forecast setting and clicks Save, When the save operation completes, Then the settings page reflects the saved values without needing a page reload, and a confirmation message Settings updated successfully is displayed.
Reflection of Changes in Forecast Results
Given a manager has updated forecast parameters, When they navigate to the Forecast Dashboard, Then the displayed next-day sentiment projections reflect the updated settings used in the most recent calculation.
Privacy Compliance Module
"As a compliance officer, I want mood data to be anonymized and securely processed so that user privacy is maintained and regulatory requirements are met."
Description

Implement anonymization and data protection measures for all mood data used in forecasting. Ensure compliance with relevant privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR) by handling personal identifiers securely and providing audit logs for data access.

Acceptance Criteria
Anonymizing Mood Data Before Forecasting
Given a set of user-submitted mood data, When the Privacy Compliance Module processes the data for forecasting, Then all personal identifiers (e.g., name, email, userID) are replaced with hashed tokens using SHA-256 and original identifiers are removed from the processed dataset.
Encrypting Stored Mood Records
Given anonymized mood data is written to the database, When storing the data at rest, Then the data must be encrypted using AES-256 and decrypted only by authorized services with valid keys.
Logging Access to Personal Identifiers
Given any service or user attempts to access raw or anonymized mood data, When the access occurs, Then an audit entry is created capturing the timestamp, user/service identity, type of access, and purpose, and the logs are stored immutably.
Handling Data Deletion Requests
Given a valid user request to delete their personal data under GDPR, When the request is received, Then the system must locate all raw identifiers, purge them from the system, confirm deletion in the audit log, and notify the user within 30 days.
Exporting Forecast Reports Securely
Given a manager requests a mood forecast export, When generating the report, Then export must only include anonymized identifiers, be encrypted in transit via TLS 1.2+, and require authentication to download.

Daily Briefs

Automated, personalized email summaries featuring the day’s top mood ring highlights and key trends, ensuring busy leaders stay informed of team morale even when they’re away from the dashboard.

Requirements

Email Template Customization
"As a team lead, I want to customize the email template so that the Daily Briefs reflect my company’s branding and communicate effectively with my team."
Description

Enable users to design and configure the layout, branding elements, and content blocks of Daily Brief emails. This requirement involves a template editor with drag-and-drop components, customizable color schemes, logo placement, and localized date/time formats. Templates must support dynamic placeholders for AI-generated highlights and key metrics, ensuring a consistent branded experience while automatically populating each email with relevant data.

Acceptance Criteria
Accessing the Email Template Editor
Given the user navigates to the Daily Briefs template settings page, When the template editor loads, Then the editor displays the drag-and-drop component palette, the color picker, the logo upload field, and the list of dynamic placeholders within 2 seconds with no errors.
Applying Custom Color Schemes
Given the user selects custom header and footer colors using the color picker, When the user saves the template, Then any preview or test email displays the header and footer backgrounds using the selected hex codes exactly as configured.
Uploading and Positioning Brand Logo
Given the user uploads a logo file in JPG, PNG, or SVG format, When the user drags the logo into the header and selects a predefined alignment (left, center, right), Then the preview shows the logo in the chosen position at the correct dimensions without distortion.
Inserting Dynamic Content Placeholders
Given the user drags an AI-generated highlight or key metric placeholder into a content block, When the user clicks preview with sample data, Then the placeholder is replaced by sample text reflecting realistic AI-generated highlights or metrics.
Setting Localized Date and Time Formats
Given the user selects a locale or custom date/time format in the template settings, When the user saves the template, Then any date or time placeholders in the preview or test email render using the selected format (e.g., DD/MM/YYYY for UK, MM/DD/YYYY for US).
Automated Delivery Scheduling
"As a busy manager, I want to set when and how often Daily Briefs are sent so that I always receive updates at a convenient time without manual intervention."
Description

Allow users to set up and manage recurring delivery times for Daily Brief emails, with support for time zone detection, frequency settings (daily, weekdays only, custom intervals), and holiday/weekend overrides. The scheduling engine must integrate with user account preferences, send emails at optimal times per recipient location, and retry failed deliveries according to configurable rules.

Acceptance Criteria
Scheduling Daily Briefs with Time Zone Detection
Given a user with account locale set to a specific time zone, When they schedule a Daily Brief at 9:00 AM, Then the system queues the email to send exactly at 9:00 AM in the user’s local time zone converted to UTC for delivery.
Configuring Frequency Settings
Given a user chooses delivery frequency as weekdays only, When the system processes the schedule on a Saturday or Sunday, Then no Daily Brief email is sent, and scheduling automatically resumes on the next Monday.
Setting Custom Interval Delivery
Given a user defines a custom interval of every 3 days starting on May 1st, When the scheduling engine runs, Then Daily Brief emails are sent on May 1st, 4th, 7th, and so on, matching the specified interval.
Handling Holiday Overrides
Given a predefined list of company holidays and weekend overrides, When a scheduled delivery date falls on a holiday or weekend, Then the system either skips the delivery or reschedules it per user’s override preference and logs the action.
Retry Mechanism for Failed Deliveries
Given an email delivery attempt fails, When retry rules are configured for up to 3 attempts at 15-minute intervals, Then the system retries delivery according to those rules, logs each retry, and notifies the admin if all retries fail.
Personalized Content Selection
"As a team lead, I want the Daily Brief to include only the most relevant mood insights and alerts so that I can focus on critical information quickly."
Description

Implement AI-driven logic to analyze team sentiment data and select the most relevant mood trends, alerts, and highlights for each recipient. This includes setting user preferences for topics of interest, filtering noise by threshold, and dynamically adjusting content based on past engagement and feedback. The system must ensure each Daily Brief surfaces critical issues and avoids redundant information.

Acceptance Criteria
Selecting Top Mood Trends Based on User Preferences
Given a team lead with saved topic preferences, when the Daily Brief is generated, then the email includes the top three mood trends that match the preferences, ordered by descending sentiment change, and each trend has at least a 5% change since the last report.
Filtering Out Noise Below Sentiment Threshold
Given sentiment data with various percentage changes, when compiling the Daily Brief, then any trend or alert with a sentiment change below the configured 2% threshold is excluded from the email content.
Dynamic Content Adjustment from Engagement Feedback
Given a history of user interactions (opens, clicks, feedback) on previous briefs, when generating a new Daily Brief, then topics with engagement rates below 10% are deprioritized and replaced by next-highest relevant topics based on AI analysis.
Surfacing Critical Alerts in Daily Briefs
Given any team sentiment drop exceeding the critical alert threshold of 15%, when the Daily Brief is created, then a prominent alert section is included at the top of the email detailing the issue, affected team segment, and recommended actions.
Avoiding Redundant Information Across Briefs
Given the content history of the last two Daily Briefs, when compiling the current brief, then any trend repeated in both previous emails is omitted unless its sentiment change since last inclusion exceeds 10%.
Analytics Summary Integration
"As a business owner, I want to see mini-charts of morale trends in the Daily Brief so that I can quickly assess changes at a glance and click through for details."
Description

Embed visual summaries of key metrics within the email body, such as mini-line charts of morale trends, bar charts of pulse response rates, and tables of top-performing teams. These embedded graphics must be generated on the fly from the latest data, optimized for email clients, and include links back to the live PulseSync dashboard for deeper analysis.

Acceptance Criteria
Embedded Charts Render Correctly in Email Clients
Given the Daily Briefs email is opened in Gmail (web and mobile) and Outlook (web and native), When the email body is rendered, Then the mini-line chart of morale trends, bar chart of pulse response rates, and table of top-performing teams display correctly without distortion or broken images, and include appropriate alt text.
Summary Charts Display Current Data
Given the email generation process runs, When the email is sent, Then the embedded visuals reflect data updated no more than 1 hour prior to sending, showing the latest morale scores, response rates, and team rankings.
Optimized Chart Visuals for Email
Given the email is viewed on desktop (>=1024px width) and mobile (<=600px width), When rendering the embedded graphics, Then each graphic file size does not exceed 200KB, maintains readability, and images scale appropriately for each viewport.
Dashboard Deep-Dive Links Functionality
Given a recipient clicks on an embedded graphic or 'View on Dashboard' link, When the link is activated, Then the PulseSync dashboard opens in a new browser tab, navigates directly to the corresponding detailed report with context (date range and metric), and the user remains authenticated.
Email Load Performance Under Large Data Sets
Given pulse survey data volume increases, When generating the Daily Briefs emails, Then the complete email (including embedded charts) is assembled and sent in under 5 seconds, and the total email size does not exceed 1MB.
Email Engagement Tracking
"As a product manager, I want to track how recipients interact with Daily Brief emails so that I can measure engagement and improve the content over time."
Description

Track recipient interactions with Daily Brief emails, including opens, link clicks, and forwards. Integrate engagement metrics back into the PulseSync platform to generate reports on email performance, identify content areas driving engagement, and enable A/B testing of different email formats. Data must be captured in compliance with privacy standards and anonymized where necessary.

Acceptance Criteria
Email Open Tracking
Given a Daily Brief email is delivered to a recipient, when the recipient opens the email, then the system records an 'open' event with recipient ID, timestamp, and email ID in the PulseSync database.
Link Click Tracking
Given the Daily Brief email contains tracked links, when a recipient clicks any tracked link, then the system captures a 'click' event including recipient ID, link ID, timestamp, and forwards it to the analytics dashboard for reporting.
Forwarded Email Open Detection
Given a Daily Brief email is forwarded by the recipient, when the forwarded email is opened by a new recipient, then the system logs the forwarded open event as anonymized, without associating it to the original recipient’s identity.
Privacy and Anonymization Compliance
Given engagement events are processed, when storing event data, then all personal identifiers are anonymized or hashed according to privacy standards, and only aggregated metrics are available in compliance reports.
A/B Email Format Performance Comparison
Given two variants of the Daily Brief email are sent to user subsets, when engagement data is collected over seven days, then the system generates a comparative report showing open rates and click-through rates for each variant.
Real-Time Engagement Dashboard Integration
Given engagement events are recorded, when a user accesses the PulseSync platform dashboard, then email performance metrics appear under the Email Performance section with real-time updates.

SmartPulse Scheduler

AI-driven timing optimizes anonymous emoji check-ins by analyzing team activity patterns and peak engagement windows. By sending prompts when participation likelihood is highest, it boosts response rates and ensures sentiment data is timely and representative without overwhelming team members.

Requirements

Activity Pattern Analyzer
"As a team lead, I want the system to learn my team’s active periods so that survey prompts arrive when members are most likely to respond."
Description

Implement an AI-driven engine that analyzes historical team activity data—such as login times, message frequency, and task updates—to identify peak engagement windows. This component integrates with existing collaboration tools and calendars, processing anonymized metadata to detect when team members are most responsive. The analyzer continuously learns and adjusts its model based on new data, ensuring timing predictions remain accurate as patterns evolve.

Acceptance Criteria
Peak Engagement Window Detection
Given historical team activity data for the past 30 days, When the analyzer processes the data, Then it must identify at least three distinct time windows where team activity exceeds the baseline by 20%.
Real-Time Data Integration
Given a new collaboration tool event (login, message, task update), When the event is received by the analyzer, Then it must process and store the anonymized metadata within 5 seconds.
Adaptive Model Update
Given weekly increments of activity data, When the retraining job executes, Then the analyzer’s prediction accuracy must improve or remain within 2% variance of the previous model’s accuracy.
Anonymized Metadata Handling
Given raw user activity logs, When the data is ingested, Then all PII must be removed or hashed before storage, ensuring compliance with privacy standards.
Calendar Integration Verification
Given connected calendar events from Google Calendar API, When the integration runs, Then at least 95% of events for the last week must be successfully retrieved and processed without errors.
Optimal Prompt Timing Engine
"As a small business owner, I want check-in prompts sent at the best times so that response rates increase without manual scheduling."
Description

Develop a scheduling module that consumes insights from the Activity Pattern Analyzer to schedule anonymous emoji check-in prompts at optimal times. The engine must respect user preferences, avoid sending multiple prompts within a short window, and adapt dynamically if engagement patterns shift. Integration points include push notifications, email, and chat platforms to ensure seamless delivery.

Acceptance Criteria
Individual Preference-Based Scheduling
Given a team member has set preferred check-in windows; When the engine calculates optimal times using their preferences and engagement patterns; Then the prompt is scheduled within the preferred window and at the peak engagement time.
Preventing Prompt Overload
Given a user has received a prompt less than 4 hours ago; When the scheduler considers sending a new prompt; Then it defers the prompt until the 4-hour window has elapsed.
Adaptive Rescheduling After Pattern Shift
Given a significant shift in team activity patterns detected by the analyzer; When the existing schedule no longer aligns with new peaks; Then the engine dynamically updates upcoming prompt times to match the revised patterns.
Cross-Platform Delivery Verification
Given a prompt is scheduled for delivery; When the scheduled time arrives; Then the system sends the prompt via push notification, email, and chat platform simultaneously and logs successful delivery on all channels.
Respecting Do-Not-Disturb Periods
Given a user-defined do-not-disturb (DND) period; When a prompt falls within that period; Then the scheduler postpones delivery to the first available slot after the DND period ends.
Survey Frequency Controller
"As a project manager, I want to limit how often my team receives prompts so that they don’t feel overwhelmed."
Description

Create a configurable frequency controller to manage the cadence of emoji check-ins, preventing survey fatigue. Administrators can set minimum intervals between prompts per user or team, define blackout periods (e.g., weekends or off-hours), and apply smart throttling based on recent participation rates. This ensures the system balances data freshness with user comfort.

Acceptance Criteria
Configurable Minimum Interval Enforcement
Given an administrator sets a minimum interval of 24 hours between prompts for a specific team, When the system attempts to schedule a check-in within that interval for any team member, Then the prompt is not sent and a suppression event is logged.
Blackout Period Blocking
Given a blackout period defined from Friday 18:00 to Monday 09:00, When the current time falls within this period, Then no check-in prompts are dispatched to any user and outbound messages are queued for the end of the blackout.
Dynamic Throttling Adjustment
Given a user’s participation rate drops below 40% over the last five surveys, When the scheduler calculates the next prompt time, Then the minimum interval is automatically increased by 50% and the adjustment is recorded in the audit log.
Immediate Prompt After Interval
Given a user’s last response occurred exactly at the configured minimum interval, When the scheduler evaluates pending prompts, Then the prompt is sent immediately without further delay.
Administrator Interval Updates Persistence
Given an administrator updates the minimum interval setting from 24 to 48 hours for a team, When the change is saved, Then all future scheduling decisions use the new 48-hour interval and prior settings are archived.
Time Zone & Region Adaptation
"As a remote team lead, I want prompts to respect each member’s time zone so that surveys aren’t sent during off-hours."
Description

Extend scheduling logic to support distributed teams by normalizing timestamps across time zones and accounting for local holidays and working hours. The system automatically calculates each member’s local time for prompt delivery, ensuring fairness and relevance. Integration with calendar APIs allows for dynamic adjustment around vacations and regional downtime.

Acceptance Criteria
Local Time Normalization Across Time Zones
Given a team member located in UTC+5:30 and a scheduled check-in time of 10:00 AM local, when the system calculates the dispatch time, then it sends the notification at 04:30 AM UTC.
Daylight Saving Time Adjustment
Given a recurring check-in scheduled at 9:00 AM local time in a DST-observing region, when the region transitions into or out of DST, then the system adjusts the UTC dispatch time to maintain delivery at 9:00 AM local without manual intervention.
Holiday and Non-Working Day Exclusion
Given a public holiday in a user’s region, when generating the upcoming check-in schedule, then the system skips that date and reschedules the check-in to the next available working day at the originally configured local time.
Working Hours Enforcement
Given configured working hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM local time, when scheduling a check-in that falls outside these hours, then the system automatically adjusts the dispatch time to the next valid working-hour slot on the same day.
Calendar API Vacation Accommodation
Given a user’s calendar shows a vacation event spanning multiple days, when calculating check-in times during this period, then the system suppresses notifications for the duration of the vacation and resumes scheduling the next check-in after the vacation ends.
Regional Downtime Avoidance
Given a known regional service outage window, when it overlaps with a scheduled check-in time for affected users, then the system detects the downtime period via integrated status feeds and postpones the dispatch to the first available time after the outage completes.
Response Rate Monitoring Dashboard
"As a team lead, I want to see how my team is responding to prompts so that I can tweak the schedule for better engagement."
Description

Build a live dashboard that visualizes scheduled prompts, delivery success, and real-time response rates. The dashboard highlights trends, flags low-engagement windows, and provides recommendations for adjusting timing strategies. Role-based access controls ensure that sensitive participation metrics remain anonymous while offering actionable insights to managers.

Acceptance Criteria
Viewing Scheduled Prompts and Delivery Success
Given the user opens the Response Rate Monitoring Dashboard, when scheduled prompts are retrieved, then each prompt is listed in chronological order with a timestamp and a clear status indicator (delivered, pending, or failed), and any failed delivery shows an error icon.
Real-Time Response Rate Updates
Given the dashboard is active, when team members submit emoji check-ins, then the overall and per-prompt response rates update within 60 seconds, reflecting the latest data in percentage and count formats.
Trend Analysis and Low Engagement Alerts
Given historical response data over the past seven days, when the response rate for any time window falls below the configurable threshold, then the dashboard highlights that window in red and flags it with an alert icon.
Actionable Timing Recommendations
Given the system detects a sustained drop in response rate over the last three prompts, when the manager views the recommendations panel, then the dashboard provides at least two AI-generated optimal send time suggestions based on past engagement patterns.
Role-Based Access Controls and Anonymity Enforcement
Given users with different roles access the dashboard, when a manager logs in, then they see only aggregated, anonymous participation metrics; and when an admin logs in, they can view detailed logs without revealing individual identities; any unauthorized roles cannot access the dashboard.

WhisperAlerts

Delivers discreet, real-time direct notices to managers when sentiment spikes or dips cross defined thresholds. Each alert includes contextual details—such as recent check-in comments and participation rates—enabling swift, informed interventions before minor issues escalate.

Requirements

Alert Threshold Configuration
"As a manager, I want to configure specific sentiment thresholds so that I receive alerts only when meaningful changes occur."
Description

Enable managers to define custom sentiment spike and dip thresholds that trigger WhisperAlerts. This requirement covers building a user-friendly interface for setting numeric thresholds or percentage changes, validating input ranges, saving configurations per team or department, and ensuring thresholds are applied in real time against incoming pulse survey data. The implementation will integrate with the existing settings module, persist configurations in the database, and log changes for audit purposes, ensuring managers can quickly adjust sensitivity to suit evolving team dynamics.

Acceptance Criteria
Configure Valid Threshold Values
Given a manager is on the Alert Threshold Configuration page, When they enter a sentiment spike threshold of 5% and a dip threshold of 3%, Then the system accepts the values, saves the configuration for the selected team, and displays a confirmation message.
Handle Invalid Threshold Input
Given a manager enters a threshold outside the allowed range (e.g., -10% or 200%), When they attempt to save, Then the system rejects the input, highlights the invalid fields with error messages specifying the valid range, and prevents saving until corrected.
Persist Threshold Configuration
Given a manager has saved a custom threshold configuration for Department A, When they log out and log back in or navigate away and return, Then the previously saved thresholds are loaded in the configuration interface unchanged.
Apply Thresholds to Real-Time Data
Given incoming pulse survey data surpasses the saved 10% dip threshold, When the new data is processed in real time, Then WhisperAlerts are triggered immediately and sent to the manager with contextual details of recent comments and participation rates.
Audit Log Records Configuration Changes
Given a manager updates threshold values, When the changes are saved, Then the system creates an audit log entry recording the manager’s ID, timestamp, previous values, and new values, and the entry is viewable in the settings audit trail.
Contextual Data Aggregation
"As a manager, I want each alert to include recent comments and participation stats so that I can quickly understand the situation."
Description

Collect and present relevant contextual details—such as recent check-in comments, participation rates, and historical sentiment trends—alongside every WhisperAlert. This requirement involves querying and aggregating data from multiple sources (surveys, comments, participation logs), formatting it for concise presentation, and linking back to detailed dashboards. The goal is to equip managers with immediate context, reducing time to understand issues and enabling informed, proactive interventions.

Acceptance Criteria
Sentiment Spike Alert Context Display
Given a sentiment spike WhisperAlert is triggered, When the manager views the alert, Then it includes the last 3 check-in comments, the current participation rate, and a 7-day sentiment trend chart.
Sentiment Dip Alert Context Display
Given a sentiment dip WhisperAlert is triggered, When the manager views the alert, Then it displays the 7 most recent check-in comments with anonymity preserved, the current week's participation rate, and a 30-day sentiment trends summary.
Contextual Data Link to Detailed Dashboard
Given a manager clicks the "View Details" link within a WhisperAlert, When the link is clicked, Then the detailed dashboard opens showing the same context scope including comments, participation rates, and sentiment trends.
Multi-source Data Aggregation Accuracy
Given data is pulled from surveys, comment logs, and participation records, When the WhisperAlert is generated, Then the contextual section combines and shows aggregated metrics for these sources without duplication and within a 1% error margin.
Alert Load Performance
Given a WhisperAlert is triggered, When the manager opens the alert, Then the contextual data section loads in under 2 seconds for 95% of alerts under normal network conditions.
Real-time Notification Delivery
"As a manager, I want to receive alerts instantly when sentiment changes so that I can act before issues escalate."
Description

Implement a low-latency notification system that pushes WhisperAlerts to managers as soon as sentiment thresholds are breached. This requirement encompasses setting up a real-time eventing pipeline (using WebSockets or push notifications), integrating with front-end components and mobile channels, handling connectivity failures with retries, and ensuring alerts are delivered within seconds. The design will include back-end event listeners, notification queues, and front-end listeners to guarantee timely, reliable alerting.

Acceptance Criteria
Manager Receives Timely Alert on Web Client
Given a team sentiment threshold is breached, When the back-end publishes a WhisperAlert, Then the manager’s web client displays the alert within 3 seconds, including contextual details (recent comments, participation rate) in the notifications pane.
Mobile App Push Notification
Given a manager’s mobile app is running in the background and a sentiment threshold breach occurs, When the push notification is sent, Then the device receives the notification within 5 seconds, and tapping it opens the app to the relevant alert details view.
Offline Manager Reconnection
Given the manager’s device is offline for up to 2 minutes and alerts are generated during downtime, When the device reconnects, Then all pending alerts are delivered in chronological order within 10 seconds of reconnection.
High Volume Alert Handling
Given 100 sentiment breach events occur in quick succession, When the system processes these events, Then alerts are enqueued and delivered without duplication, in the original event order, each within 5 seconds of its event timestamp.
Alert Failure Retry Logic
Given a notification attempt fails due to a transient network error, When the system detects the failure, Then it retries delivery up to 3 times with exponential backoff intervals, logs each attempt, and reports final success or failure to the monitoring dashboard.
Alert Acknowledgement Tracking
"As a product owner, I want to see which alerts have been acknowledged so that I can measure follow-through on issues."
Description

Track and record manager responses to WhisperAlerts, including when alerts are viewed, acknowledged, or dismissed. This requirement specifies creating acknowledgement actions in the UI, capturing timestamps and user IDs, storing these events in the database, and providing reports on response rates. The feature will help product teams measure engagement with alerts and ensure accountability by showing which alerts were addressed and which need follow-up.

Acceptance Criteria
Viewing WhisperAlert Details
Given a manager sees a WhisperAlert in their dashboard When they click to view the alert details Then a 'viewed' acknowledgement event is recorded with the correct manager user ID, alert ID, and timestamp
Acknowledging a WhisperAlert
Given a manager views alert details When they click the 'Acknowledge' button Then an 'acknowledged' event is saved with accurate user ID, alert ID, and timestamp And the UI displays a confirmation message
Dismissing a WhisperAlert
Given a manager views alert details When they click the 'Dismiss' button Then a 'dismissed' event is saved with accurate user ID, alert ID, and timestamp And the alert is removed from the active alerts list
Storing Alert Acknowledgement Events
Given any acknowledgement action (viewed, acknowledged, or dismissed) When the event is generated Then the database stores a record with fields: event_type, user_id, alert_id, timestamp without error And a query to the acknowledgements table returns the correct record
Generating Manager Alert Response Report
Given an admin requests a response report for a specific manager and date range When they run the report Then the system returns the counts of viewed, acknowledged, and dismissed alerts for that manager within the period And the results match the database records
Unaddressed Alerts Notification Flagging
Given alerts delivered but not viewed within 24 hours When the system runs the pending alerts check Then each unviewed alert older than 24 hours is flagged as 'unaddressed' and appears in the unaddressed alerts report
Permission-based Alert Visibility
"As an admin, I want alerts to be visible only to managers of the relevant team so that sensitive sentiment data remains secure."
Description

Ensure WhisperAlerts are visible only to authorized users based on role and team assignment. This requirement details implementing access controls that filter alerts by manager’s scope, integrating with the existing RBAC system, enforcing permissions in both back-end APIs and front-end views, and auditing unauthorized access attempts. The solution will prevent information leaks across teams while granting managers full visibility over their own teams’ alerts.

Acceptance Criteria
Manager Access to Own Team Alerts
Given a manager assigned to Team A When they view WhisperAlerts Then the dashboard displays only alerts for Team A and no other teams
Manager Access Denied for Other Teams
Given a manager assigned to Team A When they attempt to view WhisperAlerts for Team B Then the system returns a 403 Forbidden response and no alert data is exposed
Admin Access to All Team Alerts
Given an admin user with global alert permissions When they access the WhisperAlerts dashboard Then alerts for all teams are displayed without restriction
API Enforcement of Alert Visibility
Given a manager’s API token When they call the /alerts endpoint with a team ID outside their scope Then the API responds with an empty list or 403 error and does not return any data for unauthorized teams
Audit Logging of Unauthorized Access Attempts
Given any unauthorized attempt to access WhisperAlerts When the system denies access Then an audit record is created with user ID, timestamp, resource requested, and reason for denial

TrendPulse Recap

Generates concise, customizable sentiment summaries—daily, weekly, or monthly—posted directly in Slack channels or via DM. Visual charts and key takeaways highlight emerging trends, helping managers track morale evolution and measure the impact of engagement initiatives over time.

Requirements

Scheduled Recap Delivery
"As a team lead, I want to set up automated trend summary reports to be delivered at selected intervals so that I can regularly monitor team morale without manual effort."
Description

Enables managers to configure and schedule automated trend summaries to be generated and delivered at chosen intervals (daily, weekly, monthly), ensuring timely insights without manual intervention. Integrates with the existing survey data pipeline and schedule engine, allowing seamless report initiation and delivery according to user-defined schedules.

Acceptance Criteria
Daily Recap Scheduled to Slack Channel
Given a manager configures a daily recap at 09:00 in a specific Slack channel When the scheduled time is reached Then the system generates a recap summarizing the past 24 hours of sentiment data And the system posts the summary, visual charts, and key takeaways to the specified Slack channel within 2 minutes of the scheduled time
Weekly Recap Delivered via Direct Message
Given a manager selects a weekly interval on Mondays at 10:00 and chooses direct message delivery When the Monday schedule triggers Then the system generates a recap covering the previous week’s sentiment trends And sends the summary, visual charts, and key takeaways as a direct message to the manager
Monthly Recap Schedule Updated Successfully
Given an existing monthly recap schedule When the manager updates the interval, delivery time, or target destination Then the system persists the new configuration And confirms the update via a Slack notification And ensures subsequent recaps follow the updated schedule
Invalid Schedule Configuration Prevented
Given the manager enters an invalid time format or omits the delivery target When attempting to save the schedule Then the system validates inputs and rejects invalid configurations And displays clear error messages indicating the issue And prevents the schedule from being saved
Scheduled Recap Execution Disabled
Given a manager disables an active recap schedule When the next scheduled time arrives Then no recap is generated or delivered And the system updates the schedule status to disabled And sends a confirmation message to the manager
Custom Summary Templates
"As a small business owner, I want to customize the content and layout of my sentiment summaries so that the recaps highlight the metrics and visuals most relevant to my team."
Description

Provides customizable summary templates where managers can select which metrics, chart types, and narrative sections appear in their TrendPulse Recaps, ensuring reports align with specific reporting needs and preferences. Includes drag-and-drop template builder and preview mode for instant feedback.

Acceptance Criteria
Template Creation by Manager
Given the manager accesses the Custom Summary Templates builder When the manager enters a unique template name and selects desired metrics, chart types, and narrative sections Then the template is saved successfully and listed in the manager’s template library
Drag-and-Drop Field Arrangement
Given available metrics, chart types, and narrative sections in the builder sidebar When the manager drags an element onto the template canvas Then the element snaps into the chosen position, can be repositioned or removed, and the layout persists after saving
Template Preview Mode Displays Customization
Given the manager has configured the template When the manager clicks 'Preview' Then a live sample recap appears showing selected metrics, charts, and narrative in the configured layout with placeholder data
Apply Summary Template to Recap Generation
Given the manager selects the custom template for a daily, weekly, or monthly TrendPulse Recap When the recap is generated and posted to Slack Then the recap includes only the metrics, charts, and narrative sections defined in the custom template
Validation of Template Settings
Given the manager configures incompatible or incomplete template options When the manager attempts to save the template Then the system displays clear validation messages and prevents saving until all required fields and valid combinations are set
Slack Integration Configuration
"As a manager, I want to connect PulseSync to my Slack workspace and choose which channels or teammates receive the recaps so that the summaries appear where my team collaborates."
Description

Allows users to authenticate and configure Slack channels or direct message targets for delivering TrendPulse Recaps, including OAuth setup, channel selection, and permission scopes. Ensures secure integration and simplified delivery to the designated Slack workspace.

Acceptance Criteria
OAuth Authorization Flow Initiation
Given a user is on the Slack Integration settings page, When they click 'Connect Slack', Then the OAuth consent screen is displayed requesting the required permission scopes.
OAuth Token Received and Stored
Given the user approves the app, When Slack returns an authorization code, Then the system exchanges the code for an access token and securely stores it.
Channel Selection Interface
Given valid Slack credentials, When the user opens the channel selection dropdown, Then all channels the user has access to are listed and selectable.
Permission Scope Validation
Given the app is connected, When TrendPulse Recap is posted, Then the system verifies 'chat:write' and 'channels:read' scopes are granted before sending.
Recap Delivery to Selected Channel
Given a channel is selected and scopes are granted, When a recap is scheduled, Then the system sends the recap message with charts to the channel within 5 minutes of the scheduled time.
Visual Chart Generation
"As a team lead, I want to see visual charts depicting morale trends over time so that I can quickly grasp changes and patterns in team sentiment."
Description

Implements a chart generation engine that automatically creates clear, interactive visualizations (line charts, bar graphs, trend lines) based on sentiment data over time, ensuring dynamic responsiveness to different report intervals and data ranges.

Acceptance Criteria
Daily Sentiment Line Chart in Slack DM
Given a user requests a daily sentiment summary When TrendPulse Recap generates the visualization Then a line chart of daily sentiment scores over the past 24 hours is created And the chart is interactive (hover to see exact values) And the chart is posted via DM in Slack within 30 seconds.
Weekly Bar Graph in Slack Channel
Given a manager selects a weekly report interval When TrendPulse Recap runs the chart engine Then a bar graph showing average sentiment per day for the past week is generated And the graph displays labeled axes and color-coded bars And the graph is posted in the designated Slack channel.
Custom Date Range Trend Lines
Given a user specifies a custom date range (start date and end date) When TrendPulse Recap regenerates the visualization Then a trend line chart plotting sentiment data across the selected interval is created And the chart adjusts its time axis to the specified range And the chart renders within acceptable resolution on desktop and mobile Slack clients.
No Data Available Handling
Given the sentiment data source has no entries for the requested interval When the chart generation is triggered Then the system returns a placeholder image indicating no data And a message 'No data available for the selected period' is displayed in the chart area.
High Volume Data Performance
Given the sentiment data includes more than 10,000 data points for the requested interval When the chart engine processes the data Then the visualization is generated within 5 seconds And the chart remains interactive without performance degradation.
Automated Key Takeaway Extraction
"As a small business owner, I want PulseSync to automatically surface the most important morale insights and recommendations so that I can address issues proactively."
Description

Develops an AI-powered algorithm to analyze sentiment trends and automatically generate key insights and recommendations, highlighting significant changes, anomalies, and potential risk areas, enabling managers to prioritize follow-up actions.

Acceptance Criteria
Daily Sentiment Shift Alert
Given a completed daily pulse survey for a team When the AI analyzes the sentiment data Then a key takeaway summary highlighting the top three positive and negative sentiment shifts compared to the previous day is generated
Monthly Risk Area Identification
Given aggregated monthly sentiment trends When anomalies exceed a predefined threshold Then the system generates a key insight identifying at-risk teams or topics with a risk level label
Anomaly Detection in Team Morale
Given team sentiment scores over a week When an abrupt deviation occurs Then the algorithm flags the anomaly and includes context notes in the generated key takeaway
Actionable Recommendation Generation
Given identified sentiment trends and anomalies When key insights are generated Then the AI provides at least two specific, prioritized follow-up actions tailored to the team’s sentiment profile
Integration with Slack Delivery
Given the generated key takeaways When the summary is ready Then the system automatically posts the summary to the designated Slack channel or DM without formatting errors
Delivery Channel Selection
"As a team lead, I want to receive morale trend recaps via email or in-app notification in addition to Slack so that I can access summaries through my preferred communication channel."
Description

Offers flexible delivery options beyond Slack, including email and in-app notifications, allowing managers to choose multiple channels for receiving TrendPulse Recaps based on individual preferences and notification settings.

Acceptance Criteria
Channel Configuration by Manager
Given a manager accesses the TrendPulse Recap settings page When they select Slack, Email, and In-App from the delivery channel list Then the system saves each selected channel and displays them as active delivery options
Recap Delivery via Email
Given a daily TrendPulse Recap is scheduled and Email is selected as a delivery channel When the recap is generated Then the system sends the recap email to the manager’s registered email address within 5 minutes of generation
Recap Delivery via In-App Notification
Given a weekly TrendPulse Recap is generated and In-App notification is selected When the recap is ready Then the system displays a notification in the app’s notification center and highlights the new recap entry
Multi-Channel Delivery Verification
Given a monthly TrendPulse Recap is scheduled and multiple channels are selected When the recap is delivered Then the manager receives the same summary in each selected channel with consistent content and formatting
User Preference Overrides
Given a manager has global delivery channels configured and individual team members adjust their personal notification settings When a TrendPulse Recap is generated for that manager Then the system respects each user’s personal channel preferences and delivers only to channels allowed by their settings

EventEcho Triggers

Automatically prompts emoji check-ins immediately after key calendar events—team meetings, product launches, or training sessions—to capture context-specific feedback. This feature links sentiment shifts to events, uncovering the real-time impact of workplace activities on team morale.

Requirements

Calendar Integration Module
"As a team lead, I want EventEcho to automatically send emoji check-in prompts right after calendar events so that I can capture immediate feedback while context is fresh."
Description

Develop seamless integration with major calendar platforms (Google Calendar, Outlook, and iCal) to detect and subscribe to relevant team events. This module will securely authenticate user calendars, fetch event data in real time, and trigger emoji check-in prompts immediately after predefined events.

Acceptance Criteria
User Successfully Authenticates Calendar Account
Given a valid Google, Outlook, or iCal account When the user enters proper credentials and grants permissions Then the system stores a valid OAuth token and displays a confirmation message
Real-Time Event Detection
Given an authenticated calendar account When a new event is created or updated in the user’s calendar Then the system fetches and displays the event details within 60 seconds
Event Subscription for Predefined Events
Given the user has selected event types (team meetings, product launches, training sessions) When events matching the selected types are added to the calendar Then the system subscribes to those events and lists them in the EventEcho dashboard
Trigger Emoji Check-In Post Meeting
Given a subscribed event has ended When the event end time is reached Then the system automatically prompts all participants with an emoji check-in within five minutes
Secure Data Handling During Sync
Given event data is being fetched or stored When data is transmitted between the calendar provider and PulseSync Then all data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and no sensitive user information is logged in plain text
Customizable Trigger Settings
"As a small business owner, I want to select specific event types and criteria for triggers so that the feedback solicitation is always relevant to my team’s activities."
Description

Provide a flexible settings interface where administrators can define which types of calendar events (e.g., team meetings, product launches, training sessions) should trigger sentiment check-ins. Include options for event tags, keywords, and time-based filters to tailor triggers to organizational needs.

Acceptance Criteria
Defining Event Type Triggers
Given an administrator is on the Trigger Settings page, when they select 'Team Meeting' and 'Product Launch' event types and save the settings, then the system should only launch sentiment check-in prompts for calendar events tagged as 'Team Meeting' or 'Product Launch'.
Configuring Keyword-Based Triggers
Given an administrator adds the keywords 'Q4 Review' and 'All-Hands' to the keyword trigger section and saves, when a calendar event title contains one of these keywords, then the system initiates a sentiment check-in prompt immediately after the event ends.
Applying Time-Based Filters
Given an administrator sets a time filter for events occurring between 8 AM and 6 PM on weekdays and saves, when an event within this timeframe concludes, then the system triggers a sentiment check-in prompt, and events outside this window do not trigger any prompt.
Combining Multiple Trigger Conditions
Given an administrator configures a trigger requiring both the event type 'Training Session' and the keyword 'Advanced' and saves, when a calendar event matches both conditions, then a sentiment check-in prompt is triggered; if only one condition is met, no prompt is launched.
Validating Trigger Settings Persistence
Given an administrator has configured event types, keywords, and time-based filters and logs out, when they log back in and navigate to the Trigger Settings page, then all previously configured settings are correctly displayed and remain active.
Real-time Notification Delivery
"As an employee, I want to receive check-in prompts instantly after meetings across my preferred communication channels so that I can provide timely and accurate feedback."
Description

Implement immediate delivery mechanisms for emoji prompts through multiple channels (in-app notification, Slack integration, email, and mobile push). Ensure low latency and high reliability so that participants receive the check-in request within seconds of event conclusion.

Acceptance Criteria
In-App Prompt After Team Meeting
Given a scheduled team meeting ends, when 5 seconds elapse after the meeting end time, then an in-app notification containing the emoji check-in prompt is delivered to all participants with latency under 2 seconds.
Slack Notification Post-Event
Given a Slack-integrated workspace and a calendar event ends, when the integration confirms event completion, then a direct message in Slack is sent to each participant with the emoji survey link within 3 seconds.
Email Delivery Upon Event End
Given an email address is associated with each participant, when an event concludes, then an email containing the emoji check-in survey is sent to all participants within 10 seconds with a bounce rate below 1%.
Mobile Push for Product Launch
Given the participant has mobile push enabled, when a product launch event finishes, then a mobile push notification with the emoji check-in prompt is delivered in under 5 seconds with a delivery success rate above 98%.
Automatic Fallback Mechanism
Given a primary notification channel fails to deliver within the time threshold, when failure is detected after 5 seconds, then the system automatically retries delivery via an alternative channel within the next 5 seconds, and logs the fallback action.
Event-to-Sentiment Mapping Dashboard
"As a manager, I want to see how individual events impact overall team morale so that I can identify problematic patterns and take proactive measures."
Description

Create a dynamic dashboard that visualizes the correlation between calendar events and team sentiment scores over time. Incorporate charts, heatmaps, and event annotations to make it easy for managers to spot trends and anomalies tied to specific activities.

Acceptance Criteria
Post-Meeting Sentiment Analysis
Given a completed team meeting event and associated sentiment check-ins within 2 hours after the event, when the dashboard loads, then it displays the correct average sentiment score for that period and annotates the event at the precise timestamp.
Product Launch Impact Visualization
Given a product launch event in the calendar, when viewing the dashboard over the launch date, then a heatmap highlights hourly sentiment shifts and the product launch annotation aligns accurately with the event time.
Training Session Sentiment Correlation
Given a training session event and subsequent emoji check-ins, when filtering the dashboard by event type 'Training', then the sentiment trend chart shows data before, during, and after the session with an accuracy margin of ±0.1 sentiment point.
Weekly Event-to-Sentiment Summary
Given a selected week range, when the dashboard aggregates events and sentiment scores, then it presents a sortable table listing each event, date, and average sentiment change that matches raw data calculations.
Cross-Event Comparison Mode
Given two or more event types selected, when comparison mode is enabled, then the dashboard overlays each event’s sentiment trend line, labels them correctly in the legend, and uses distinct colors for clarity.
Anonymous Response Handling
"As a participant, I want my feedback to remain anonymous so that I feel comfortable sharing honest opinions without fear of repercussion."
Description

Ensure that all emoji check-in responses remain anonymous and unlinkable to individual participants, while still preserving event context. Implement data aggregation and privacy safeguards to maintain trust and comply with data protection standards.

Acceptance Criteria
Post-Team Meeting Anonymous Submission
Given an EventEcho trigger after a team meeting When a participant submits an emoji check-in Then the response is stored without any user identifiers and cannot be traced back to the submitter
High-Volume Event Anonymity Assurance
Given 100 or more check-in submissions during a product launch When the system processes all entries Then no individual submission record contains PII or metadata linking it to a specific user
Aggregated Data Export Privacy Compliance
Given a manager requests an export of check-in results When the export is generated Then the file includes only aggregated sentiment scores per event and excludes any individual-level data
GDPR Data Erasure Request Handling
Given a user submits a GDPR erasure request When the system processes the request Then all stored check-in data from that user is irreversibly pseudonymized or deleted within 30 days
Live Dashboard Anonymity Verification
Given the live morale dashboard is displayed When a manager views event sentiment details Then individual responses are shown only as aggregate counts and no identifiers or timestamps link back to users
Retry and Reminder Logic
"As a manager, I want reminders for non-responders so that the dataset is more complete and representative of the entire team."
Description

Design a retry mechanism that sends reminder prompts if no response is received within a configurable timeframe. Allow administrators to set retry intervals and maximum reminder counts to improve response rates without causing survey fatigue.

Acceptance Criteria
Administrator Configures Retry Intervals and Maximum Reminders
Given an administrator sets the retry interval to 15 minutes and maximum reminders to 3, when these settings are saved, then the system stores "15" in the retryInterval field and "3" in the maxReminders field for the associated survey template.
Reminder Prompt Sent After No Response Within Configured Interval
Given a team meeting ends at 10:00 AM and the retry interval is configured to 15 minutes, when no emoji check-in is received by 10:15 AM, then the system automatically sends the first reminder prompt to all participants at 10:15 AM.
Maximum Reminder Count Enforcement
Given the maximum reminder count is set to 2, when the system has sent two reminder prompts without receiving any response, then no further reminders are dispatched even if the retry interval elapses again.
No Reminder Sent After Initial Response
Given a participant submits an emoji check-in at any time before or after a scheduled reminder, when the response is recorded, then the system cancels any pending reminders for that participant.
Preventing Survey Fatigue with Exponential Backoff
Given administrators enable exponential backoff, when the first reminder goes out after 10 minutes, the second reminder is scheduled after 20 minutes, and the third after 40 minutes, then the intervals double each time up to the configured maximum reminder count.

ActionPlaybooks

Provides AI-generated, scenario-based intervention templates when sentiment alerts occur. From conflict-resolution scripts to recognition messages, these ready-made guides equip managers with proven strategies to address dips in morale and reinforce positive trends, reducing decision fatigue and accelerating response.

Requirements

Scenario Detection Trigger
"As a team lead, I want the system to automatically detect dips in team sentiment and trigger relevant intervention playbooks so that I can respond promptly and appropriately to engagement issues."
Description

Automatically detect sentiment alerts from pulse surveys, analyze context and severity, and initiate the generation of relevant intervention playbooks. This ensures timely, context-aware responses to emerging morale issues by integrating with the existing sentiment analysis module and triggering the playbook generation workflow immediately upon alert.

Acceptance Criteria
Immediate Alert Detection
Given a sentiment score below the defined alert threshold from a completed pulse survey, When the Scenario Detection Trigger receives the data, Then it must flag the alert and log the alert event within 2 seconds.
Context and Severity Analysis
Given a detected sentiment alert, When the Scenario Detection Trigger analyzes the alert, Then it must classify the alert’s context (e.g., department, manager, topic) and severity level (low, medium, high) according to predefined business rules.
Playbook Generation Initiation
Given a sentiment alert with context and severity classified, When the severity is medium or high, Then the system must trigger the ActionPlaybooks workflow and enqueue the correct playbook generation job within 1 minute.
Integration Health Check
Given the Scenario Detection Trigger is operational, When a heartbeat request is sent to the sentiment analysis module, Then it must return a success status and the trigger must confirm module availability before processing alerts.
Trigger Timing Guarantee
Given multiple concurrent sentiment alerts, When they occur within a 5-second window, Then the Scenario Detection Trigger should process and initiate playbook generation for each alert without loss or delay beyond standard processing time.
AI Playbook Generation
"As a small business owner, I want AI-generated intervention scripts tailored to my team’s morale issues so that I can quickly craft effective responses without starting from scratch."
Description

Leverage AI to generate scenario-based intervention templates tailored to detected sentiment issues, combining best practices, team context, and manager preferences. Integrate with the AI service to deliver consistent, high-quality scripts and messages that reduce decision fatigue and accelerate manager response.

Acceptance Criteria
Conflict-Resolution Playbook on Negative Sentiment
Given the system detects a negative sentiment alert for a team member, when a manager requests an intervention, then the AI service generates a conflict-resolution playbook template that includes at least three actionable steps based on best practices.
Personalized Playbook with Manager Preferences
Given a manager has configured preferences for tone, format, and length, when generating a playbook, then the AI output adheres to those preferences across all sections of the intervention template.
Quality Compliance Across Multiple Playbooks
Given similar sentiment scenarios across different teams, when generating ten playbooks in a batch, then at least 90% of the outputs pass an automated style and content compliance check based on the internal playbook rubric.
Low Latency Playbook Generation
Given a manager submits a playbook generation request, when the request is processed, then the system returns the fully generated playbook within 5 seconds for at least 95% of requests under normal load conditions.
Fallback Intervention Template on AI Service Failure
Given the AI service is unreachable or returns an error, when a manager requests a playbook, then the system serves a predefined generic intervention template and records the failure event in the error log.
Playbook Customization Interface
"As a manager, I want to review and customize generated playbooks so that I can ensure the messages align with my personal style and my team’s culture."
Description

Provide a user interface within PulseSync for managers to review, edit, and customize AI-generated playbooks before deployment. Enable inline content edits, tone adjustments, and saving of customized templates to a personal library for future use, ensuring alignment with individual management styles and team culture.

Acceptance Criteria
Review AI-Generated Playbook
Given a manager opens the playbook customization interface, When the AI-generated playbook loads, Then the full template content and scenario details are displayed with clear section headings and intact formatting.
Edit Playbook Content Inline
Given a manager clicks on any text block within the playbook, When the block enters edit mode, Then the manager can type changes, format text (bold, italics, lists), and see unsaved changes highlighted.
Adjust Playbook Tone
Given a manager opens tone adjustment settings, When the manager selects a new tone option (e.g., formal, casual, motivational), Then the playbook preview updates automatically to reflect the selected tone within two seconds.
Save Customized Playbook
Given a manager finishes editing and tone adjustments, When the manager clicks the “Save as Template” button and provides a name, Then the system saves the customized playbook to the personal library, displays a success notification, and timestamps the entry.
Library Management of Saved Playbooks
Given a manager views their personal library, When the manager selects a saved playbook, Then options to rename, duplicate, or delete the template are available, and any action persists across page reloads.
Real-time Delivery Notifications
"As a team lead, I want to receive immediate notifications when an intervention playbook is available so that I can address morale issues without delay."
Description

Implement in-app and optional external notifications (email, Slack) to alert managers immediately when a playbook is ready for review or has been sent. Integrate with the notification service and respect user preference settings to guarantee timely awareness and action on critical sentiment alerts.

Acceptance Criteria
In-App Notification on Playbook Ready
Given a playbook has been generated for a manager When the manager is active in PulseSync Then an in-app notification must appear within 5 seconds displaying the playbook title and a direct link to review it
Email Notification According to Preferences
Given email notifications are enabled in the manager’s preferences When a playbook is generated Then an email containing the playbook summary and review link is sent to the manager’s configured email address within 1 minute
Slack Notification on Playbook Delivery
Given Slack integration is configured with valid workspace and channel settings When a playbook is ready or sent Then a Slack message is posted in the designated channel mentioning the manager, including a link to review the playbook
Notification Retry on Delivery Failure
Given an external notification (email or Slack) fails to send When the initial delivery attempt fails Then the system retries delivery up to two additional times at 1-minute intervals and logs each attempt
Preference Toggle Reflects Immediately
Given a manager toggles notification preferences (email or Slack) in settings When the preference is changed and saved Then subsequent playbook notifications respect the updated setting without requiring logout/login
Playbook Performance Analytics
"As a product manager, I want performance metrics for intervention playbooks so that I can assess their impact on team morale and refine our strategies over time."
Description

Track and display key metrics for each deployed playbook, including open rates, manager follow-up actions, and post-intervention sentiment changes. Integrate these analytics into the PulseSync dashboard to help managers and product teams evaluate the effectiveness of playbook strategies and iterate for continuous improvement.

Acceptance Criteria
Manager views key metrics for a deployed playbook
Given a manager has deployed a playbook When they navigate to the Playbook Performance Analytics dashboard Then the system displays open rate, follow-up actions count, and post-intervention sentiment change for that playbook
Manager filters playbook analytics by date range
Given the analytics dashboard is open When the manager selects a start and end date Then only playbook metrics within the chosen date range are shown and all charts update accordingly
Manager exports playbook performance report
Given filtered analytics are visible When the manager clicks the export button Then a CSV file is generated containing playbook name, deployment date, open rate, follow-up count, and sentiment change
Dashboard loads within performance thresholds
Given the manager accesses the Playbook Performance Analytics dashboard With up to 1,000 playbook records Then the page must fully render within 3 seconds
Product team identifies low-performing playbooks
Given the analytics dashboard is open When playbook performance metrics are below predefined thresholds Then the system highlights these playbooks in red and suggests action-playbook review

Adaptive Action Blueprints

Automatically generates customized intervention playbooks based on real-time survey results and team context. Managers receive step-by-step action plans that align with identified sentiment trends, ensuring responses are timely, relevant, and effective.

Requirements

Sentiment Analysis Engine Integration
"As a team lead, I want the system to analyze survey responses in real time so that I can immediately identify shifts in team morale and address concerns before they escalate."
Description

Integrate a real-time AI-driven sentiment analysis engine with PulseSync’s survey data pipeline to automatically classify employee responses into sentiment categories (positive, neutral, negative) and extract key themes. This integration will enable continuous monitoring of team mood shifts, surface emerging issues promptly, and feed actionable insights into the Adaptive Action Blueprints module.

Acceptance Criteria
Real-Time Sentiment Classification
Given a new survey response is submitted, when processed by the sentiment analysis engine, then it returns one of the categories positive, neutral, or negative within 2 seconds and with at least 90% accuracy compared to a labeled test dataset.
Theme Extraction Accuracy
Given a batch of 100 test responses with pre-identified key themes, when the analysis engine processes them, then it extracts the correct themes with an F1 score of at least 0.85.
Data Pipeline Latency Monitoring
Given live survey data streaming through the pipeline, when sentiment and theme results are generated, then they are delivered to downstream systems (dashboard and blueprint module) within 5 seconds for at least 95% of events.
Dashboard Sentiment Update
Given incoming sentiment classifications, when the dashboard receives new data, then it updates aggregated sentiment trends and displays the latest team mood within 3 seconds of receipt.
Adaptive Blueprint Trigger
Given a team’s average sentiment falls below the predefined threshold (e.g., 60%), when this condition is detected, then the system automatically generates and queues the Adaptive Action Blueprint within 1 minute.
Contextual Suggestion Algorithm
"As a manager, I want personalized intervention suggestions based on my team’s specific context so that the recommended actions are relevant, timely, and effective."
Description

Develop a machine learning algorithm that considers team context—such as department, historical sentiment trends, previous interventions, and survey frequency—to generate tailored action suggestions. The algorithm should dynamically adapt recommendations based on newly ingested data, ensuring each playbook aligns with the unique characteristics and needs of the team.

Acceptance Criteria
Initial Team Context Analysis
Given a manager selects a team with no historical sentiment data, when the algorithm runs, then it generates a playbook with at least three suggested actions based on department defaults and team size.
Historical Trend Integration
Given a team with sentiment trends over the past six months, when the algorithm processes new survey results, then it weighs recent deviations at 60% importance and includes actions addressing the most significant negative shift.
Intervention Outcome Feedback Loop
Given a previous intervention marked as 'ineffective' in the dashboard, when recalculating suggestions for the same team, then the algorithm excludes that intervention and proposes at least two new strategies.
Survey Frequency Adjustment
Given a change in survey cadence from biweekly to weekly, when new survey results are ingested, then the algorithm adjusts suggestion urgency levels and updates the playbook within five minutes.
Cross-Department Comparison
Given multiple teams across different departments with similar sentiment patterns, when generating suggestions, then the algorithm incorporates cross-department best practices and ensures at least one action is influenced by peer department insights.
Blueprint Customization Editor
"As a manager, I want to customize the suggested action plans so that they reflect my team’s unique dynamics and my personal management approach."
Description

Create an interactive UI component that allows managers to review, edit, and approve the automatically generated action blueprints. The editor should provide modular steps, editable text fields, drag-and-drop reordering, and options to add custom notes or resources. This ensures managers can tailor each blueprint to their leadership style and organizational norms.

Acceptance Criteria
Editing Generated Blueprint Steps
Given a manager views an auto-generated blueprint, when they click on a step's text field, then the field becomes editable and changes are saved upon clicking the 'Save' button.
Reordering Blueprint Modules
Given multiple blueprint modules are listed, when the manager drags a module to a new position, then the module order updates immediately and persists after saving.
Adding Custom Notes and Resources
Given the customization editor is open, when the manager clicks 'Add Note' or 'Add Resource', then a new input area appears and entered content is stored and displayed in the correct location.
Approving and Saving Customized Blueprint
Given the manager has made edits to the blueprint, when they click the 'Approve and Save' button, then the system saves the updated blueprint, updates its status to 'Approved', and displays a confirmation message.
Loading and Displaying Existing Blueprints
Given the manager navigates to the blueprint editor for a team, when they open the editor, then the latest saved blueprint loads within two seconds, displaying all previous edits and custom notes.
Validation of Editable Field Constraints
Given a manager edits a blueprint step, when they enter text exceeding 500 characters, then an inline error message appears and prevents saving until the input is within the limit.
Real-time Notification System
"As a manager, I want to receive immediate alerts when new action plans are ready so that I can respond swiftly to emerging morale issues."
Description

Implement a notification infrastructure that delivers alerts via in-app notifications, email, and third-party integrations (e.g., Slack) when new action blueprints are generated or when sentiment thresholds are crossed. Notifications should include summary highlights and direct links to the customization editor for quick access.

Acceptance Criteria
In-App Notification for New Blueprint
Given a new action blueprint is generated When the manager is actively using the app Then an in-app notification appears containing a summary of key insights and a direct link to the customization editor
Email Alert for Sentiment Threshold Breach
Given team sentiment crosses the defined threshold When the crossing event occurs Then an email is sent to the manager’s registered address with summary highlights and a link to the customization editor
Slack Notification Delivery
Given Slack integration is enabled When a new action blueprint is available Then a message is posted to the configured Slack channel including summary highlights and a direct link to the customization editor
Notification Retry on Delivery Failure
Given a notification delivery attempt fails due to network or server errors When the system detects failure Then it automatically retries delivery up to three times at five-minute intervals
Notification Access Validation
Given a user lacks permission for a specific team When a notification is triggered for that team Then no notification is sent and an access-denied error is logged
Action Plan Effectiveness Tracking
"As a manager, I want to track the outcomes of implemented action plans so that I can measure their impact on team morale and continuously improve interventions."
Description

Build a feedback and tracking mechanism that captures the execution status of each blueprint step and solicits follow-up survey data post-intervention. Aggregate outcome metrics—such as change in sentiment scores and completion rates—to evaluate the effectiveness of actions taken and refine future blueprint generation.

Acceptance Criteria
Step Completion Logging
Given a team member marks a blueprint step as completed When the update is sent Then the system logs the timestamp and completion status associated with the specific action plan
Post-Intervention Sentiment Feedback
Given the completion of an action blueprint sequence When the follow-up survey is dispatched within 48 hours Then the system captures sentiment scores and links them to the corresponding intervention
Outcome Metrics Aggregation
Given baseline sentiment data and follow-up survey results When the system runs aggregation Then the dashboard displays completion rates and delta in sentiment scores for each blueprint
Real-Time Effectiveness Dashboard
Given new step execution or survey response When data is processed Then the manager’s live dashboard updates with the latest effectiveness metrics within 5 minutes
Blueprint Refinement Automation
Given a minimum of 10 completed interventions and their outcome metrics When the refinement process is triggered Then future action blueprints are adjusted based on historically highest-performing steps

Conflict Compass

Provides targeted conflict resolution scripts tailored to specific issues highlighted in pulse surveys. This feature guides managers through delicate conversations with phrasing suggestions and best-practice frameworks to de-escalate tensions and restore team harmony.

Requirements

Contextual Issue Analysis
"As a manager, I want the system to pinpoint the exact issues causing friction so that I can address them efficiently in conflict resolution conversations."
Description

Analyze pulse survey responses to identify specific conflict themes and sentiment indicators. The system must extract and categorize critical issues causing team friction, providing structured data that powers targeted resolution scripts. This integration ensures managers focus on the most relevant topics, reducing time spent diagnosing problems and increasing the efficacy of conflict interventions.

Acceptance Criteria
Manager Reviews Identified Conflict Themes
Given a completed pulse survey, when the manager accesses the Contextual Issue Analysis report, then the system displays a list of the top five conflict themes with corresponding prevalence percentages and links to sample anonymized responses.
System Classifies Sentiment Indicators in Survey Responses
Given raw survey responses containing sentiment-laden text, when the analysis engine runs, then each response is assigned a sentiment score (positive, neutral, negative) with at least 90% accuracy against a validated sentiment dataset.
Data Structure Generation for Resolution Scripts
Given identified conflict themes and sentiment indicators, when generating output for Conflict Compass, then the system produces a structured JSON object including theme IDs, sentiment scores, and references to tailored resolution script templates.
Dashboard Displays Categorized Conflict Issues
Given processed survey data, when the manager views the real-time dashboard, then categorized conflict issues are displayed in a sortable, filterable table by theme and sentiment, with color-coded indicators for severity.
On-Demand Reanalysis After Survey Updates
Given new survey responses are submitted, when the manager triggers a reanalysis, then the system reprocesses all responses within two minutes and updates conflict themes and sentiment indicators accordingly in the report and dashboard.
Script Personalization Engine
"As a manager, I want personalized script suggestions tailored to the identified conflict themes so that I can communicate more effectively and empathetically."
Description

Generate tailored conflict resolution scripts based on identified issues, team context, and communication style preferences. The engine should adapt phrasing, tone, and recommended frameworks to suit each scenario, ensuring that managers receive customized guidance that resonates with their team’s dynamics and addresses the root cause of conflicts.

Acceptance Criteria
Conflict Type Identification
Given the engine receives a pulse survey response indicating a specific conflict issue When the personalization engine processes the input Then it generates a script referencing the identified issue and its root cause
Tone Adaptation
Given a manager’s preferred tone (e.g., empathetic, direct, collaborative) When the engine generates the conflict resolution script Then the script’s language, sentence length, and word choice align with the selected tone profile
Framework Recommendation
Given the conflict situation type (e.g., performance feedback, interpersonal tension) When the engine composes the resolution script Then it includes an appropriate best-practice framework (e.g., DESC, SBI) as a structured outline within the script
Communication Style Alignment
Given a manager’s communication style preferences (e.g., use of bullet points, formal or informal greeting) When the personalization engine generates the script Then the output adheres to the specified style guidelines and formatting
Performance and Response Time
Given a request for a tailored script When the engine processes inputs of issue type, team context, and preferences Then the personalized script is returned within 2 seconds
Conversation Flow Builder
"As a manager, I want a guided tool that lets me structure conflict resolution dialogues with branching options so that I can navigate conversations smoothly and adapt in real time."
Description

Provide an interactive interface for managers to assemble and customize resolution scripts into coherent conversation flows. This builder should support branching logic, allowing different script paths based on team member responses, and enable drag-and-drop editing of dialogue segments. Integration with the main dashboard ensures seamless transitions from analysis to execution.

Acceptance Criteria
Linear Conversation Flow Creation
Given a manager opens the Conversation Flow Builder When they add two dialogue segments sequentially without defining any branching logic Then the segments appear in the builder in the exact order added And the preview function displays the full conversation flow seamlessly
Branching Logic Integration
Given a manager defines a branching condition on a dialogue segment (e.g., based on ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ response) When they assign two distinct subsequent segments to each branch Then the builder renders visual indicators for each branch And the preview function correctly follows each branch based on simulated responses
Drag-and-Drop Editing
Given multiple dialogue segments exist in the flow When the manager drags a segment from one position to another Then the builder updates the segment order in real time And the preview reflects the new ordering accurately
Save and Load Conversation Flows
Given a manager has configured a custom flow with segments and branching When they click ‘Save’ and provide a unique flow name Then the flow is persisted and appears in the saved flows list And when the manager selects the saved flow and clicks ‘Load’ Then the builder restores all segments and branching logic exactly as saved
Dashboard Integration
Given a manager is viewing a specific conflict issue on the main dashboard When they click the ‘Resolve’ action for that issue Then the Conversation Flow Builder opens with the issue context pre-loaded And after completing edits and clicking ‘Launch’ Then the customized flow is immediately available for execution from the dashboard
Real-time Best-Practice Recommendations
"As a manager, I want real-time tips and best-practice guidance while conducting conflict resolution so that I can maintain professionalism and de-escalation skills."
Description

Embed a live recommendation system that offers best-practice tips, phrasing improvements, and de-escalation techniques during active conversations. These context-aware prompts should appear in the manager’s interface as subtle notifications, enhancing the quality of communication without disrupting the flow of dialogue.

Acceptance Criteria
Live Conversation Tension Detection
Given a manager and team member are engaged in a live conversation, when the system identifies at least three tension indicators (e.g., negative sentiment, raised volume) within the last 20 messages, then a de-escalation tip notification must be displayed in the interface within 2 seconds.
Phrasing Improvement Modal Invocation
Given a de-escalation tip notification is visible, when the manager clicks the notification icon, then a modal window must open displaying at least three context-aware phrasing suggestions aligned with best-practice conflict resolution frameworks.
Non-Disruptive Notification Display
Given the manager is actively typing a message, when a recommendation is triggered, then the notification must appear as a subtle overlay in the bottom-right corner without blocking any input fields and automatically fade out after 10 seconds if not dismissed.
Recommendation Relevance Assessment
Given a conversation context is analyzed, when the system generates a recommendation, then the recommendation’s relevance score must be at least 80% based on matching detected issues to the recommendation category and logged for review.
User Interaction Logging
Given a manager views, dismisses, or applies a recommendation, when the action occurs, then the system must log the interaction with a timestamp, recommendation type, and user response (viewed, dismissed, applied) for analytics.
Post-Convo Feedback Logging
"As a team lead, I want the system to log outcomes of resolution sessions and collect feedback so that I can measure the effectiveness of conflict interventions and improve future actions."
Description

Automatically record outcomes of resolution sessions, capturing manager notes, participant feedback, and follow-up action items. Store this data anonymously and provide analytics dashboards showing trends in resolution effectiveness, recurring issues, and manager performance metrics to inform future decision-making.

Acceptance Criteria
Logging Manager Notes
Given a manager has completed a resolution session, when they input their session notes and click save, then the system stores the notes with a timestamp and associates them with the correct session record in the database.
Anonymous Participant Feedback Capture
Given participants submit feedback after a session, when the feedback is recorded, then the system captures and stores the feedback without any personally identifiable information, ensuring anonymity.
Follow-up Action Items Creation
Given a resolution session has concluded, when a manager creates follow-up action items, then each action item is linked to the session, assigned a due date, and stored for later tracking.
Data Anonymization Verification
Given recorded session outcomes include notes and feedback, when the data is reviewed, then no participant names or identifiers are stored or displayed in any logs or dashboards.
Analytics Dashboard Visualization
Given multiple post-conversation records exist, when a user views the analytics dashboard, then the system displays trends on resolution effectiveness, recurring issues, and manager performance metrics with accurate charts and filters.

Recognition Recipes

Delivers ready-to-send appreciation messages and celebration plans when positive sentiment spikes occur. These templates help managers reinforce achievements, boosting morale through personalized recognition and fostering a culture of gratitude.

Requirements

Sentiment Spike Trigger
"As a manager, I want the system to automatically trigger recognition templates when sentiment spikes occur so that I can promptly acknowledge and reinforce positive achievements."
Description

Automatically detect when a positive sentiment spike occurs in team pulse survey results and initiate the next steps for recognition recipes without manual intervention.

Acceptance Criteria
Real-time Positive Sentiment Spike Detection
Given pulse survey results are received by the system, when the average positive sentiment score for a team increases by 20% or more compared to the previous survey cycle, then the system automatically triggers the recognition recipe workflow within 30 seconds and displays an alert in the manager dashboard.
Historical Baseline Comparison for Spike Confirmation
Given at least four past survey cycles of sentiment data are available, when the current positive sentiment score exceeds the rolling average of the past four cycles by 1.5 standard deviations, then the system confirms a valid spike, logs the event, and queues the recognition templates for the team.
Duplicate Spike Suppression
Given a valid sentiment spike has already triggered a recognition recipe for a team within the last 24 hours, when another sentiment spike condition is detected for the same team in that period, then the system suppresses the duplicate trigger and logs the suppression event without initiating a new recognition recipe.
Threshold Adjustment Handling
Given a manager updates the positive sentiment spike threshold in the settings, when the new threshold is saved, then the system applies this updated threshold to all incoming survey data immediately without requiring a system restart.
Failure Recovery on Triggering Process
Given the recognition recipe trigger process encounters a transient error, when the system fails to initiate the recipe after three retry attempts, then it logs the failure event, sends an email notification to the system administrator, and marks the spike trigger status as 'RetryFailed' in the audit log.
Template Library Management
"As a manager, I want access to a curated library of recognition templates so that I can quickly select and send appropriate messages without crafting them from scratch."
Description

Provide a centralized, easily navigable repository of ready-to-send appreciation message templates and celebration plans, categorized by occasion, tone, and team size.

Acceptance Criteria
Template Filtering and Navigation
Given a user applies filters for occasion 'Milestone', tone 'Formal', and team size 'Large', when they submit the filters, then only templates matching all selected filters are displayed, and results update within 2 seconds.
Template Preview
Given a user selects a template from the library, then a preview modal displays the full message content, category tags, and usage guidelines, and the modal opens within 1 second.
Custom Template Addition
Given a user creates a new template with a title, message content, and selects at least one category for occasion, tone, and team size, when they save, then the new template appears in the library under the correct categories and is immediately searchable.
Template Metadata Editing
Given a user edits the category tags (occasion, tone, team size) of an existing template, when they save changes, then the updated template is displayed under the new categories and removed from old categories.
Template Removal
Given a user deletes a template and confirms deletion, then the template is permanently removed from the library and cannot be found via search or filter.
Personalization Engine
"As a manager, I want to personalize templates with individual names and accomplishments so that my appreciation messages feel authentic and meaningful to each team member."
Description

Enable managers to customize recognition templates by inserting recipient names, specific achievements, images, and personalized notes to ensure messages feel genuine and tailored.

Acceptance Criteria
Custom Name Insertion
Given a manager selects a recognition template and inputs a recipient name, when saving the template, then the placeholder {{recipient_name}} is replaced by the provided name in the message preview.
Achievement Highlighting
Given a manager enters the specific achievement in the designated field, when previewing the message, then the achievement text appears correctly within the message at the intended placeholder, preserving original styling.
Image Embedding
Given a manager uploads an image file (jpg/png, <=5MB), when adding the image to the template, then the image appears in the message preview and is included in the final message output.
Personalized Note Addition
Given a manager writes a custom personal note in the note field, when generating the final message, then the note is appended at the bottom of the message, retaining line breaks and basic text formatting.
Template Preview and Confirmation
Given all required placeholders are populated, when clicking 'Preview', then the system displays the complete message with customizations and enables the 'Send' button; if any required placeholder is empty, then an error message appears and the 'Send' button remains disabled.
Multi-Channel Delivery
"As a manager, I want to send recognition messages directly through Slack or email so that my team receives timely acknowledgment in the tools they use every day."
Description

Integrate with key communication platforms (e.g., email, Slack, Microsoft Teams) to allow sending of recognition messages directly from PulseSync to the user’s preferred channel.

Acceptance Criteria
Email Delivery Scenario
Given a manager selects 'Email' as the delivery channel and chooses an appreciation template, When they click 'Send', Then the system sends the recognition email to the recipient's email address with the correct subject, personalized body content, and any attachments, and records the delivery timestamp within 5 seconds.
Slack Delivery Scenario
Given Slack integration is authorized and linked, When a manager selects 'Slack' and sends a recognition message, Then the message appears in the recipient's Slack DM with proper formatting, personalization, and any attached media, and the system updates the delivery status to 'Sent' within 2 seconds.
Teams Delivery Scenario
Given Microsoft Teams integration is active and the recipient is in the same Teams workspace, When a manager sends a recognition recipe via Teams, Then an adaptive card with the appreciation message and personalization is delivered to the recipient's Teams chat, and PulseSync logs the successful delivery.
User Default Channel Enforcement
Given a user has set a default delivery channel in their settings, When a recognition event triggers, Then the system automatically selects the default channel and sends the message without prompting the manager, and logs the use of the default channel.
Integration Failure Fallback
Given a selected channel integration is unavailable or fails, When the system detects the failure upon send attempt, Then it retries sending up to 2 times, logs the error, and notifies the manager with an error message and options to choose an alternative channel.
Celebration Plan Generator
"As a manager, I want the system to propose customized celebration plans after positive sentiment spikes so that I can organize events that boost morale with minimal planning effort."
Description

Automatically generate team celebration plans—virtual or in-person—including suggested activities, schedules, and resource needs based on the scale of positive sentiment events.

Acceptance Criteria
Virtual Celebration Plan for Small Teams
Given a positive sentiment spike involving only remote team members When the Celebration Plan Generator is invoked Then it suggests at least 3 virtual activities, a detailed schedule with time zones, and a list of required tools with meeting links.
In-Person Celebration for Large Teams
Given a positive sentiment event impacting more than 20 in-office employees When the feature runs Then it outputs a minimum of 2 venue options, a schedule with time allocation, and an itemized resource list including catering and supplies.
Budget-Constrained Celebration Plan
Given a maximum budget limit entered by the manager When generating the plan Then the activities, resources, and venue options do not exceed the total budget and include cost estimates for each item.
Customized Activities Based on Team Preferences
Given team members’ activity preferences input by the manager When the plan is generated Then suggested activities align at least 80% with the top three preference categories and include personalization details in the activity descriptions.
Export and Share Celebration Plan
Given a completed celebration plan When the manager selects export Then the plan is downloadable in PDF and shared via email with specified recipients and includes all details (activities, schedule, resources).
Recognition Impact Analytics
"As a team lead, I want to see analytics on how recognition efforts influence team morale so that I can fine-tune my approach and measure ROI."
Description

Track and visualize the performance of sent recognition messages and celebration plans, correlating them with subsequent pulse survey results to assess their effectiveness.

Acceptance Criteria
Dashboard Data Aggregation for Recognition Messages
Given a manager has sent at least one recognition message, When they navigate to the Recognition Impact Analytics dashboard, Then they should see total messages sent, number of recipients, and average pulse survey score change displayed, And the data should match values from the analytics database.
Correlation Visualization with Pulse Survey Results
Given the dashboard has data for multiple recognition events, When the manager selects a specific event, Then the system displays a correlation chart plotting message send dates against pulse survey score deltas, And shows a computed correlation coefficient accurate to two decimal places.
Date Range Filter for Impact Analytics
Given the dashboard supports filtering, When the manager applies a custom date range, Then only recognition messages and corresponding survey results within that range are shown, And all summary metrics are recalculated based on the filtered data.
Export Recognition Impact Report
Given the analytics view is filtered or unfiltered, When the manager clicks the 'Export Impact Report' button, Then a CSV file is generated and downloaded within 10 seconds, And it includes message counts, correlation metrics, and date-time stamps for each record.
Real-Time Impact Alerts Configuration
Given a threshold for recognition effectiveness is configured, When the correlation coefficient for recent recognition events falls below this threshold, Then an alert notification is displayed in the application dashboard and an email is sent to the manager within 5 minutes.

Check-In Champions

Offers one-on-one meeting agendas and question sets crafted from the latest sentiment insights. Managers can conduct focused, empathy-driven check-ins that address team members’ concerns, track progress, and build stronger relationships.

Requirements

Personalized Question Generation
"As a manager, I want personalized meeting questions so that I can address each team member’s unique concerns and foster deeper engagement."
Description

Generate tailored one-on-one meeting questions by analyzing individual sentiment insights, past feedback, and role-specific contexts to ensure discussions are relevant, empathetic, and actionable.

Acceptance Criteria
Tailored Question Generation for New Team Member
Given a manager selects a team member with existing sentiment insights When the system generates one-on-one meeting questions Then at least five questions reference the member’s recent sentiment scores, past feedback entries, and role-specific context
Follow-up Question Generation Based on Feedback Trends
Given a team member with documented concerns from previous check-ins When the manager requests new questions Then the system includes at least three follow-up questions that explicitly reference the prior feedback theme and ask for progress updates
Role-Specific Question Adaptation
Given the team member’s role is identified (e.g., Developer, Sales) When generating questions Then the system provides at least two questions tailored to common challenges and goals of that role
Empathetic Tone Verification
Given a set of generated questions When evaluated against the empathy metric Then all questions must score at or above the predefined empathy threshold (e.g., 80%)
Graceful Handling of Limited Sentiment Data
Given a team member with insufficient sentiment insights When generating questions Then the system falls back to a generic best-practice question set and prompts the manager to add contextual notes without producing errors
Dynamic Agenda Builder
"As a manager, I want an auto-generated meeting agenda so that I can quickly focus on the most important topics and streamline my check-ins."
Description

Auto-generate structured meeting agendas that integrate sentiment trends, recent performance highlights, and customizable templates, allowing managers to conduct focused, efficient check-ins without manual preparation.

Acceptance Criteria
Personalized Agenda with Sentiment Trends
Given a manager opens the Dynamic Agenda Builder for an employee whose sentiment trend declined over the last two surveys, when the agenda is generated, then it includes a 'Sentiment Trends' section with chart visuals and explanatory notes.
Incorporation of Recent Performance Highlights
Given the employee’s performance data for the past month is available, when the agenda is auto-generated, then it lists the top three performance highlights with dates, metrics, and brief descriptions.
Template Customization for Check-In Style
Given the manager selects a predefined agenda template, when generating the agenda, then the output adheres to the chosen template’s structure, including headings, subheadings, and question placeholders.
Real-Time Agenda Preview
Given the manager modifies sentiment filters or template settings, when previewing the agenda, then the preview updates within two seconds reflecting all changes without requiring a page reload.
Error Handling for Data Unavailability
Given sentiment or performance data cannot be retrieved due to an error, when the manager attempts to generate the agenda, then the system displays an error message with a retry option and logs the incident.
Sentiment Insights Integration
"As a manager, I want sentiment data integrated into my check-in view so that I can identify and address underlying team issues early."
Description

Embed real-time pulse survey sentiment data directly into the check-in interface, highlighting key sentiment drivers, emerging issues, and thematic trends to guide empathetic conversations.

Acceptance Criteria
Real-Time Sentiment Data Loading
Given a manager opens the check-in interface, when the interface loads, then the latest pulse survey sentiment data is retrieved and displayed within 2 seconds.
Key Sentiment Driver Highlighting
Given sentiment data is displayed, when reviewing the check-in interface, then the top three sentiment drivers are highlighted with associated sentiment scores and explanations.
Thematic Trend Visualization
Given at least two weeks of pulse survey data exist, when the manager views thematic trends, then a graphical line chart displays trend lines for at least three themes with clear labels and time markers.
Emerging Issue Alerts
Given a sentiment score for any key driver drops by more than 10% week-over-week, when the manager opens the check-in interface, then an alert banner appears identifying the issue and recommended discussion prompts.
Anonymous Comment Integration
Given anonymous survey comments tagged to identified themes are available, when the manager expands a theme section, then up to five anonymized comments are displayed in order of recency.
Meeting Outcome Logging
"As a manager, I want to log meeting outcomes so that I can reference previous discussions and track progress over time."
Description

Enable managers to record, categorize, and search past check-in summaries, decisions, and action items within the platform, creating a centralized knowledge base for ongoing development and context.

Acceptance Criteria
New Meeting Summary Entry
Given a manager completes a one-on-one check-in, when they navigate to the Meeting Outcome Logging section and input a summary, decisions, and action items, then the entry is saved and visible in the centralized knowledge base within 2 seconds.
Categorize Meeting Outcomes
Given a new meeting outcome entry, when the manager selects one or more predefined categories (e.g., Development, Feedback, Recognition), then the entry is tagged accordingly and the category appears in the filter options.
Search Past Summaries
Given existing meeting outcome entries, when the manager searches using keywords, dates, or categories, then the system returns matching entries sorted by relevance within 3 seconds.
Edit and Update Entries
Given a previously saved meeting outcome entry, when the manager edits the summary, decisions, or action items and clicks save, then the updated entry replaces the original and an edit history timestamp is recorded.
Export Meeting Outcomes
Given a filtered set of meeting outcome entries, when the manager selects export and chooses CSV or PDF format, then a file containing only the filtered entries is generated and downloaded within 5 seconds.
Action Item Tracking
"As a manager, I want to track action items from check-ins so that commitments are completed and progress is transparent."
Description

Provide a built-in task management feature that allows creation, assignment, and status monitoring of follow-up action items from check-ins, ensuring accountability and visibility for both managers and team members.

Acceptance Criteria
Creating and Assigning Action Items
Given a manager in a check-in, when they enter an action item title, description, assignee, and due date and click “Create,” then the action item is saved with status “Open,” visible in the assignee’s list, and an email notification is sent to the assignee.
Updating Action Item Status
Given a team member with an assigned action item, when they change its status to “In Progress” or “Completed” and save, then the status updates in real time in both the member’s and manager’s dashboards.
Viewing All Action Items
Given a manager, when they navigate to the Action Items report, then they see all action items across the team with filters for assignee, due date, and status, and the list is sorted by due date by default.
Overdue Action Item Reminder
Given an action item is past its due date and still not completed, when it becomes one day overdue, then the system automatically sends reminder notifications to both the assignee and the manager.
Action Item Completion Notification
Given a team member marks an action item as “Completed” and saves it, then the manager receives a completion notification and the item is moved from the Open list to the Completed list.
Automated Check-In Reminders
"As a manager, I want automated reminders for upcoming check-ins so that I never miss a scheduled meeting and can prepare in advance."
Description

Send configurable calendar invites and in-app reminders to managers and team members ahead of scheduled check-ins, ensuring timely preparation and fostering consistency in one-on-one meetings.

Acceptance Criteria
Scheduling a New One-on-One Meeting
Given a manager schedules a one-on-one meeting with a team member and saves it, When the event is created, Then calendar invites are sent to both participants and in-app reminders are scheduled at the default lead time.
Customizing Reminder Lead Times
Given a user configures a custom reminder lead time before a scheduled meeting, When the setting is saved, Then subsequent reminders are delivered at the newly specified interval instead of the default.
Rescheduling an Existing Meeting
Given a previously scheduled meeting is rescheduled to a new date or time, When the update is confirmed, Then the original calendar invites and reminders are updated or replaced to reflect the new schedule.
Handling Canceled Meetings
Given a scheduled meeting is canceled by the manager, When the cancellation is confirmed, Then calendar invites are revoked and any pending in-app reminders for that meeting are removed.
Ensuring Reminder Delivery
Given a reminder is scheduled to be sent, When the reminder time arrives, Then an in-app notification appears for each participant and a notification badge is shown in the app dashboard.

Coaching Companion

An AI-powered guide that suggests follow-up actions, tracks intervention outcomes, and adjusts strategies based on ongoing feedback. This continuous coaching support empowers managers to refine their approach and sustain long-term engagement improvements.

Requirements

Action Suggestion Engine
"As a team lead, I want the system to automatically recommend tailored follow-up actions so that I can address team disengagement effectively without spending hours analyzing survey data myself."
Description

The system analyzes pulse survey results and identifies specific areas of low engagement, automatically generating personalized, data-driven follow-up actions for managers. It integrates seamlessly with the Coaching Companion dashboard, provides rationale for each recommendation, and updates suggestions dynamically as new feedback is received. This functionality ensures timely, targeted interventions and reduces manual analysis overhead.

Acceptance Criteria
Detecting Low Engagement Themes
Given a set of pulse survey responses for a team with scores below threshold, when the engine processes these responses, then it identifies and lists all engagement dimensions with scores below 70%. When multiple low-scoring themes are present, then the engine ranks them in descending order of severity.
Auto-Generating Follow-up Actions
Given identified low engagement themes, when the engine generates actions, then it produces at least one personalized action per theme based on historical data and best practices. Each action must include a description, expected outcome, and estimated effort.
Dashboard Integration Verification
Given the Coaching Companion dashboard, when new actions are generated, then they appear in the 'Recommended Actions' section within 5 seconds. Actions should be correctly linked to their corresponding engagement theme and survey cycle.
Rationale Delivery Accuracy
Given a generated action, when a manager views the recommendation, then the system displays a concise rationale explaining why this action is suggested, referencing specific survey data points. Rationale must mention at least one data metric and comparison to baseline engagement.
Real-Time Suggestion Updates
Given updated pulse feedback arrives, when the engine reprocesses the data, then it refreshes existing action suggestions within 3 minutes to reflect new insights. Obsolete suggestions based on outdated data are flagged for review or removed.
Intervention Outcome Tracker
"As a manager, I want to track and visualize the outcomes of my coaching actions so that I can understand which strategies improve team morale and refine my approach accordingly."
Description

Tracks the outcomes of manager-led interventions by collecting follow-up feedback through micro-surveys and engagement metrics. This requirement logs which actions were taken, measures their impact on team sentiment over time, and displays results in an iterative timeline. It enables managers to gauge effectiveness, learn from past efforts, and adjust strategies proactively.

Acceptance Criteria
Micro-survey Follow-up Delivery
Given a manager records an intervention action, when 24 hours have elapsed, then the system must automatically send a micro-survey to the targeted team members.
Intervention Outcome Logging
Given team members complete the micro-survey, when responses are submitted, then the system logs the action taken, response data, and timestamps into the Intervention Outcome Tracker.
Sentiment Impact Measurement
Given new survey responses over a period of two weeks, when aggregated, then the system calculates and displays changes in team sentiment compared to the baseline.
Iterative Timeline Visualization
Given multiple interventions and their outcomes logged, when a manager views the Intervention Outcome Tracker, then an interactive timeline displays each action with corresponding survey results and sentiment trends.
Strategy Adjustment Suggestions
Given observed negative or stagnant sentiment trends after an intervention, when thresholds of concern are met, then the system suggests alternate follow-up actions based on past successful interventions.
Adaptive Strategy Refinement
"As a small business owner, I want the Coaching Companion to learn from past interventions and recommend increasingly effective strategies so that I can maintain high team morale over time."
Description

Uses machine learning to refine coaching strategies based on historical intervention data and ongoing feedback. The system adapts suggested actions by learning which approaches yield the best improvements for similar team profiles, ensuring recommendations evolve and remain effective. It continuously optimizes suggestions for long-term engagement growth.

Acceptance Criteria
Strategy Update Based on Initial Feedback
Given a manager implements a coaching strategy and collects at least five feedback entries within two weeks When the system analyzes this feedback Then it updates suggested coaching steps to include actions with a confidence score of at least 75%.
Personalized Recommendation Accuracy
Given a team profile with engagement metrics and historical intervention outcomes When the system generates recommended actions Then at least 80% of the suggestions match the top-performing actions identified for similar team profiles.
Historical Intervention Data Integration
Given at least ten past interventions logged in the database When the machine learning model retrains Then the updated model shows less than a 5% drop in prediction accuracy on a held-out validation set.
Ongoing Feedback Loop Optimization
Given continuous user feedback is submitted after each coaching session When feedback submissions exceed ten per week Then the system adjusts recommendation frequency and content within 24 hours.
Long-term Engagement Improvement Monitoring
Given monthly engagement metrics tracked over six months When comparing baseline and post-intervention data Then the system reports at least a 10% improvement in key engagement indicators for teams following recommended strategies.
Real-Time Coaching Notifications
"As a manager, I want to receive notifications when new coaching actions or important outcome updates are available so that I can address team needs without missing critical insights."
Description

Delivers timely in-app and email notifications to managers when new AI-generated suggestions are available or when intervention outcomes indicate follow-up is needed. Notifications include concise summaries and direct links to the Coaching Companion dashboard. This feature ensures managers stay informed and can act promptly without repeatedly checking the platform.

Acceptance Criteria
Manager Receives New Suggestion Alert
Given a new AI-generated suggestion is created for a manager's team, When the suggestion is available, Then the manager receives an in-app notification within 1 minute; And an email notification within 5 minutes; And the notification contains a concise summary and a direct link to the Coaching Companion dashboard.
Manager Receives Follow-Up Notification
Given an intervention outcome indicates follow-up is needed, When the system detects the outcome, Then the manager receives both in-app and email notifications; And each notification includes the outcome summary and follow-up action link; And notifications are delivered within defined timeframes.
Notification Action Link Navigation
Given a manager clicks the notification link, When the link is clicked in-app or email, Then the Coaching Companion dashboard opens; And the manager is redirected to the specific suggestion or outcome context.
Notification Content Accuracy and Format
Given notifications are generated, When they are delivered in-app and via email, Then they include the manager's name, project context, summary of suggestion or outcome, and a valid direct link; And match the approved notification template.
Notification Delivery Failure Handling
Given a notification fails to deliver (in-app or email), When the delivery error occurs, Then the system retries up to 3 times at 1-minute intervals; And logs the failure events; And flags an alert for system admin if all retries fail.
Coaching Companion Dashboard
"As a team lead, I want a unified dashboard showing all suggested actions, outcomes, and engagement trends so that I can manage my coaching activities efficiently in one place."
Description

Provides a centralized, interactive interface where managers can view AI-suggested actions, monitor intervention outcomes, and track engagement trends over time. The dashboard includes filters for team segments, visual performance metrics, and a timeline of coaching activities. It serves as the primary workspace for continuous engagement improvement.

Acceptance Criteria
Dashboard Access and Navigation
Given a manager is authenticated and navigates to the Coaching Companion Dashboard When the page loads Then the AI-suggested actions, intervention outcomes, engagement trends chart, filters panel, and coaching timeline components are all rendered within 2 seconds and are fully interactive
Applying Team Segment Filters
Given the Dashboard is displayed When the manager selects one or more team segments in the filters panel Then the AI-suggested actions, performance metrics, engagement trends, and coaching timeline update instantly to reflect only the selected segments
Monitoring Intervention Outcomes
Given a manager has executed AI-suggested actions When the manager selects an action in the intervention outcomes view Then the system displays outcome metrics including completion rate, engagement change percentage, and manager notes for that specific action
Tracking Engagement Trends
Given the Coaching Companion Dashboard is active When the manager adjusts the date range on the engagement trends chart Then the chart dynamically updates to show trend lines for engagement scores over the selected period and highlights significant increases or decreases
Exporting Coaching Timeline
Given the coaching timeline is visible When the manager clicks the export button Then the system generates a downloadable CSV file containing date, action taken, segment, outcome metrics, and manager notes for all coaching activities within the selected date range

StreakSaver Bonuses

Automatically awards bonus points when teams complete consecutive surveys without missing a beat, encouraging ongoing engagement and reinforcing positive participation habits.

Requirements

Bonus Points Calculation Engine
"As a team lead, I want bonus points to be automatically calculated and added to our team’s score when we complete surveys consecutively so that I can easily track and reward consistent participation."
Description

The system automatically computes bonus points for teams that complete consecutive pulse surveys without missing any. It must account for the current streak length, apply configurable point multipliers for milestone streaks, and update team scores in real time. This engine integrates with the existing survey completion data, ensuring accuracy and preventing duplicate awards.

Acceptance Criteria
Consecutive Survey Completion Streak Calculation
Given a team has completed N consecutive surveys, when the next survey is submitted, then the engine calculates the streak length as N+1 and awards the base bonus points configured for that streak.
Milestone Multiplier Application
Given a team’s streak reaches a configured milestone (e.g., 5, 10, 20), when the milestone is reached, then the engine applies the corresponding multiplier to the base bonus points and adds the correct multiplied value to the team’s score.
Real-time Score Update Verification
Given a survey completion triggers bonus calculation, when the engine processes the bonus, then the updated team score appears on the live dashboard within 5 seconds without requiring a manual refresh.
Duplicate Award Prevention
Given a survey completion record already processed for bonus points, when the same record is encountered again, then the engine does not award additional points and logs a duplicate award prevention event.
Configurable Multiplier Settings Integration
Given the admin modifies bonus multipliers in the configuration settings, when the engine calculates future bonuses, then it retrieves and applies the updated multipliers accurately for milestone streaks.
Streak Tracking Interface
"As a team member, I want to see our current survey streak and upcoming bonus milestones so that I stay motivated to maintain consistent engagement."
Description

A user interface component that displays the team’s current survey streak, next bonus threshold, and cumulative bonus points. It should be accessible on both web and mobile views, updating dynamically after each survey submission. The interface must be intuitive, visually highlighting streak progress and upcoming rewards for motivation.

Acceptance Criteria
Viewing Current Streak on Web Dashboard
Given a logged-in user opens the web dashboard and navigates to the streak tracking interface When the page loads Then the current consecutive survey count is displayed prominently, matches the stored streak value, and updates within 1 second
Viewing Streak on Mobile App Interface
Given a logged-in user opens the mobile view of the app and selects the streak tracking tab When the interface loads Then the current streak, next bonus threshold, and total bonus points are visible without horizontal scrolling and conform to mobile design specifications
Bonus Threshold and Next Reward Visualization
Given the user views their current streak When the streak count is one survey away from a bonus threshold Then the next reward milestone is highlighted visually (e.g., colored badge or progress bar) and includes a tooltip explaining the bonus points to be awarded
Dynamic Streak Update Post-Survey Submission
Given a team member successfully submits a pulse survey When the submission confirmation appears Then the streak tracking interface refreshes automatically to increment the streak count, recalculate next threshold, and update cumulative bonus points within 2 seconds
Accessibility and Responsive Layout Compliance
Given a user with assistive technologies navigates the streak interface When using keyboard or screen reader Then all elements (streak count, thresholds, bonuses) are labeled with ARIA tags, follow WCAG 2.1 AA color contrast ratios, and maintain layout integrity across screen sizes
Bonus Notification System
"As a team member, I want to receive notifications when our team hits a new streak milestone so that I feel recognized and encouraged."
Description

An automated notification service that sends alerts via in-app messages, email, or push notifications whenever a team reaches a new streak milestone or earns bonus points. Notifications should include streak details, points awarded, and encouragement messaging. The system must respect user notification preferences and be configurable by the admin.

Acceptance Criteria
Streak Milestone Achievement Notification
Given a team completes the configured number of consecutive surveys (e.g., 5), when the streak milestone is reached, then the system sends a notification via all active channels that includes the streak count, bonus points awarded, and an encouragement message.
User Notification Preference Respect
Given a user has updated their notification preferences, when a bonus milestone is reached, then the system only sends notifications through channels the user has enabled and suppresses those they have disabled.
Admin Configurable Notification Channels
Given an administrator configures notification channels in the admin panel, when the configuration is saved, then the system only sends bonus notifications through the selected channels (in-app, email, push).
Missed Survey Does Not Trigger Notification
Given a team breaks its survey streak by missing a scheduled survey, when the missed survey is detected, then the system does not send a streak milestone notification and resets the streak counter.
Notification Content Accuracy
Given a bonus notification is generated, when the notification is delivered, then it displays the correct streak length, exact bonus points awarded, and an appropriate encouragement message that matches the milestone level.
Streak Performance Dashboard
"As a small business owner, I want to view streak performance and bonus points history in the dashboard so that I can assess engagement trends and plan future incentives."
Description

Enhance the existing live dashboard to include dedicated streak performance charts, history logs of bonus awards, and comparative views of team engagement over time. It should allow filtering by date ranges and exporting reports. The dashboard must integrate seamlessly with the core analytics module and maintain performance under large data volumes.

Acceptance Criteria
Viewing Streak Performance Chart for a Specific Team
Given a team is selected on the dashboard, when the streak performance chart loads, then it displays a line chart of consecutive survey completions with correctly labeled axes, accurate data points, and interactive tooltips within 2 seconds.
Accessing Bonus Award History Log
Given the user navigates to the bonus history tab, when the page loads, then a paginated log displays entries sorted by most recent date, showing team name, award date, streak length, and bonus points for each record.
Comparing Team Engagement Over Custom Date Ranges
Given multiple teams and a custom date range are selected, when the filter is applied, then the dashboard updates to show comparative streak charts for each team within the specified range and includes a legend identifying each team’s line.
Exporting Streak Performance Reports
Given the user applies filters on the dashboard, when the export action is initiated, then a CSV and PDF report is generated, containing filtered data fields (team, streak dates, bonus awards), file names include date range, and downloads complete within 5 seconds.
Performance Under Large Data Volume Conditions
Given the dashboard contains at least 1000 teams’ streak data spanning 12 months, when charts and logs are loaded, then all elements render correctly without errors and page load time does not exceed 3 seconds.
Bonus Points Redemption Workflow
"As a team lead, I want to redeem accumulated bonus points for team rewards so that I can celebrate and reinforce our consistent engagement."
Description

A structured workflow that enables team leads to redeem accumulated bonus points for rewards. It should include a rewards catalog, point deduction logic, confirmation steps, and integration with the rewards fulfillment system. The workflow must validate point balances, record redemption history, and provide notifications upon successful redemption.

Acceptance Criteria
Successful Single Reward Redemption
Given a team lead with sufficient bonus points in their balance When they select a single reward from the catalog and confirm redemption Then the system deducts the correct number of points, records the redemption in history, and displays a success confirmation message
Insufficient Points Redemption Attempt
Given a team lead with an insufficient bonus point balance When they attempt to redeem a reward exceeding their available points Then the system prevents redemption, displays an error indicating insufficient points, and no changes are recorded
Bulk Redemption of Multiple Rewards
Given a team lead selecting multiple rewards in one session When they confirm the bulk redemption Then the system validates total points, deducts the sum correctly, records each reward redemption individually in history, and provides a consolidated confirmation
Redemption History Recording
Given a successful redemption event When the workflow completes Then an entry is created in the redemption history with date, team lead ID, reward details, and points deducted, and the history is retrievable via the user interface
Redemption Notification Delivery
Given a successful reward redemption When the system processes the redemption Then a notification is sent to the team lead via email and in-app alert confirming the reward details and remaining point balance

InstantReward Cards

Delivers digital gift cards instantly upon survey completion, ensuring team members feel recognized and valued in real time, boosting motivation and response rates.

Requirements

Reward Issuance Service
"As a team member, I want to receive a gift card immediately after completing a pulse survey so that I feel recognized and motivated."
Description

A backend service that interfaces with gift card providers to request and deliver digital gift cards instantly upon survey completion. It should handle request queuing, error handling, and API rate limits to ensure reliable issuance and maintain system performance. The service will integrate with the PulseSync survey completion events and track issuance history.

Acceptance Criteria
Valid Survey Completion Triggers Issuance
Given a valid survey completion event, When the Reward Issuance Service receives the event, Then it must send a request to the configured gift card provider within 2 seconds and return a 200 OK response to the event publisher.
API Error Handling and Retry
Given a gift card provider API error (5xx or network failure), When the service attempts issuance, Then it must retry up to 3 times with exponential backoff and log each retry attempt, and if still failing, mark the issuance as failed in the tracking system.
Rate Limit Compliance
Given the provider’s API rate limit of 100 requests per minute, When concurrent issuance requests exceed the limit, Then the service must queue excess requests and process them once the rate limit window resets, ensuring no requests are dropped.
Concurrent Issuance Queue Processing
Given 50 simultaneous survey completion events, When they are enqueued, Then the service must process at least 40 requests per minute without loss or duplication and maintain FIFO order.
Issuance History and Audit Recording
Given a successfully issued gift card, When the provider confirms issuance, Then the service must record the issuance details (user ID, timestamp, gift card ID, value, status) in the audit database and make it queryable via the admin API.
Real-Time Delivery Confirmation
"As a manager, I want confirmation that gift cards were successfully delivered so that I can ensure team members receive their rewards and address any failures."
Description

Implement functionality to confirm successful delivery of digital gift cards to recipients, providing feedback loop to the issuer. This includes tracking delivery status from the gift card provider and logging confirmations or failures in PulseSync, enabling administrators to monitor reward distribution and troubleshoot issues promptly.

Acceptance Criteria
Gift Card Delivery Acknowledgement Received
Given the issuer triggers a gift card, when the gift card provider API returns a successful delivery status, then PulseSync logs the status as “Delivered” and sends a real-time confirmation to the issuer within 5 seconds.
Delivery Status Displayed on Admin Dashboard
Given at least one reward has been issued, when an administrator views the Rewards Dashboard, then each gift card entry displays a delivery status of “Delivered,” “Failed,” or “Pending” with a timestamp accurate to the minute.
Failed Delivery Logged and Alerted
Given the gift card provider returns an error or non-success status code, when a delivery failure occurs, then PulseSync logs the failure reason, updates the gift card status to “Failed,” and sends an email notification to the issuer within 10 minutes.
Retry Mechanism Triggered After Failure
Given a gift card delivery failure is logged, when automatic retries are enabled, then PulseSync retries delivery up to 3 times with exponential back-off intervals, logging each attempt outcome under the same transaction record.
Delivery Timeout Handled Gracefully
Given the provider API does not respond within 10 seconds, when the call times out, then PulseSync marks the gift card status as “Pending,” logs a timeout error code, and creates a support ticket for manual review.
Gift Card Catalog Integration
"As an admin, I want to select from a current list of gift card options so that I can tailor rewards to my team's preferences."
Description

Develop a module to synchronize and maintain an up-to-date catalog of available gift cards and denominations from multiple providers. The module should fetch provider offerings periodically, normalize data formats, and present options for administrators to configure reward types within PulseSync.

Acceptance Criteria
Admin Views Available Reward Options
Given the administrator navigates to the Reward Catalog page When the Gift Card Catalog Integration module has successfully synchronized data Then the administrator sees a list of gift card options displaying provider name, gift card type, and available denominations in a consistent, normalized format
Automatic Catalog Synchronization
Given the integration module is configured with provider API credentials When the scheduled synchronization job runs at the configured interval (e.g., every 24 hours) Then new gift card offerings are added, deprecated offerings are flagged as inactive, and no duplicate entries exist in the catalog
Administrator Configures Reward Types
Given the administrator selects a gift card offering from the synchronized catalog When the administrator assigns a reward name and selects preferred denominations Then the configuration is saved successfully, and the new reward type appears in the PulseSync reward setup with correct provider ID and denomination
Handling Provider API Downtime
Given the integration module attempts to fetch data from a provider API When the provider API is unreachable or returns an error Then the system retries up to three times with exponential backoff, logs the failure, and notifies the administrator of synchronization issues without removing existing catalog entries
Manual Catalog Refresh by Administrator
Given the administrator clicks the 'Refresh Gift Card Catalog' button When the manual synchronization process initiates Then a progress indicator is displayed, the catalog updates with the latest offerings within two minutes, and a success or error message is shown upon completion
Reward Eligibility Automation
"As a team lead, I want rewards to be automatically granted when survey completion criteria are reached so that I don't have to manually track and issue incentives."
Description

Create a rules engine to determine reward eligibility based on survey response criteria (e.g., completion rate, sentiment score thresholds). The engine should evaluate participant data in real time and trigger reward issuance when conditions are met, ensuring precise and fair distribution.

Acceptance Criteria
Completion Rate Threshold
Given a participant completes 100% of survey questions When the rules engine evaluates the submission Then the participant is marked eligible and a reward is issued
Sentiment Score Threshold
Given a participant’s sentiment score is equal to or greater than 0.8 When the rules engine processes the response Then the participant is flagged for reward issuance
Real-Time Processing
Given survey completion data is received When the rules engine evaluates the response Then eligibility determination and reward issuance occur within 5 seconds
Prevent Duplicate Rewards
Given a participant has already received a reward for the current survey cycle When the rules engine runs evaluation Then no additional reward is issued and a duplicate-prevention log entry is created
Graceful Handling of Incomplete Data
Given participant response data is missing required fields When the rules engine attempts evaluation Then the engine logs an error, skips reward issuance, and notifies the monitoring system
Notification and Acknowledgment
"As a team member, I want to be notified when I receive a gift card so that I know how and where to redeem it."
Description

Build a notification system to inform users when a gift card has been issued, including secure access instructions. Notifications should be delivered via email and in-app alerts, with customizable templates for branding consistency and clear call-to-action for redemption.

Acceptance Criteria
Email Notification Delivery
Given a gift card has been issued When the system sends an email notification Then the recipient should receive the email within 60 seconds containing a secure access link, redemption instructions, and company branding
In-App Alert Presentation
Given a user is logged into the app When a gift card is issued Then an in-app notification should appear immediately with the gift card summary and a 'Redeem Now' button
Template Customization Application
Given an admin has created a custom notification template When the email or in-app notification is generated Then the system uses the selected template including header, footer, and logo as configured
Secure Access Instruction Inclusion
Given a gift card notification is prepared When delivered Then the message includes unique, encrypted access instructions that expire after 30 days
Call-to-Action Functionality
Given a notification is received When the user clicks the 'Redeem Now' call-to-action Then the system redirects to the gift card redemption page and pre-fills the gift card code

Reward Marketplace

Provides a curated catalog of reward options—gift cards, branded swag, or charitable donations—allowing participants to redeem points for incentives that resonate personally, increasing satisfaction and retention.

Requirements

Reward Catalog Management
"As a team lead, I want to manage a curated catalog of rewards so that I can offer incentives that resonate with my team."
Description

Provide an intuitive interface for admins to curate, categorize, and update the reward offerings—such as gift cards, branded swag, and donation options. The system should allow easy addition, removal, or modification of items, upload of images, set point costs, and define availability dates. Integrates with the inventory system to ensure accurate stock levels and enables targeted promotions based on user segments.

Acceptance Criteria
Add New Reward Item
Given an admin is on the Reward Catalog Management interface and clicks “Add Item,” when they submit valid item details (name, image, point cost, availability dates), then the new reward appears in the catalog with correct details and a stock level of zero.
Edit Existing Reward Details
Given an admin selects an existing reward and updates its image, point cost, or description, when they save changes, then the catalog reflects the updated information and retains link to the original inventory item.
Inventory System Synchronization
Given the inventory system reports a stock change for a reward item, when synchronization runs, then the catalog displays the updated stock level within two minutes of the change.
Define Reward Availability Period
Given an admin sets start and end dates for a reward’s availability, when the current date falls outside the defined period, then the reward is hidden from the user-facing marketplace and reappears when within the period.
Targeted Promotion Assignment
Given an admin creates a promotional campaign targeting a user segment, when the promotion is active, then eligible users see discounted point costs on the specified rewards and ineligible users do not.
Points Redemption Workflow
"As an employee, I want to redeem my points through a simple checkout workflow so that I can quickly claim rewards without confusion."
Description

Develop a seamless redemption process that guides users from selecting a reward to confirming their choice. Includes a shopping-cart style interface, point cost calculation, confirmation modal, and success notifications. Ensures transactional integrity by validating point balances, deducting points upon confirmation, and triggering fulfillment processes—such as sending gift card codes or forwarding swag orders to vendors.

Acceptance Criteria
User Redeems Points for Gift Card
Given the user has at least the required points for a selected gift card When the user clicks 'Redeem Now' Then points are deducted from the user's balance immediately And a unique gift card code is emailed to the user And the dashboard reflects the updated balance
Insufficient Points for Selected Reward
Given the user has fewer points than required for a selected reward When the user views the reward details Then the 'Redeem' button is disabled And an inline message 'Insufficient points to redeem this item' is displayed
Multiple Items in Cart
Given the user adds multiple rewards to the cart When the user views the cart Then the total point cost equals the sum of individual reward costs And a preview of the remaining point balance is correctly calculated
Confirmation and Fulfillment Trigger
Given the user reviews the cart and clicks 'Proceed to Checkout' When the confirmation modal appears Then it displays a summary of selected rewards, total cost, and remaining balance And the user can cancel or confirm without triggering multiple submissions
Success Notification Display
Given the redemption transaction is completed successfully When the backend triggers fulfillment Then a success toast notification 'Redemption successful! Check your email for details.' is displayed And a link to view order details is provided
Points Balance Display
"As an employee, I want to view my current points balance so that I know which rewards I can afford."
Description

Display the user's current point balance prominently within the dashboard and reward marketplace. Update in real time when points are earned or spent. Provides clear indicators of point thresholds for different reward tiers and warns users when their balance is insufficient for selected rewards.

Acceptance Criteria
Dashboard Point Balance Visibility
Given the user navigates to the dashboard, When the dashboard loads, Then the user's current point balance is displayed prominently at the top of the dashboard.
Real-Time Point Earning Update
Given the user completes an action that grants points, When points are credited, Then the point balance updates within 2 seconds without needing a page refresh.
Real-Time Point Redemption Update
Given the user redeems points for a reward, When the redemption is confirmed, Then the point balance reflects the deduction within 2 seconds.
Reward Tier Thresholds Display
Given the user views the reward marketplace, When the page loads, Then each reward tier displays its required point threshold adjacent to the tier name.
Insufficient Points Warning
Given the user selects a reward that costs more points than available, When the user attempts to confirm redemption, Then a warning message is displayed and the ‘Confirm Redemption’ button is disabled.
Custom Branded Swag Integration
"As a small business owner, I want to include branded swag in the rewards catalog so that I can reinforce our company identity and culture."
Description

Allow admins to upload and manage custom-branded merchandise within the marketplace. Supports image uploads, color/style options, and bulk order fulfillment details. Integrates with third-party swag vendors and handles order routing, tracking, and status updates to ensure users receive their items seamlessly.

Acceptance Criteria
Admin Uploads Custom Branded Swag Item
Given the admin is on the ‘Add New Merchandise’ page When they upload an image in PNG or JPG format under 5MB, enter product name, description, and select ‘Custom Branded’ option Then the system saves the item, displays it in the merchandise catalog, and shows the uploaded image and details correctly
Admin Configures Color and Style Variants
Given the admin is editing a custom merchandise item When they add multiple color options and style selections Then each variant appears as a separate selectable option in the marketplace with correct pricing
User Places Bulk Merchandise Order
Given a user redeems enough points for multiple units of a custom item When they confirm the quantity and submit the order Then the system creates a bulk order with the correct total points deduction and displays a confirmation with quantity and estimated delivery date
System Routes Order to Third-Party Vendor
Given a bulk order is confirmed When the system triggers the vendor integration API Then the order details are sent in the required format, a vendor acknowledgment is received, and the system logs the routing transaction
System Tracks Order Status and Notifies User
Given the third-party vendor updates order status to ‘Shipped’ or ‘Delivered’ When the system receives the status webhook Then the user’s dashboard order entry reflects the new status and an email notification is sent to the user
Admin Uploads Invalid Image Fails Validation
Given the admin attempts to upload an image exceeding 5MB or in an unsupported format When they submit the upload Then the system rejects the file and displays an error explaining the allowed formats and size limits
Charitable Donation Integration
"As a user, I want to donate my points to charity so that I can support causes I care about through my earned rewards."
Description

Enable users to redeem points for charitable donations by selecting from a list of vetted nonprofits. Provides donation receipt generation and records for both the user and the business. Integrates with payment gateways or nonprofit APIs to process donations securely and to issue tax-deductible receipts.

Acceptance Criteria
Charity Selection by User
Given the user has sufficient points, when the reward marketplace is accessed and 'Charitable Donation' is chosen, then a list of vetted nonprofits is displayed and the user can select one successfully.
Donation Amount Validation
Given the user selects a nonprofit, when the donation amount is entered based on available points, then the system validates the amount against minimum and maximum limits and displays an error if outside the valid range.
Payment Processing through Gateway
Given the user confirms the donation, when the system submits the transaction via the integrated payment gateway or nonprofit API, then a successful transaction response is received and recorded, or an error message is displayed on failure.
Tax-deductible Receipt Generation
Given a successful donation transaction, when the system receives confirmation from the payment gateway or API, then a tax-deductible receipt with donor name, charity EIN, donation amount, and date is generated and made available to the user and business.
Donation Record for Business
Given a receipt is generated, when the donation process completes, then the system logs the donation details under both the user’s transaction history and the business’s donation records with a timestamp.

Milestone Badges

Issues achievement badges and unlockable rewards for hitting survey participation milestones, gamifying engagement and fostering friendly competition among team members.

Requirements

Badge Criteria Configuration
"As a team lead, I want to configure participation thresholds for milestone badges so that I can tailor gamification to my team's engagement goals."
Description

Provide administrators with an intuitive interface to define and manage milestone thresholds for survey participation. This feature allows team leads to set configurable participation levels (e.g., 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) for unlockable badges, link them to specific survey campaigns, and adjust criteria over time. Integration with PulseSync’s survey engine ensures that badge rules are automatically applied across all active surveys and that reporting reflects badge criteria changes in real time.

Acceptance Criteria
Admin Defines Initial Badge Thresholds
Given an admin is on the Badge Criteria Configuration page, when the admin inputs valid percentage values for each badge threshold and selects a survey campaign, then clicking 'Save' stores the thresholds, disables the save button, and displays a success notification.
Admin Edits Existing Badge Criteria
Given existing badge thresholds are displayed, when the admin adjusts one or more thresholds and clicks 'Update', then the system updates the criteria, reflects changes in the UI immediately, and logs the update with timestamp and admin ID.
Invalid Badge Threshold Inputs
Given threshold input fields, when the admin enters non-numeric, negative, or values above 100, then inline validation messages appear preventing form submission and the thresholds are not saved.
Badge Rules Automatically Applied to New Surveys
Given a new survey campaign is created, when it becomes active, then the system automatically associates the configured badge thresholds with the survey and badges are awarded based on participant data without manual intervention.
Reporting Reflects Criteria Updates
Given badge thresholds have been modified, when viewing the badge reporting dashboard in real time, then the charts and metrics reflect the latest criteria and historical data adjusts accordingly to the new rules.
Automated Badge Assignment
"As a team member, I want to receive a badge automatically when I hit a participation milestone so that I feel recognized for my engagement."
Description

Implement a backend process that continuously monitors individual and team survey participation, evaluates against configured milestones, and assigns badges automatically when thresholds are met. Once earned, badges are added to the user’s profile, recorded in audit logs, and reflected in reporting dashboards without manual intervention. This ensures real-time recognition and a seamless user experience.

Acceptance Criteria
Individual Participation Milestone Achieved
Given a user completes the configured number of surveys for an individual milestone When the backend process runs Then the corresponding badge is assigned to the user’s profile AND an audit log entry is created AND the badge appears in the user’s dashboard
Team Participation Milestone Achieved
Given all team members collectively complete the configured number of surveys for a team milestone When the backend process evaluates team participation Then the milestone badge is assigned to each team member’s profile AND a single team-level audit log entry is recorded AND all members see the updated badge in team dashboards
Badge Persistence After Re-login
Given a user has previously earned a badge When the user logs out and logs back into the application Then the earned badge still appears on their profile AND no duplicate badge is generated AND the audit log shows no new entry for persistence
Dashboard Real-time Update
Given a badge is assigned to a user When the reporting dashboard is open Then the newly earned badge appears in the user’s badge list without manual refresh AND dashboard metrics reflect the achievement immediately
Audit Log Integrity
Given any badge assignment event When badges are assigned automatically Then an audit log record is created with timestamp, user ID, badge ID, and milestone type AND the record can be retrieved via API for audit purposes
Badge Display Dashboard
"As a manager, I want to see a dashboard of all badges earned and in-progress milestones so that I can monitor team engagement and celebrate achievements."
Description

Develop a dedicated dashboard module within PulseSync to display earned badges, progress toward upcoming milestones, and a leaderboard of top-performing users or teams. The dashboard updates in real time, supports filtering by team or time period, and integrates with existing morale analytics views, promoting transparency and friendly competition.

Acceptance Criteria
Real-Time Badge Update
Given a user earns a badge When the dashboard is open Then the new badge appears in the earned badges section within 5 seconds without manual refresh
Badge Progression Indicator
Given a user nears a milestone When viewing their badge progress Then the dashboard displays the number of completed surveys, surveys remaining to next badge, and a preview of the next badge
Leaderboard Filter by Team
Given a user selects a specific team filter When applied Then the leaderboard displays only users from the chosen team sorted by badge count
Leaderboard Filter by Time Period
Given a user selects a time period filter When applied Then the leaderboard updates to show top performers within the selected time frame
Integration with Morale Analytics
Given a user switches to the morale analytics view When accessing badges Then the dashboard integrates badge data contextually for the selected analytics segment
User Notification System
"As a team member, I want to be notified when I'm close to earning a badge or have just earned one so that I'm motivated to continue participating."
Description

Create an in-app and email notification mechanism that alerts users when they are approaching a milestone or have earned a new badge. Notifications include badge details, progress summaries, and motivational messages. The system should allow administrators to customize notification templates and delivery schedules to maximize engagement.

Acceptance Criteria
Approaching Milestone Notification
Given a user has completed at least 80% of the required pulse surveys for the next badge When the nightly notification job runs Then the user receives both an in-app alert and an email summarizing their current progress with a motivational message
Badge Earned Notification
Given a user hits the exact threshold for a new badge When the system detects the milestone achievement Then the user is instantly notified in-app and via email including the badge details, date earned, and a celebratory motivational message
Administrator Template Customization
Given an administrator accesses the notification settings page When they modify the email and in-app message templates and save changes Then all future notifications use the updated templates without errors or formatting issues
Notification Delivery Schedule Adjustment
Given an administrator changes the notification delivery schedule to a specific time and frequency When the schedule update is saved Then notifications are sent according to the new schedule and administrators can verify delivery timestamps in the audit log
Notification Preferences Respected
Given a user has opted out of email notifications in their profile settings When a milestone notification is triggered Then the user receives only the in-app notification and no email is sent
Rewards Catalog Integration
"As a team lead, I want to assign rewards to specific badges so that employees can redeem their achievements for tangible perks."
Description

Integrate a rewards catalog where administrators can map specific badge achievements to tangible rewards or privileges. The system should support creating reward items, assigning point values or eligibility criteria, and tracking redemptions. Optionally, provide APIs to sync with external incentive platforms for seamless reward fulfillment.

Acceptance Criteria
Admin Creates Reward Item
Given an admin accesses the Create Reward form with valid permissions When the admin enters a unique title, description, and point cost Then the system saves the reward and displays it in the catalog with correct details and zero redemptions Given the admin submits the form with missing or invalid fields When the admin clicks Save Then the system prevents submission and displays inline validation error messages
Admin Maps Badge to Reward
Given an admin is on the Badge Settings page When the admin selects a badge achievement and chooses a reward from the catalog Then the badge entry shows the mapped reward and displays eligibility criteria Given the badge already has a mapped reward When the admin attempts to map a new reward Then the system prompts for confirmation before overriding the existing mapping
User Redeems Reward
Given an authenticated user with sufficient points views the Rewards Catalog When the user selects a reward and confirms redemption Then the system deducts the correct point amount, updates the user’s point balance, and marks the redemption status as Pending in the user’s redemption history Given the user’s point balance is below the reward cost When the user views the reward item Then the Redeem button is disabled and displays a tooltip indicating insufficient points
Admin Views Redemption Tracking
Given an admin visits the Redemption Dashboard When redemptions exist Then the dashboard lists each redemption with date, user name, reward details, status, and points spent Given no redemptions have occurred When the admin opens the dashboard Then the system displays a No redemptions yet message
External Incentive Platform Sync
Given valid API credentials for an external incentive platform are configured When the scheduled sync job runs Then new redemptions are pushed to the external platform and local reward statuses are updated accordingly Given the external API responds with an error or timeout When the sync job executes Then the system logs the error and sends an email notification to the admin
Badge Customization Library
"As a team lead, I want to customize badge visuals so that they match our company's branding and culture."
Description

Offer a library of pre-designed badge templates and enable administrators to upload custom badge images or icons. Provide preview functionality, image guidelines, and tools for adding titles and descriptions to each badge. Customization ensures badges align with company branding and culture.

Acceptance Criteria
Selecting a Pre-Designed Badge Template
Given the administrator navigates to the badge customization library When they select a pre-designed badge template Then the system displays the template in the preview pane and adds it to the available badges list
Uploading a Custom Badge Image
Given the administrator is on the upload badge image interface When they select a valid image file (PNG or JPG, ≤ 2MB) and click upload Then the system accepts the file, stores it in the custom badge library, and displays it in the template list And the system rejects invalid files with a clear error message describing the issue
Previewing Badge Customizations
Given the administrator has selected or uploaded a badge When they click the “Preview” button Then the system renders the badge with its current image, title, and description exactly as it will appear to team members
Adding Titles and Descriptions to Badges
Given the administrator is editing a badge When they enter a title (≤ 30 characters) and description (≤ 100 characters) and save Then the system validates text length, stores both fields, and displays them correctly in the badge listing and preview
Enforcing Badge Image Guidelines
Given the administrator uploads a badge image When the image exceeds size, dimension, or format guidelines Then the system displays a validation message referencing the specific guideline and prevents saving until the image is corrected

Redemption Insights

Generates analytics on reward redemption patterns and survey participation trends, helping managers optimize incentive strategies, budget allocation, and identify what motivates their teams most.

Requirements

Redemption Data Ingestion
"As a team manager, I want the platform to ingest and consolidate all reward redemption records automatically so that I can access accurate, up-to-date insights without manual data preparation."
Description

The system must automatically collect, clean, and consolidate reward redemption data from all channels and integrate it into the Redemption Insights module. This includes mapping redemption events to user profiles, ensuring data consistency, handling duplicates, and maintaining data integrity for accurate analytics.

Acceptance Criteria
Automated Data Collection from Multiple Channels
Given a scheduled ingestion job and configured data channels, When the job runs, Then the system fetches reward redemption data from all channels within the specified time window without errors.
Data Cleaning and Standardization
Given raw redemption data with inconsistent formats and missing fields, When cleaning rules are applied, Then data fields are normalized to the defined schema and records with critical missing fields are flagged for review.
Duplicate Redemption Event Handling
Given multiple redemption events with identical transaction identifiers, When duplicates are detected during ingestion, Then only the first occurrence is stored, duplicates are discarded, and a duplicate report is generated.
User Profile Mapping
Given a valid redemption event containing a user identifier, When data is integrated, Then the event is correctly linked to the matching user profile in the system based on predefined mapping rules.
Data Integrity Verification for Analytics
Given consolidated redemption data, When validation checks run, Then data completeness is above 99%, no null values exist in key fields, and integrity checks pass according to the defined rules.
Redemption Pattern Analytics
"As a team lead, I want to see detailed analytics on redemption patterns over time and across response categories so that I can understand which rewards are driving engagement and when."
Description

Develop an analytics engine that identifies temporal and categorical patterns in reward redemptions. It should perform time-series analysis, detect peaks and anomalies, and segment data by team, department, and reward type. The engine will generate statistical summaries and highlight emerging trends for manager review.

Acceptance Criteria
Viewing Redemption Trends Over Time
- Given a manager selects a date range on the dashboard, when the range is applied, then the system displays a time-series chart illustrating the number of redemptions per day within that range. - When the manager changes the granularity (daily, weekly, monthly), then the chart updates accordingly within 2 seconds. - The system must allow date ranges up to one year.
Highlighting Anomalies in Redemption Patterns
- Given redemption data loaded, when the analytics engine runs anomaly detection, then any days with redemption counts 2 standard deviations above or below the average are highlighted. - When anomalies are detected, then the dashboard displays a list of these dates with deviation percentages.
Segmenting Redemption Data by Department
- Given multiple departments configured, when the manager selects a department filter, then the time-series and summary statistics update to reflect only selected department data. - The system must support multi-select of departments. - When no department is selected, then data for all departments is shown.
Comparing Redemption Rates Across Reward Types
- Given multiple reward types exist, when the manager selects reward type filters, then a comparative bar chart displays redemption rates side by side. - The chart updates within 2 seconds upon filter change. - Tooltip shows exact redemption count and percentage share.
Identifying Peak Redemption Periods
- Given redemption data over time, when the engine analyzes weekly redemption counts, then it identifies the top 3 weeks with the highest redemptions. - When identified, then the system highlights these weeks on the chart and lists them in a summary section with week labels and counts.
Participation Trend Visualization
"As a small business owner, I want to visualize survey participation trends and drill down into segments so that I can identify teams or demographics with low engagement and take targeted action."
Description

Implement interactive visualizations that display survey participation rates over configurable time ranges, segmented by team, department, tenure, and role. Charts should support drill-down to uncover underlying participation drivers and allow filtering by demographic attributes.

Acceptance Criteria
Survey Participation Time Range Selection
Given the manager selects a custom start and end date When the time range is applied Then the participation rate visualization updates to reflect only surveys conducted within that range
Team and Department Segmentation
Given the manager chooses a specific team or department When the segmentation filter is applied Then the chart displays only the participation rates for the selected group
Drill-Down to Individual Responses
When the manager clicks on a data point representing a team’s participation Then a detailed view opens showing individual response counts and timestamps for that team
Demographic Attribute Filtering
Given the manager applies a filter for tenure range or role When the filter is set Then the participation visualization updates to include only members matching the selected demographic
Performance with Large Data Sets
When displaying participation data spanning 12+ months across all departments Then the visualization loads and remains interactive within 2 seconds
Incentive ROI Dashboard
"As a manager, I want to view the ROI of different incentive rewards and model budget scenarios so that I can allocate resources to the most cost-effective motivation strategies."
Description

Create a dashboard that correlates reward redemption costs with engagement outcomes to calculate the ROI of incentive programs. The dashboard should allow budget modeling, compare cost-per-engagement uplift for various rewards, and project future budget requirements based on historical data.

Acceptance Criteria
ROI Overview Display
Given the user navigates to the Incentive ROI Dashboard and data loads, when the dashboard is fully rendered, then it displays total reward redemption cost, total engagement uplift, and overall ROI ratio matching backend calculations within a 1% margin of error.
Budget Modeling Interaction
Given the user inputs hypothetical changes in budget allocation, when the user applies the model, then the dashboard updates projected engagement uplift, projected costs, and projected ROI in real-time without page reloads.
Reward Cost-Efficiency Comparison
Given the user selects multiple reward types for comparison, when the comparison view is activated, then the dashboard displays side-by-side cost-per-engagement uplift metrics and highlights the percentage difference between selected rewards.
Future Budget Projection
Given the user selects a future time horizon in months, when the projection is calculated, then the dashboard presents predicted budget requirements and expected engagement outcomes based on historical data trends with at least 95% confidence intervals.
Data Export Functionality
Given the user clicks the export button, when the export completes, then a CSV file downloads automatically within 5 seconds containing date-stamped records of reward type, redemption cost, engagement uplift, and calculated ROI.
Motivational Factor Insights
"As a team lead, I want personalized recommendations on which rewards will most effectively motivate my team so that I can design incentive programs that maximize engagement."
Description

Build an AI-driven recommendation engine that analyzes the correlation between reward types, redemption behavior, and survey feedback to identify the most effective motivational drivers for each team. The engine will suggest personalized incentive strategies based on historical patterns.

Acceptance Criteria
Identifying Top Reward Drivers
Given the system has historical reward redemption and survey feedback data for a team, when a manager requests the analysis of reward drivers, then the recommendation engine should identify and rank the top three reward types that correlate with positive survey feedback, with a confidence score of at least 80%.
Generating Personalized Incentive Strategies
Given the system has individual team member's reward redemption history and feedback scores, when generating incentive recommendations, then the engine should produce at least two personalized incentive strategies per member that align with their top motivational drivers, ensuring each strategy's projected engagement increase is at least 15%.
Analyzing Patterns for New Team Members
Given the system has no prior data for a new team member, when requesting motivational drivers, then the engine should leverage team-level patterns to suggest baseline incentive recommendations with documented assumptions and confidence scores, defaulting to universal reward types if confidence is below 60%.
Optimizing Budget Allocation
Given the manager's available reward budget and various incentive options, when optimizing the allocation, then the engine should distribute the budget across top motivational drivers to maximize expected engagement uplift, ensuring the total cost does not exceed the budget and predicted uplift is at least 10% above baseline.
Validating Real-Time Recommendation Accuracy
Given live feedback from recent pulse surveys, when validating recommendations made within the past week, then the engine should compare predicted uplift against actual engagement metrics and report a deviation of no more than 5% for at least 70% of recommendations.

DipDetect

Proactively identifies teams or time periods predicted to experience morale drops up to two weeks in advance, enabling managers to address issues before they escalate and maintain a positive work environment.

Requirements

Data Collection and Aggregation Engine
"As a team lead, I want automated collection and aggregation of morale data so that I have comprehensive input for predictive analysis."
Description

Implement an automated pipeline to collect and aggregate pulse survey responses, engagement metrics, and other relevant inputs at the team and time-period level. Ensure data is normalized, timestamped, and stored in a unified format to support real-time and historical analyses. This engine will form the foundation for accurate predictive modeling and must integrate seamlessly with PulseSync’s existing data architecture.

Acceptance Criteria
Pulse Survey Data Ingestion Pipeline
Given daily pulse surveys are submitted by team members, when the data collection engine ingests data, then all survey responses must be captured, de-duplicated, and stored within 15 minutes of submission.
Engagement Metrics Aggregation
Given multiple engagement metrics from various sources, when the aggregation process runs for a specified team and time-period, then the engine must produce a unified metrics record containing all inputs with zero data loss.
Data Normalization Validation
Given raw input data with varying field formats, when normalization rules are applied, then all fields must conform to the predefined unified schema and pass validation against business rules.
Timestamp Consistency Check
Given incoming data records, when timestamps are processed, then each record must include a valid ISO 8601 timestamp within ±5 seconds of the original event time.
Unified Database Storage Integration
Given normalized and timestamped data, when writing to the unified storage layer, then records must be immediately queryable through real-time and historical endpoints with response times under 200ms.
Predictive Analytics Model Integration
"As a manager, I want the system to predict morale dips two weeks ahead so that I can address issues proactively."
Description

Integrate a machine learning model capable of forecasting team morale drops up to two weeks in advance based on historical and real-time data inputs. Support batch training and real-time inference, allowing for model retraining as new data arrives. Ensure the system can version, deploy, and monitor models for accuracy and performance over time.

Acceptance Criteria
Batch Model Training Initialization
Given historical and real-time morale data is available in the training dataset When the batch training process is initiated Then the model completes training within expected time limits (e.g., 2 hours) And training metrics (loss, accuracy) are logged successfully
Real-Time Inference API Response
Given new pulse survey data is submitted When the inference endpoint is invoked Then the model returns a morale drop prediction within 200 milliseconds And the response includes a confidence score above 75%
Model Versioning and Deployment
Given a trained model version is approved for production When the deployment pipeline is executed Then the new version is registered in the model registry And the system can route inference requests to the correct version with rollback capability
Model Performance Monitoring
Given the model is deployed to production When daily performance monitoring runs Then the system collects accuracy, precision, recall, and latency metrics And triggers an alert if accuracy drops below 80% or latency exceeds 300 milliseconds
Incremental Retraining with New Data
Given new morale survey data arrives continuously When the incremental retraining job is scheduled Then the model retrains on the latest data without downtime And the updated model passes all validation tests before promotion
Alert Notification System
"As a manager, I want to receive notifications when a morale dip is predicted so that I can take timely action."
Description

Develop a configurable notification framework that triggers alerts when the predictive model forecasts a significant morale dip. Support multiple channels (email, in-app, Slack) and allow managers to set custom thresholds and preferences. Ensure notifications include context, team identifiers, and recommended next steps.

Acceptance Criteria
Threshold Configuration and Email Alert Trigger
Given a manager has set a morale dip threshold of X%, when the predictive model forecasts a dip ≥ X% for a specific team, then an email notification is sent to the manager within 5 minutes containing the team's name, forecasted dip percentage, forecast period, and recommended next steps.
Slack Notification Delivery
Given a manager subscribes to Slack alerts and links their Slack workspace, when the model predicts a morale dip exceeding the manager’s custom threshold, then a notification is posted in the designated Slack channel with team identifier, predicted dip details, and recommended actions within 5 minutes.
In-App Notification with Context and Recommendations
Given a morale dip forecast surpasses the configured threshold, when the manager logs into the PulseSync dashboard, then an in-app alert badge is displayed and an alert detail panel shows team identifiers, predicted dip magnitude, time period, and at least two recommended next steps.
Preferences Persistence Across Sessions
Given a manager updates their notification preferences and thresholds in the settings page, when they log out and log back in, then all custom thresholds and channel preferences remain unchanged and are applied to future alerts.
Notification Suppression Below Threshold
Given a team’s forecasted morale dip is below the manager’s configured threshold, when the model generates the prediction, then no notifications are sent via any channel.
Historical Trend Comparison Module
"As a manager, I want to compare current morale trends against historical data so that I can understand whether fluctuations are normal or concerning."
Description

Build a module that compares current morale indicators and predictions against historical baselines and seasonal patterns. Highlight deviations and anomalies with visual markers, enabling managers to distinguish normal fluctuations from concerning trends. Include statistical confidence intervals to communicate prediction reliability.

Acceptance Criteria
Seasonal Baseline Comparison Visualization
Given a manager selects a time period and team, when the system loads the Historical Trend Comparison Module, then the dashboard displays the average historical morale baseline for the same period across the past year with a seasonal overlay.
Anomaly Detection Highlight
Given current morale indicators are plotted against historical data, when a data point deviates beyond one standard deviation from the baseline, then the system marks it with a red anomaly flag visible on the trend line.
Confidence Interval Display Accuracy
Given the morale prediction is generated, when the comparison module renders the prediction, then it displays a 95% confidence interval as shaded bands around the predicted values.
Team-Specific Trend Comparison
Given a manager filters by team, when the filter is applied, then the module updates the trend chart to show historical and current morale data only for the selected team.
Deviation Explanation Tooltip
Given an anomaly marker appears, when the manager hovers over the marker, then a tooltip displays the deviation magnitude, percentage difference from baseline, and statistical confidence level.
Manager Dashboard Visualization
"As a manager, I want to see predicted morale dips in the dashboard so that I can visualize upcoming issues."
Description

Enhance the PulseSync dashboard to display DipDetect forecasts alongside live morale metrics. Include trend lines, color-coded risk levels, and drill-down capabilities for team-level views. Ensure the UI is intuitive, responsive, and provides clear insights at a glance.

Acceptance Criteria
Forecast Overview Display
Given the manager is on the dashboard page When the page loads Then the DipDetect forecast widget is displayed alongside the live morale metric with the forecasted morale trend for the next two weeks.
Risk Level Interpretation
Given a forecasted risk level When the risk level is high Then the widget displays a red color-coded indicator and a tooltip explaining the risk severity.
Team Drill-Down Interaction
Given the manager clicks on a specific team in the forecast chart When the team is selected Then the dashboard updates to show that team's live morale metrics and forecast in a detailed view.
Trend Line Analysis
Given historical morale data and DipDetect forecasts are available When viewing the morale chart Then the system overlays a historical trend line and a forecast trend line with distinct styling and a legend.
Responsive Layout Validation
Given the dashboard is accessed on desktop, tablet, or mobile When the viewport size changes Then all dashboard elements, including charts and widgets, adjust fluidly without loss of functionality or readability.

ForecastBoard

Offers an interactive visual dashboard that displays AI-driven morale forecasts alongside current sentiment trends, empowering leaders with a clear, consolidated view to plan interventions effectively.

Requirements

Real-time Data Ingestion
"As a team lead, I want the ForecastBoard to update automatically as new pulse survey responses arrive so that I always have the most current view of my team’s morale."
Description

The system must continuously ingest pulse survey responses and user sentiment data in real time, ensuring the ForecastBoard reflects the latest team morale metrics without manual intervention. This functionality integrates with the core data pipeline of PulseSync, enabling live updates, minimizing latency, and maintaining data consistency across the dashboard, thereby allowing leaders to make immediate, informed decisions.

Acceptance Criteria
Live Pulse Survey Integration
Given a new pulse survey response is submitted; When the response is ingested; Then the ForecastBoard displays the updated morale metric within 2 seconds.
Sentiment Data Stream Continuity
Given continuous sentiment input from users; When network interruptions occur; Then the ingestion service buffers data and processes all buffered data automatically upon reconnection without data loss.
Latency Threshold Compliance
Given high-volume concurrent survey submissions; When the system ingests up to 1000 responses per minute; Then the ingestion latency remains under 5 seconds for 95% of requests.
Data Consistency After Ingestion Failure
Given a transient ingestion failure; When the system retries ingestion up to three times; Then no duplicate or missing records exist in the ForecastBoard data store.
Dashboard Synchronization Upon New Responses
Given the ForecastBoard is open in a user's browser; When new data is ingested; Then the dashboard automatically refreshes and visibly highlights updated metrics within 3 seconds.
AI Sentiment Forecasting
"As a small business owner, I want to see predicted morale trends over the next two weeks so that I can proactively address potential disengagement."
Description

Implement an AI-driven forecasting engine that analyzes historical and current sentiment data to predict future morale trends for the next 7–14 days. This component leverages machine learning models trained on engagement patterns, incorporates external variables, and provides confidence intervals, delivering actionable insights that empower managers to proactively address potential issues before they escalate.

Acceptance Criteria
Dashboard Forecast Display
Given the user has at least 14 days of historical sentiment data When the ForecastBoard dashboard loads Then the AI-driven morale forecasts for the next 7–14 days are rendered as a trend line with corresponding date labels
Confidence Interval Visualization
Given the forecast trend line is displayed When the user inspects the forecast Then shaded upper and lower confidence interval bands are shown around the trend line, accurately reflecting the model’s ±95% confidence range
Forecast Data Refresh
Given new sentiment survey results are ingested When the hourly data refresh runs Then the AI forecasting engine recalculates predictions within 5 minutes and the dashboard automatically updates without requiring a manual page reload
External Variable Impact
Given external variables (e.g., company events, holidays) are configured in the system When the forecast is generated Then the model output includes notes on which external variables were applied and their relative impact score, with each variable’s influence documented in the forecast metadata
Export Forecast Data
Given the forecast is visible on-screen When the user clicks the “Export Forecast” button Then a CSV file containing the next 14 days of forecasted morale values and confidence intervals is downloaded within 2 seconds and the file size does not exceed 100KB
Interactive Visualization Controls
"As a team lead, I want to filter and zoom the ForecastBoard data by team and date range so that I can focus on specific segments and timeframes."
Description

Provide users with interactive controls within the ForecastBoard, including filters for team, date range, and sentiment categories, zoom and pan capabilities on time-series graphs, and toggles for overlaying actual vs. forecasted data. This enhances user engagement, allows for customized exploration of morale trends, and ensures the dashboard accommodates diverse analytical needs.

Acceptance Criteria
Team Filter Selection
Given the ForecastBoard is displayed, When the user selects one or multiple teams from the 'Team' dropdown filter, Then the dashboard updates within 2 seconds to show data only for the selected teams and no other teams are visible.
Date Range Filter Application
Given the ForecastBoard is displayed, When the user sets a custom date range using the date picker controls, Then the time-series graph and sentiment metrics update to reflect data exclusively within the selected date range.
Sentiment Category Filter Application
Given the ForecastBoard is displayed, When the user selects one or more sentiment categories (e.g., positive, neutral, negative) from the filter panel, Then only data points corresponding to those categories appear on the graph and in summary statistics.
Time-Series Graph Zoom and Pan
Given the ForecastBoard is displayed, When the user uses zoom controls (e.g., mouse wheel, pinch) on the time-series graph, Then the graph scales accordingly, and when the user pans horizontally, the visible time window shifts smoothly without distortion.
Overlay Toggle Functionality
Given the ForecastBoard is displayed, When the user toggles the 'Actual vs Forecasted' overlay switch, Then the chart overlays forecasted data on actual data with distinct styling, and toggles off correctly when switched back.
Alert Threshold Configuration
"As a manager, I want to set custom alert thresholds for predicted morale drops so that I receive timely notifications before issues escalate."
Description

Enable customizable threshold settings for both current sentiment and forecasted morale metrics, allowing users to define alert triggers and notification preferences. Integrating with PulseSync's notification system, this requirement ensures timely alerts are sent via email, in-app messages, or SMS when morale is predicted to fall below critical levels, facilitating early interventions.

Acceptance Criteria
Setting Custom Alert Thresholds
Given a user navigates to Alert Threshold settings When the user inputs a numeric value (1-100) for current sentiment or forecasted morale Then the system saves the threshold and displays a confirmation message And the saved threshold persists after page refresh
Triggering Forecasted Morale Alerts
Given the forecasted morale score drops below the configured threshold When the system runs its scheduled analysis Then it generates an alert and dispatches notifications via all enabled channels And the alert appears in the user's in-app notification center
Notification Channel Preferences
Given a user has multiple channels enabled (email, in-app, SMS) When the user toggles a channel off Then alerts are not sent via that channel but continue on the remaining channels And the updated preference is reflected on the settings page
Editing Existing Thresholds
Given a user views existing threshold configurations When the user modifies a threshold value and saves Then the system updates the threshold and logs the change in audit history And the old and new values are displayed in the audit trail
Default Threshold Initialization
Given a new user has no custom thresholds When the user accesses the threshold settings for the first time Then default thresholds (current sentiment 50%, forecasted morale 60%) are displayed And the user can immediately modify these defaults
Exportable Reports
"As a team lead, I want to export the ForecastBoard insights into PDF or CSV so that I can share them with stakeholders."
Description

Allow users to export forecast and sentiment data from the ForecastBoard in various formats (PDF, CSV, PNG). Reports should include charts, key metrics, and summary insights, with options to schedule recurring exports. This feature supports sharing findings with stakeholders, fosters transparency, and extends the utility of the ForecastBoard data beyond the application.

Acceptance Criteria
One-Time PDF Export
Given the user is on the ForecastBoard with desired filters applied, when they choose the PDF format and click 'Download', then a PDF file containing the selected charts, key metrics, and summary insights is generated and downloaded within 5 seconds.
CSV Download of Raw Data
Given the user is on the ForecastBoard and has applied filters or date ranges, when they select CSV and click 'Download', then a CSV file with properly formatted headers and raw data rows matching the visible dashboard data is downloaded.
PNG Snapshot of Dashboard
Given the user is viewing the ForecastBoard dashboard, when they select the PNG snapshot option and click 'Download', then a PNG image reflecting the current dashboard view, including all visible charts and metrics, is downloaded.
Scheduled Email of Report
Given the user configures a recurring export schedule with chosen format, frequency, date/time, and valid email recipients, when they save the schedule, then the system sends the correctly formatted report via email to all recipients at the specified intervals.
Custom Date Range Export
Given the user selects a custom date range on the ForecastBoard before exporting, when they initiate any export in PDF, CSV, or PNG format, then the exported report contains data strictly within the selected date range.

TrendSegmentation

Breaks down predicted morale shifts by department, project, or demographic group, allowing managers to target specific areas with tailored engagement strategies and maximize overall team wellbeing.

Requirements

Segmentation Criteria Definition
"As a team lead, I want to define custom segmentation criteria so that I can analyze morale trends for specific groups."
Description

Allow managers to define and save multiple segmentation criteria (e.g., department, project, demographic attributes) through an intuitive interface. The system must validate criteria against existing data sets, support combination filters (e.g., Department: Marketing AND Tenure: >1 year), and store segment definitions for reuse. This functionality ensures precise group-specific morale analysis and integrates with the existing PulseSync data model and API, enabling seamless querying and consistent data retrieval.

Acceptance Criteria
Single Segmentation Criterion Creation
Given a manager opens the segmentation criteria interface When they select a single attribute (e.g., Department: Marketing) Then the system validates the attribute against existing data and confirms criteria creation
Multi-Filter Segmentation Definition
Given a manager applies multiple filters (e.g., Department: Sales AND Tenure: >1 year) When they submit the combination Then the system returns only records matching all filters and displays the segment count
Criteria Validation Against Data Sets
Given a manager defines a criterion with a non-existent attribute When they attempt to save Then the system rejects the criterion and displays an appropriate validation error
Segment Definition Saving and Retrieval
Given a manager saves a segment definition with a unique name When they access the saved segments list Then the system displays the segment with correct name, filters, and creation timestamp
Segment Reuse in Dashboard Queries
Given a manager selects a saved segment from the list When they run a dashboard query Then the system applies the segment filters and returns updated morale data for that group
Dynamic Filtering Interface
"As a manager, I want to filter morale data dynamically by various attributes so that I can quickly pinpoint areas of concern."
Description

Provide an interactive UI component that displays available segmentation options (departments, projects, demographics) and allows users to apply, modify, or remove filters in real time. The interface must update displayed segments instantly, support multi-select dropdowns, sliders for numerical ranges (e.g., age, tenure), and persist filter states across sessions. It should integrate with the main dashboard and respond quickly to user input, enhancing usability and enabling rapid exploration of morale data.

Acceptance Criteria
Single Department Filter Application
Given a user views the dashboard\nWhen the user selects one department from the dropdown\nThen the dashboard updates within 500ms to show only metrics for that department
Multi-Select Filter Combination
Given a user views segmentation options\nWhen the user selects multiple departments and projects\nThen the dashboard reflects the intersection of selected segments without errors and updates within 700ms
Numerical Range Filter Adjustment
Given a user adjusts the tenure slider to a 1–3 year range\nWhen the user releases the slider handle\nThen only team members with tenure between 1 and 3 years are displayed and the filter range label updates accordingly
Real-Time Filter Update
Given a user changes any filter (dropdown or slider)\nWhen the input value is modified\nThen the dashboard content refreshes instantly without page reload and maintains UI responsiveness under 200ms per interaction
Filter State Persistence Across Sessions
Given a user applies a set of filters\nWhen the user logs out and logs back in within 7 days\nThen the previously applied filters are automatically reapplied and visible in the UI
Segmentation Trend Visualization
"As a department head, I want to view morale trends for each segment over time so that I can compare performance and identify issues early."
Description

Implement visualization components that chart morale trends for each defined segment over selectable timeframes. Components should include line graphs, bar charts, and heatmaps, with options to overlay multiple segments for comparison. Visualizations must handle large data sets smoothly, allow users to toggle segment visibility, and display tooltips with detailed metrics on hover. Integration with the live dashboard ensures managers can monitor evolving morale patterns per segment.

Acceptance Criteria
Comparative Trend Analysis Across Departments
Given a manager selects two or more departments and a specific timeframe When the trend visualization loads Then a line graph displays distinct colored lines for each department with accurate morale values at each data point And users can visually distinguish and compare department trends without overlap
Segment Visibility Toggle
Given multiple segments displayed on a chart When the user toggles a segment visibility switch off Then the corresponding segment’s data is removed from the visualization immediately And when toggled on, the segment reappears in the same color and order
Tooltip Display on Data Point Hover
Given the user hovers over any data point in a line graph, bar chart, or heatmap When the hover event occurs Then a tooltip appears within 200ms displaying the segment name, date or time interval, morale score, and number of respondents And the tooltip disappears when the cursor moves away
Heatmap Morale Visualization
Given the user selects the heatmap view for a set of segments over a chosen timeframe When the heatmap renders Then each cell’s color intensity accurately represents the morale level according to the legend And a color legend is displayed indicating the morale value range for each gradient
High-Volume Data Handling
Given a dataset containing over 1 million morale survey records When the visualizations are generated or updated Then the charts fully render within 3 seconds And the UI remains responsive without errors or crashes
Custom Alert Configuration
"As a project manager, I want alerts when a segment’s morale falls below a threshold so that I can intervene promptly."
Description

Allow users to set up threshold-based alerts for any defined segment, triggering notifications when morale scores cross specified boundaries (e.g., drop below 60%). The system should support email and in-app notifications, customizable frequency, and escalation rules. Alert configurations must be tied to saved segment definitions, ensuring that managers receive timely warnings about segment-specific morale shifts without manual monitoring.

Acceptance Criteria
Email Alert on Morale Drop Below Threshold
Given a user has created a department segment and set an alert threshold at 60% with email notifications enabled, When the team's morale score for that segment falls below 60%, Then the system sends an email to the designated manager within 5 minutes.
Weekly In-App Summary for Segment Alerts
Given a user has configured a weekly in-app notification for a project segment threshold of 70%, When the current week ends, Then the system aggregates the segment's morale scores and delivers a summary in the in-app notifications center on the following Monday at 9 AM.
Escalation Notification for Prolonged Low Morale
Given a user has set an escalation rule to notify the senior manager if segment morale remains below 50% for 2 consecutive days, When the segment's morale score stays under 50% for 48 hours, Then the system sends an escalated email and in-app notification to the senior manager.
Persistence of Alert Configuration After Segment Rename
Given a user renames an existing segment that has active alert configurations, When the rename operation is saved, Then the alert configurations remain linked to the renamed segment and trigger based on the updated segment name.
Custom Notification Frequency Selection
Given a user selects hourly notifications for one segment and daily notifications for another, When each segment's threshold condition is met, Then the system sends notifications at the configured frequencies without duplication or omission.
Segmentation Data Export
"As an HR analyst, I want to export segmented morale reports so that I can share findings with stakeholders."
Description

Provide export functionality for segmented morale data reports in CSV and PDF formats. Users should be able to select date ranges, segments, and visualization snapshots, and configure report layouts (charts, tables, summaries). The export module must generate downloadable files within seconds, integrate with existing reporting APIs, and respect user permissions to ensure data security while enabling offline analysis and sharing.

Acceptance Criteria
Date Range Selection and Export Execution
Given a user selects a valid start and end date and clicks "Export", When the system processes the request, Then a CSV or PDF file containing morale data for the selected date range is generated and available for download within 5 seconds.
Segment Selection and Data Accuracy
Given a user chooses one or more segments (e.g., department or demographic) before exporting, When the export is generated, Then the resulting report includes only the data for the selected segments, and each row and column is accurately labeled to reflect segment names.
Visualization Snapshot Inclusion
Given a user opts to include chart and table snapshots in the report layout, When the export runs, Then the PDF report embeds high-resolution images of the selected visualizations in the correct order, and the CSV export includes separate sheets for tables.
User Permission Enforcement
Given a user without export permissions accesses the export feature, When they attempt to initiate an export, Then the system displays an authorization error and prevents file generation; conversely, authorized users can complete exports successfully.
Reporting API Integration and Error Handling
Given the external reporting API is reachable, When an export request is sent, Then the system receives the data, generates the file, and offers it for download; and if the API fails or times out, Then the system shows a user-friendly error message and logs the failure for troubleshooting.

ActionSimulate

Lets users model ‘what-if’ scenarios by applying different intervention strategies to forecasted dips, helping managers choose the most effective actions and anticipate their impact before implementation.

Requirements

Scenario Builder Interface
"As a team manager, I want an intuitive scenario builder interface to quickly configure and save what-if models so that I can easily explore different intervention strategies."
Description

A dedicated interface within ActionSimulate that allows managers to create, configure, and save what-if scenarios. This interface should include drag-and-drop components for selecting specific intervention strategies, adjusting key parameters such as timing and intensity, and previewing scenario summaries before running simulations.

Acceptance Criteria
New Scenario Creation Initialization
Given the manager is on the Scenario Builder Interface, when they click 'Create New Scenario', then a new blank scenario is initialized with default name 'Untitled Scenario', and all parameter fields are reset and ready for input.
Drag-and-Drop Strategy Selection
Given a list of available intervention strategies in the side panel, when the manager drags a strategy onto the scenario canvas, then the strategy is added to the canvas, visually highlighted, and its name appears in the scenario outline list.
Parameter Adjustment Functionality
Given a selected intervention strategy on the canvas, when the manager adjusts timing and intensity sliders or inputs valid numeric values, then the strategy’s parameter values update in real time, and the input fields validate entries within allowed ranges.
Scenario Summary Preview Validation
Given the manager has added strategies and configured parameters, when they click 'Preview Summary', then a modal displays a complete overview including strategy list, parameter values, estimated impact metrics, and projected timeline.
Scenario Save and Retrieval
Given a configured scenario with a custom name, when the manager clicks 'Save Scenario', then the scenario is stored in the user’s saved scenarios list, and it can be retrieved and loaded with all configurations intact.
Input Validation and Error Handling
Given the manager enters invalid parameter values or leaves required fields blank, when they attempt to save or run a simulation, then inline error messages appear next to each invalid field, and the save or run action is blocked until errors are resolved.
Intervention Library Integration
"As a team manager, I want to access a library of proven intervention strategies to apply in my what-if scenarios so that I can base my models on evidence-based actions."
Description

Seamless integration of a curated library of intervention strategies into the scenario builder, enabling managers to select from predefined actions such as team workshops, one-on-one meetings, or policy changes. Each intervention entry should include a description, estimated impact metrics, and customizable parameters.

Acceptance Criteria
Library Availability in Scenario Builder
Given a manager opens the ActionSimulate scenario builder, When they click on the intervention library tab, Then the curated list of intervention strategies is displayed without errors.
Intervention Selection and Customization
Given the intervention library is visible, When the manager selects a predefined action, Then they can modify description fields, impact parameters, and save custom values.
Impact Metrics Display
Given an intervention is selected, When parameters are set, Then estimated impact metrics (e.g., projected morale change percentage) are shown and updated in real time.
Parameter Persistence Upon Scenario Saving
Given a customized intervention has been configured, When the manager saves the scenario, Then all custom parameters remain intact and are loaded on subsequent edits.
Dynamic Library Update
Given the intervention library is updated by administrators, When a manager refreshes the scenario builder, Then new or revised interventions appear in the library list.
Real-time Forecast Visualization
"As a team manager, I want to see real-time visual forecasts of morale dips under different scenarios so that I can quickly assess the potential effectiveness of each intervention."
Description

Dynamic visualization components that display the projected morale trend line as scenarios are adjusted. Visual elements include interactive charts, confidence intervals, and comparison overlays between baseline and simulated forecasts to help managers understand potential outcomes at a glance.

Acceptance Criteria
Baseline and Simulation Overlay Comparison
When a user selects a simulation scenario, the chart displays both baseline and simulated trend lines with distinct colors and overlays them correctly with a legend.
Confidence Interval Visualization
When a forecast is generated, the chart shows upper and lower confidence interval bands shaded at 40% opacity matching a 95% confidence level.
Real-Time Parameter Adjustment
Given a user adjusts simulation parameters, the chart updates the forecast within 500ms reflecting the new trend line and confidence intervals without a full page reload.
Data Point Detail on Hover
When the user hovers over any point on the forecast line or confidence band, a tooltip appears within 200ms showing the date, projected morale score, and confidence interval values accurate to two decimals.
Chart Legend Toggle Functionality
Given the user clicks on an item in the chart legend, the corresponding data series toggles visibility and the chart redraws without affecting other series.
Comparative Impact Analysis
"As a team manager, I want to compare the projected impacts of different scenarios side by side so that I can choose the most effective intervention strategy."
Description

A comparative analysis module that highlights key metrics differences between multiple scenarios, such as percentage improvement in engagement scores, predicted turnover reduction, and time to recovery. This module should present side-by-side tables and summary insights.

Acceptance Criteria
Comparing engagement improvement between two scenarios
Given two intervention scenarios with forecasted engagement scores When the user selects both for comparison Then the system displays a side-by-side table showing percentage improvements for each scenario with differences highlighted
Turnover reduction prediction comparison
Given multiple scenarios include predicted turnover reduction percentages When the user requests comparative analysis Then the module lists each scenario’s turnover reduction side by side and orders them from highest to lowest improvement
Time to recovery projection comparison
Given each scenario has a forecasted time to recovery in days When the user compares scenarios Then the system presents these times side by side and visually highlights the scenario with the shortest recovery period
Summary insights accuracy
Given the comparative analysis is complete When the module generates summary insights Then each insight accurately reflects the numerical differences between scenarios and links to the underlying data points
Side-by-side table integrity
Given the user applies filters or sorts metrics in the comparative table When the table updates Then all rows remain aligned across scenarios and the filtering or sorting criteria apply equally to each column
Export and Share Scenario Results
"As a team manager, I want to export and share my scenario results with stakeholders so that I can communicate predicted outcomes and secure buy-in."
Description

Functionality to export scenario simulations and comparative reports in multiple formats (PDF, CSV, and slide deck) and share them via email or direct link. This feature should include configurable report templates and permission controls to ensure secure distribution.

Acceptance Criteria
Export Single Scenario as PDF
Given a user has created a scenario simulation, when they select 'Export' and choose 'PDF', then the system generates a PDF file that includes scenario details, charts, and summaries, and prompts the user to download it.
Export Comparative Report as CSV
Given a user has selected at least two scenario simulations, when they choose the 'Comparative Report' option and select 'CSV', then the system generates a CSV file containing side-by-side data for each scenario and initiates the download.
Export Scenario Results as Slide Deck
Given a user opts to export results, when they select 'Slide Deck', then the system generates a downloadable PPTX file with each slide representing key metrics, charts, and recommended actions per scenario.
Share Exported Report via Email
Given a user has an exported report ready, when they choose 'Share via Email', enter a valid email address, and send, then the system emails the attachment to the recipient and shows a confirmation notification.
Generate Shareable Link with Permissions
Given a user selects 'Share via Link' and configures access permissions, when they generate the link, then the system creates a unique URL respecting the permissions and copies it to the clipboard with a success message.
Apply Custom Report Template
Given a user has saved custom report templates, when they export or share a report and select a template, then the generated document reflects the configured layout, branding, and content sections.

InsightFlash

Generates concise, automated alerts and summary reports highlighting imminent morale dips, recommended interventions, and potential outcomes, so leaders can take swift, informed action with minimal effort.

Requirements

Real-Time Alert Engine
"As a team lead, I want to receive immediate notifications when my team's morale drops below critical levels so that I can address emerging issues before they escalate."
Description

Implement a robust engine that continuously monitors pulse survey data and triggers instantaneous alerts when morale scores fall below predefined thresholds. The engine should integrate seamlessly with existing survey inputs, applying configurable rules to detect significant dips. Alerts must be concise, actionable, and delivered via the configured channels without delay, minimizing manual oversight and empowering leaders to react swiftly.

Acceptance Criteria
Threshold Breach Detection
Given the engine is monitoring incoming pulse survey data continuously, when a morale score falls below the predefined threshold of 50, then an alert is triggered within 10 seconds.
Configurable Rule Execution
Given custom dip-detection rules have been configured (e.g., 10% drop week-over-week), when new survey responses are processed, then the engine evaluates and flags significant dips according to each rule without manual intervention.
Survey Data Integration
Given the survey platform is sending responses via API, when the engine receives a data payload at least once per minute, then it ingests and processes the data without errors, updating internal metrics in real time.
Multi-Channel Alert Delivery
Given a user’s notification preferences include email and Slack, when an alert is generated, then the engine sends the alert to both channels within 30 seconds of detection.
Actionable Alert Content
Given an alert is triggered, when the notification is delivered, then the message includes the team name, current morale score, magnitude of dip, timestamp of detection, and a recommended intervention action.
Sentiment Analysis Module
"As a small business owner, I want the system to interpret open-ended feedback for sentiment so that I gain deeper insights into my team's emotional state."
Description

Develop an AI-driven sentiment analysis component that processes qualitative survey responses and extracts emotional indicators. The module should leverage natural language processing to identify keywords, tone shifts, and sentiment scores, enhancing the accuracy of morale assessments. It will feed results into the alert engine and reports, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of team sentiment beyond numerical scores.

Acceptance Criteria
Keyword Identification Accuracy
Given a set of qualitative survey responses containing established emotional keywords, When the sentiment analysis module processes these responses, Then it must correctly identify and extract at least 95% of the targeted keywords and classify each with the appropriate positive, negative, or neutral sentiment.
Tone Shift Detection Over Time
Given a time-series of employee responses exhibiting gradual tone changes, When the module analyzes the sequence, Then it should detect at least 90% of the significant tone shifts and flag them in the output with timestamps.
Sentiment Scoring Consistency
Given benchmarked survey responses with predetermined sentiment scores, When the module calculates sentiment scores for these responses, Then each computed score must fall within ±0.1 of the benchmark on a scale from -1.0 to +1.0.
Alert Engine Integration
Given processed sentiment data from the module, When sentiment scores fall below the configured threshold, Then the alert engine must receive the data in the correct format and trigger an immediate alert for manager review.
High-Volume Batch Processing
Given a batch of 1,000 survey responses submitted simultaneously, When the module processes the batch, Then it must complete analysis within 60 seconds using no more than 2 GB of memory and return results for the full batch.
Intervention Recommendation System
"As a manager, I want suggested actions when morale dips so that I can implement proven strategies to improve team engagement quickly."
Description

Create a recommendation system that suggests tailored interventions based on detected morale issues. The system should analyze historical data and best practices to propose actions (e.g., team meetings, recognition programs) with predicted impact levels. It must present options in an easy-to-digest format, enabling managers to choose and schedule interventions with minimal effort.

Acceptance Criteria
Intervention Option Generation
Given a detected morale issue, when the manager opens the recommendation system, then at least three tailored intervention options are displayed, each with a title, description, and predicted impact level.
Impact Prediction Accuracy
Given historical survey and intervention outcome data, when the system predicts impact levels for new interventions, then the predicted impact deviates by no more than ±10% from values calculated on a benchmark dataset.
Manager Intervention Scheduling
Given a manager selects an intervention option, when they choose a date and time, then the intervention is added to the manager’s calendar, and a confirmation notification is sent within five seconds.
Recommendation Personalization
Given team-specific settings and past engagement patterns, when generating interventions, then the system excludes incompatible actions and ranks recommendations by alignment score in descending order.
Post-Intervention Review Prompt
Given an intervention has been executed, when follow-up survey data is received, then within 24 hours the system sends the manager a summary report comparing actual outcomes against predicted impacts.
Custom Notification Preferences
"As a team lead, I want to customize how and when I receive morale alerts so that I stay informed without being overwhelmed."
Description

Enable leaders to configure their notification preferences, selecting channels (email, SMS, Slack) and alert conditions (severity level, frequency). The feature should provide a user-friendly interface within the dashboard to adjust settings on-demand. By personalizing notifications, managers can balance responsiveness with notification overload, ensuring alerts are delivered in the most effective format.

Acceptance Criteria
Configuring Multiple Notification Channels
Given a manager accesses the Custom Notification Preferences interface, When they select email and Slack as notification channels and save preferences, Then the system persists the selections and routes future alerts via email and Slack.
Setting Alert Severity Levels
Given a manager opens notification settings, When they assign 'High', 'Medium', and 'Low' severity levels to different alert types, Then the system triggers notifications only for alerts matching the configured severity levels.
Adjusting Notification Frequency
Given a manager configures frequency preferences, When they choose 'Immediate', 'Hourly digest', or 'Daily summary', Then the system delivers alerts according to the selected schedule without deviation.
Real-Time Preference Updates
Given a manager modifies notification preferences while alerts are pending, When changes are saved, Then the system applies updates instantly and future alerts adhere to the new settings.
Default Notification Fallback
Given a manager has not configured any channels, When an alert is generated, Then the system sends notifications to the manager’s email by default and prompts them to customize preferences.
Consolidated Summary Report
"As a business owner, I want a brief report summarizing morale trends and past interventions so that I can evaluate team health and present findings to stakeholders."
Description

Implement a dashboard widget that generates concise, periodic summary reports aggregating alert history, sentiment trends, and intervention outcomes. Reports should be exportable in PDF and CSV formats and deliverable via email. This feature enables leaders to review performance over time, validate the effectiveness of actions taken, and share insights with stakeholders.

Acceptance Criteria
Scheduled Email Delivery of Summary Report
Given an administrator configures the report frequency to weekly at a specific time, when the scheduled time arrives, then the system automatically sends the summary report as PDF and CSV attachments to the designated email list.
Manual Export of Summary Report
Given a leader is viewing the dashboard widget, when they click the 'Export' button and select PDF or CSV format, then the system generates the file in the selected format and initiates a download prompt.
Review of Sentiment Trend Visualizations
Given a summary report has been generated, when a user opens the report, then the document includes a time-series chart of sentiment scores for the selected period with clear labels for significant dips and peaks.
Analysis of Intervention Outcomes
Given interventions have been logged in the system, when the summary report is generated, then the report aggregates and displays the count and percentage of resolved versus unresolved interventions for the reporting period.
Stakeholder Sharing via Downloadable Formats
Given a user needs to share insights externally, when they export or receive the report by email, then the report file includes the company logo, date range in the header, and uses a filename convention that reflects the format and date range.

BioBridge Connect

Seamlessly links user device biometrics with the SecureAuth Duo platform, enabling one-touch authentication without passwords. This feature streamlines sign-ins by securely transmitting encrypted biometric data, reducing login friction and boosting user satisfaction while maintaining enterprise-grade security.

Requirements

Encrypted Biometric Data Transmission
"As a security-conscious user, I want my biometric data to be transmitted securely so that my authentication process remains private and protected against potential threats."
Description

Ensure biometric data collected on user devices is encrypted end-to-end using industry-standard cryptographic algorithms before transmission to the SecureAuth Duo platform, minimizing the risk of interception or tampering during transit. This functionality integrates with the existing SecureAuth Duo API to seamlessly handle encrypted payloads, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality while maintaining low latency for authentication flows.

Acceptance Criteria
Secure Biometric Payload Encryption
Given a user's biometric data captured for authentication, When the data is prepared for transmission, Then the system shall encrypt the payload using AES-256-GCM algorithm before sending to SecureAuth Duo.
Encrypted Transmission Reliability
Given the encrypted biometric payload is in transit, When it traverses the network, Then it must remain intact and decryptable by the SecureAuth Duo platform, indicated by successful AES-256-GCM decryption without errors.
API Integration Handling
Given an encrypted payload is sent to the SecureAuth Duo API endpoint, When the API responds with a success code, Then the system logs a confirmation and proceeds with the authentication flow within 200 ms.
Network Interruption and Retry
Given the network connection is lost during transmission, When the system detects a timeout or failure, Then it retries transmission up to 3 times with exponential backoff while preserving payload encryption.
Performance under High Load
Given 100 concurrent authentication requests with biometric data encryption, When processed simultaneously, Then the average encryption and transmission latency per request shall not exceed 300 ms under a 95th percentile threshold.
Device Enrollment Workflow
"As a new user, I want a simple, step-by-step enrollment process so that I can register my device quickly and start using one-touch authentication without confusion."
Description

Implement a guided, intuitive enrollment process that allows users to register their device biometrics with the SecureAuth Duo platform. This includes capturing encrypted biometric templates, validating device compatibility, and providing clear UI prompts and error handling to ensure a smooth onboarding experience without manual intervention from administrators.

Acceptance Criteria
First-time Device Enrollment Initialization
- Given an authenticated user on the enrollment page, when they tap 'Enroll Device', then the system performs a device compatibility check within 5 seconds - When the device is compatible, then the biometric capture screen displays within 2 seconds with clear instructions and a progress indicator - When the user completes the biometric scan, then the encrypted template is transmitted successfully and a confirmation message is shown
Device Incompatibility Handling
- Given the user's device is incompatible, when the compatibility check fails, then the UI displays a specific error message with guidance and no partial data retention - Then the enrollment process halts, and the user is prompted to use a supported device
Biometric Data Capture Failure
- Given the user attempts a biometric scan and quality metrics fall below threshold, when a scan fails, then the system prompts with retry guidance up to 3 times - When the third attempt fails, then the system offers an alternative biometric method and logs the failure event
Enrollment Success Confirmation
- Given the biometric template is validated by SecureAuth Duo, when confirmation is received, then the user sees a success screen with an option to name the device - When the user names and confirms, then the new device appears in their account devices list within 3 seconds
Retry After Enrollment Error
- Given an unknown error occurs during enrollment, when the user selects 'Retry', then the enrollment workflow restarts from compatibility check without a full page reload - And no residual encrypted data from the failed attempt is retained
Session Timeout Warning
- Given the enrollment session has been idle for 9 minutes, when inactivity reaches 10 minutes, then the system displays a timeout warning with options to continue or restart - If the user chooses to continue within 2 minutes, then the session extends and user can resume
Authentication Failover Mechanism
"As an end user, I want a backup authentication option when my biometric sensor fails so that I can still log in without being locked out."
Description

Develop a robust failover mechanism that activates alternative authentication methods (such as OTP, push notifications, or security keys) if biometric verification fails or if device sensors are unavailable. This ensures users can still access the system without undue friction and maintains high availability of the authentication service.

Acceptance Criteria
Fallback to OTP after Biometric Failure
Given a user’s biometric authentication fails, when the user selects OTP as the fallback method, then the system must send a one-time passcode via SMS or email within 5 seconds and accept it only if entered correctly within 3 minutes.
Push Notification Failover
Given a user’s push notification to their enrolled device does not arrive within 10 seconds, when the user clicks “Retry Push” or chooses another method, then the system should retry the push once and then present alternative authentication options.
Hardware Security Key Activation
Given a user’s device supports FIDO2 security keys, when biometric authentication fails or is unavailable, then the system prompts the user to insert or tap their security key and grants access upon successful key verification.
Sensor Unavailability During Login
Given the device’s biometric sensor is unreachable or disabled, when the user navigates to the login screen, then the system automatically detects sensor unavailability and displays fallback authentication options without requiring user intervention.
Rate Limiting on Failover Attempts
Given multiple consecutive failed fallback authentication attempts, when the third failure occurs within a 15-minute window, then the system must lock out further attempts for 10 minutes and log the event for security review.
Admin Dashboard Integration
"As an IT administrator, I want to view biometric authentication analytics on my dashboard so that I can monitor system health and quickly identify potential security issues."
Description

Extend the PulseSync and SecureAuth Duo administrative dashboards to display real-time biometric authentication metrics, including enrollment status, authentication success rates, failure reasons, and device usage statistics. Provide configurable alerts for anomalous patterns such as repeated biometric failures or suspicious activity.

Acceptance Criteria
Enrollment Status Overview
Given the admin accesses the integrated dashboard, when the page loads, then the enrollment status for each user device must be displayed in real time and updated at least every 5 seconds, showing user ID, device type, and enrollment timestamp.
Authentication Success Rate Visualization
Given the admin selects the success rate metrics tab, when data is retrieved, then a chart must display the authentication success rate over the last 24 hours, with percentage values accurate to within 0.1% and time axes labeled correctly.
Failure Reason Logging
Given an authentication attempt fails, when the reason is logged, then the failure reason must appear in the dashboard with a timestamp and categorized by error type within 2 seconds of the event.
Device Usage Statistics Chart
Given the admin views device usage statistics, when the data is fetched, then a bar chart must show counts of authentications by device type over the past week, with data refresh intervals no longer than 10 seconds.
Anomalous Failure Alert Configuration
Given the admin configures alerts, when the threshold for repeated biometric failures is set to 5 within 1 hour, then the system must trigger a configurable alert notification to the admin when the threshold is exceeded.
Compliance Logging and Auditing
"As a compliance officer, I want a complete audit trail of biometric authentication events so that I can verify regulatory adherence and investigate any security incidents."
Description

Implement comprehensive logging of biometric authentication events, including timestamps, device identifiers, and success or failure codes, stored in a tamper-proof audit trail to meet enterprise compliance requirements such as GDPR and ISO 27001. Enable configurable retention policies and secure log access controls.

Acceptance Criteria
Successful Biometric Authentication Logging
Given a user successfully authenticates via biometric on a registered device, when the authentication completes, then the system must record an audit entry that includes the timestamp (ISO 8601), device identifier, user identifier, success code, and store it in a tamper-proof audit log.
Failed Biometric Authentication Logging
Given a user fails biometric authentication due to unmatched biometric data, when the authentication attempt is processed, then the system must record an audit entry that includes the timestamp, device identifier, user identifier (if available), failure code, and error description, and store it in the tamper-proof audit log.
Log Retention Policy Enforcement
Given an administrator configures a retention policy of X days, when the policy is applied daily, then all audit log entries older than X days must be automatically purged and archived according to policy settings, with a record of the purge operation stored in the audit log.
Secure Log Access Control
Given a user requests access to the audit log via the admin portal, when the request is made, then the system must verify the user's role against an access control list, grant or deny access accordingly, and record an access event with timestamp, user identifier, and access result in the audit trail.
Audit Trail Integrity Verification
Given an auditor initiates an integrity check, when the system computes a hash chain or digital signature over the audit log, then the system must verify that no tampering has occurred by validating the chain or signature and report a pass/fail result.
Multi-Device Support
"As a remote worker, I want to use biometric authentication on both my laptop and smartphone so that I can access my account from any device without compromising security."
Description

Enable users to enroll and authenticate using multiple devices (e.g., smartphone, laptop, tablet) by associating each device’s biometric template with their profile. Provide management interfaces for users to view, add, or revoke device registrations securely.

Acceptance Criteria
Device Enrollment and Association
Given a logged-in user accesses the device enrollment interface and submits a valid biometric scan from a new device, when the system receives and verifies the encrypted biometric template, then the new device is listed under 'Registered Devices' with timestamp and device type.
Viewing Registered Devices
Given a user navigates to 'Registered Devices' page, when the page loads, then all devices associated with the user are displayed with device name, type, enrollment date, and status.
Device Authentication Success
Given a user attempts to authenticate using a registered device's biometric data, when the biometric data matches the stored template, then access is granted and a session is initiated.
Device Revocation Process
Given a user identifies a device to remove, when they confirm device revocation, then the device is removed from the user's profile, authentication attempts from that device are blocked, and a confirmation notification is sent.
Handling Unauthorized Device Attempts
Given an authentication attempt from a non-registered device, when the system detects no matching biometric template, then the system denies access, logs the attempt, and alerts the user of the unauthorized attempt.

SmartPush Contextual

Delivers one-tap push notifications enriched with real-time context such as app name, IP address, and geolocation. Users can quickly verify the legitimacy of login attempts at a glance, preventing fraudulent access and improving trust in the authentication process.

Requirements

Real-Time Context Capture
"As a small business owner, I want push notifications that include app name, IP address, and location so that I can quickly verify if a login attempt is legitimate."
Description

System must capture and aggregate real-time contextual information—application name, user IP address, and geolocation—at the moment of each authentication attempt. This data will be seamlessly integrated into the push notification payload, providing users with immediate and actionable context to assess login legitimacy.

Acceptance Criteria
Successful Context-Enriched Notification Delivery
Given a user initiates an authentication attempt When the system captures the application name, user IP address, and geolocation Then the push notification payload includes the correct app name, IP address, and geo-coordinates
Notification Display Verification in Mobile App
Given a push notification is received on the user’s device When the user views the notification details Then the displayed application name, IP address, and location exactly match the values captured by the server
Handling of Missing Geolocation Data
Given geolocation lookup fails during authentication When the system cannot resolve location Then the push notification payload includes a null or placeholder geolocation field and still delivers the notification successfully
Secure Transmission of Context Data
Given the system sends the push notification When the payload is transmitted over the network Then all context fields (application name, IP address, geolocation) must be encrypted in transit using TLS 1.2 or higher
Real-Time Context Capture Performance
Given a user submits login credentials When authentication is triggered Then the end-to-end context capture and integration into the notification payload must complete within 200 milliseconds
Secure Context Transmission
"As a security officer, I want the contextual information in push notifications to be encrypted and tamper-proof so that sensitive data remains secure and trustworthy."
Description

All contextual data collected must be encrypted in transit using industry-standard TLS encryption and digitally signed to prevent tampering. The push notification service must validate signatures before displaying context to ensure data integrity and confidentiality.

Acceptance Criteria
Notification Data Encryption in Transit
Given the push service sends contextual data When establishing the connection Then data is transmitted over TLS version 1.2 or higher with no insecure cipher suites negotiated
Signature Validation Before Display
Given the mobile client receives a contextual push notification When verifying the payload Then the digital signature is validated against the stored public key and only valid messages are displayed
Invalid Signature Rejection
Given a notification with altered payload or signature When validation fails Then the notification is discarded and an error is logged without displaying context
Key Rotation Handling
Given the server has rotated its signing keys When new notifications are signed with updated keys Then clients fetch and cache the new public key and validate signatures without failure
TLS Protocol Compliance
Given any push notification transmission When negotiating TLS handshake Then only TLS 1.2 or TLS 1.3 protocols and approved ciphers are accepted and connections using older versions are rejected
Notification UI Layout
"As an end user, I want notifications that clearly display and visually emphasize context information so that I can immediately understand if a login attempt is safe."
Description

Design and implement a clear, intuitive notification interface for mobile and desktop platforms that highlights key context—app name, IP address, and geolocation—with visual cues (icons, color-coding) to distinguish trusted from suspicious logins. Ensure accessibility standards are met.

Acceptance Criteria
Mobile Push Notification Display
Given a user receives a push notification on a mobile device, When the notification is rendered, Then it displays the app name, IP address, and geolocation; And each context element has an associated icon; And the notification border color is green for trusted logins or red for suspicious logins; And the layout adapts without truncation in both portrait and landscape orientations.
Desktop Notification Render
When a login attempt triggers a desktop notification, Then the notification displays app name, IP address, and geolocation with corresponding icons and color-coded borders; And the notification width does not exceed 350px; And text content wraps correctly; And action buttons (Approve, Deny, Dismiss) are clearly visible and clickable.
Suspicious Login Visual Highlight
Given a login attempt from an unknown IP or geolocation, When the notification appears, Then context elements are highlighted in red; And a tooltip appears explaining the reason for suspicion; And the visual contrast ratio meets a minimum of 4.5:1.
Trusted Login Quick Verify
Given a login attempt from a recognized device or location, When the notification is shown, Then a green icon and border indicate trust; And a single-tap “Approve” button is present; And tapping “Approve” sends confirmation within 2 seconds.
Accessibility Compliance for Visual Cues
When the notification interface is presented, Then all icons include descriptive alt-text for screen readers; And color-coding is supplemented with text labels; And all visual elements meet WCAG 2.1 AA color contrast standards.
One-Tap Approval/Denial Workflow
"As a team lead, I want to approve or deny login attempts with one tap in the notification so that I can respond quickly and reduce potential security risks."
Description

Enable users to approve or deny authentication attempts directly from the push notification with a single tap. The action must trigger an immediate response to the authentication service and log the user’s decision for audit and reporting purposes.

Acceptance Criteria
User Approves Known Device Access
Given a push notification is received for a login attempt from a recognized device When the user taps 'Approve' Then the authentication service grants access within 2 seconds And the user sees an on-screen confirmation
User Denies Suspicious Login Attempt
Given a push notification is received for a login attempt from an unrecognized location When the user taps 'Deny' Then the authentication service blocks the attempt immediately And the user receives a denial confirmation
Audit Log Records Decision
Given the user has approved or denied a login attempt When the action is sent to the authentication service Then the system logs the user's decision with timestamp, IP address, device ID, and geolocation in the audit log
Contextual Information Display
Given a push notification is received When the notification is displayed Then it shows the app name, user's IP address, and approximate geolocation clearly
Timeout Handling for Unresponsive Notifications
Given a push notification is delivered and no user action is taken within 60 seconds When the timeout threshold is reached Then the authentication service emits a timeout event And the user receives a follow-up notification indicating the request expired
Fallback & Retry Mechanism
"As a system administrator, I want failed push notifications to be retried automatically so that no authentication attempts go unverified due to transient delivery issues."
Description

Implement a reliable retry mechanism for failed notification deliveries or missing context data. Undelivered notifications should be queued and retried at exponential intervals until successful or until a configurable threshold is reached, with error reporting for failed attempts.

Acceptance Criteria
Queuing Failed Notifications
Given a push notification delivery failure, When the system detects the failure, Then the notification is enqueued in the retry queue and persists until retried.
Exponential Backoff Retry
Given a notification remains undelivered after an initial retry, When a retry is scheduled, Then the interval doubles until the maximum interval is reached or delivery succeeds.
Configurable Retry Threshold
Given the retry threshold is configured by the administrator, When the number of retry attempts reaches the threshold, Then no further retries occur and the notification is marked as failed.
Error Reporting on Exhausted Retries
Given a notification has exceeded its retry threshold, When retries conclude, Then an error report is generated and logged with notification ID, failure reason, and timestamp.
Recovery After Temporary Data Unavailability
Given missing context data at delivery time, When data becomes available before retry threshold is met, Then the system retries delivery using the full context data payload.

Adaptive Risk Engine

Continuously evaluates login risk factors—including device health, user behavior, and network context—to dynamically adjust authentication requirements. Low-risk sessions gain instant access with biometric verification, while higher-risk events trigger additional safeguards, balancing security with user convenience.

Requirements

Device Health Assessment Module
"As a security-conscious team lead, I want the system to evaluate device health (patch level, antivirus status, jailbreak/root detection) so that only secure devices can access PulseSync and mitigate potential threats."
Description

Continuously evaluate endpoint security posture by retrieving OS version, patch level, antivirus status, and jailbreak/root detection through device management APIs. Integrate these health metrics into the Adaptive Risk Engine to ensure only secure devices gain access. Provide real-time device health feedback for risk scoring and trigger remediation prompts when devices fall below compliance thresholds.

Acceptance Criteria
Device Health Data Retrieval Upon Login Attempt
- The system retrieves OS version, patch level, antivirus status, and jailbreak/root status within 2 seconds of a login attempt. - Retrieved data completeness and accuracy match device management API responses. - If any retrieval fails, the login is blocked and a remediation message is displayed.
Real-Time Health Metric Integration into Risk Score
- Device health metrics are ingested into the Adaptive Risk Engine immediately upon retrieval. - Any change in patch level or antivirus status updates the risk score within 1 second. - Updated risk scores reflect the new health metrics in subsequent authentication decisions.
Compliance Threshold Violation Alerts
- When device health metrics fall below defined compliance thresholds, a remediation prompt is triggered within 5 seconds. - The prompt clearly identifies non-compliant metrics and provides recommended remediation steps. - User cannot proceed with login until remediation steps are acknowledged or completed.
Low-Risk Biometric Authentication Flow
- For devices with compliant health metrics and a low risk score, the system allows biometric authentication without additional MFA. - Successful biometric input grants immediate access. - After three consecutive biometric failures, the system falls back to password-based MFA.
High-Risk Additional Safeguard Enforcement
- For devices with non-compliant metrics or high risk scores, the system enforces step-up authentication via one-time password (OTP). - OTP is delivered to the user within 10 seconds and validated correctly before granting access. - Five consecutive failed OTP attempts result in account lockout for 30 minutes.
Behavioral Anomaly Detection
"As a team member, I want the system to detect behavioral anomalies like unusual login times or interaction patterns so that potential compromised accounts are identified early."
Description

Implement continuous monitoring of user interactions such as typing patterns, navigation flows, and access times. Leverage machine learning models to establish behavioral baselines per user and detect deviations in real time. Feed detected anomalies into the risk scoring engine to flag potential compromised accounts or insider threats.

Acceptance Criteria
Real-time Deviations in Typing Patterns
Given a user’s established typing baseline, When the user types continuously for 30 seconds and their average key dwell time deviates by more than 25% from baseline, Then the system logs an anomaly event and increments the user’s risk score by at least one level.
Anomalous Navigation Sequence Detection
Given the user’s typical navigation flow through the application, When the user’s clickstream deviates from any known sequence by skipping two or more expected steps, Then the anomaly engine records the deviation and feeds an anomaly flag into the risk engine.
Off-Hours Access Attempts
Given a user’s historical access time window (8 AM–6 PM local time), When a login attempt occurs outside this window for three consecutive days, Then the system triggers an off-hours anomaly alert and raises the session’s authentication requirements.
High-Frequency Login Failures
Given a threshold of 5 failed login attempts within 2 minutes for a single account, When the user exceeds this threshold, Then the behavior monitor logs the event as an anomaly and escalates the account’s risk level.
New Device Location Risk
Given a user’s known device fingerprint and last login geolocation, When a login originates from a device with a new fingerprint located over 100 miles away within 1 hour of the previous session, Then the system detects the location anomaly and prompts for step-up authentication.
Dynamic Risk Scoring Algorithm
"As a security administrator, I want a dynamic risk score that combines device, behavior, and network signals so that I can enforce appropriate authentication levels."
Description

Develop a weighted scoring mechanism that aggregates risk factors from device health, user behavior, and network context into a unified risk score. Enable configuration of risk thresholds and weighting parameters via an admin interface. Utilize streaming data inputs and machine learning to dynamically adjust weights based on evolving threat patterns.

Acceptance Criteria
Low-Risk User Login Biometric Verification
Given a user’s calculated risk score is below the low-risk threshold, when the user attempts to log in, then the system prompts only for biometric verification and grants access within 2 seconds.
High-Risk Login Requires Additional Authentication
Given a user’s calculated risk score is above the high-risk threshold, when the user attempts to log in, then the system prompts for multi-factor authentication (OTP plus biometric) and grants access only upon successful completion of both factors.
Admin Adjusts Risk Thresholds
Given an administrator is on the risk configuration interface, when they update risk thresholds or weighting parameters and click save, then the system validates inputs, persists changes, and applies the new settings to all subsequent risk calculations.
Dynamic Weight Adjustment via ML Training
Given continuous streaming of device, behavior, and network data over a rolling 24-hour period, when the machine learning component detects a shift in threat patterns, then the system recalibrates factor weightings and logs the updated model to the audit trail within 6 hours.
Real-Time Risk Score Calculation
Given any login attempt, when risk factors (device health, behavior, network context) change in real time, then the system computes and returns an updated risk score within 100ms and records the calculation in the audit log.
Contextual Network Analysis
"As a user, I want the system to analyze my network context (IP reputation, geolocation) so that access is secured from potentially unsafe networks."
Description

Assess network-related risk signals including geolocation, IP reputation, VPN usage, and unusual network hops. Integrate with external threat intelligence feeds to enrich risk profiles. Update session risk in real time based on network anomalies and known malicious sources.

Acceptance Criteria
Real-Time IP Reputation Integration
Given a user initiates a login from an IP address, when the system queries the external IP reputation feed and identifies the IP as malicious, then the session risk score increases by at least 50 points and the user is prompted for step-up verification.
Geolocation Anomaly Detection
Given a user’s previous login location is known, when a new login occurs from a location over 500 miles away within 24 hours, then the system flags the session as high-risk and enforces multifactor authentication.
VPN Usage Identification
Given a user’s login request arrives through a VPN, when the system detects VPN traffic patterns or a known VPN IP, then the session risk score increases by 30 points and biometric verification is required.
Unusual Network Hop Recognition
Given a user’s session path includes network hops, when the system detects more than two anonymizing hops (e.g., proxies or TOR nodes), then the session is classified as medium risk and an admin review log entry is created.
Continuous Risk Score Update
Given an active user session, when network context changes mid-session (e.g., IP reputation degrades or new threat feed alert), then the risk engine updates the session risk score within 2 seconds and enforces any additional safeguards configured.
Adaptive Authentication Policy Engine
"As a user, I want seamless access with simple biometric auth when risk is low, and additional verification when risk is high, so that security is balanced with convenience."
Description

Create and enforce flexible authentication flows based on the calculated risk score. For low-risk sessions, allow biometric or single-factor authentication; for medium risk, enforce two-factor authentication; for high risk, require multi-step verification or temporary lockouts. Provide a policy configuration interface for administrators to adjust authentication rules and thresholds.

Acceptance Criteria
Low-Risk Session Biometric Authentication
Given a user session risk score below the low threshold When the user attempts login Then the system allows access after successful biometric verification without additional factors
Medium-Risk Session Two-Factor Enforcement
Given a user session risk score between the medium and low thresholds When the user attempts login Then the system prompts for and validates a second authentication factor before granting access
High-Risk Session Multi-Step Verification
Given a user session risk score above the high threshold When the user attempts login Then the system requires at least two additional verification steps (e.g., OTP and security questions) or initiates a temporary lockout after failures
Policy Threshold Configuration
Given an administrator accesses the policy configuration interface When the administrator adjusts risk score thresholds for low, medium, and high categories Then the system persists the new thresholds and applies them to subsequent login risk evaluations
Repeated High-Risk Lockout Enforcement
Given multiple consecutive login attempts flagged as high risk When the number of failed high-risk attempts exceeds the configured limit Then the system enforces a temporary account lockout and notifies the user of next steps
Risk Dashboard Alerts & Reporting
"As a team lead, I want real-time alerts and dashboard visuals of login risk so that I can respond swiftly to potential security incidents."
Description

Build a real-time dashboard within PulseSync to display session-level risk scores, historical trends, and threshold-based alerts. Enable customizable notifications to administrators when risk events exceed configured levels. Offer drill-down capabilities on individual events and exportable risk reports for audit and compliance purposes.

Acceptance Criteria
Real-Time Risk Score Visualization
Given the risk dashboard is open, when a new session-level risk score is generated, then the dashboard displays the updated score within 5 seconds with appropriate color coding for severity.
Threshold-Based Alert Triggering
Given an administrator has configured a risk threshold, when any session’s risk score exceeds this threshold, then the system sends an alert notification to the administrator within 1 minute.
Custom Notification Configuration
Given the notifications settings panel is accessed, when the administrator selects notification channels and defines risk level thresholds, then the system saves these preferences and successfully sends a test notification to each selected channel.
Drill-Down Event Analysis
Given a list of risk events is displayed on the dashboard, when the administrator clicks on a specific event, then a detailed panel opens showing session timestamp, device health metrics, user behavior indicators, and network context information.
Exportable Risk Report Generation
Given the administrator selects a custom time range and clicks the export button, when the request is processed, then a downloadable CSV report is generated containing session IDs, timestamps, risk scores, evaluation factors, and is available within 2 minutes.

DeviceTrust Vault

Provides a centralized dashboard for managing and authorizing trusted devices. Administrators and users can register new devices, set permission levels, and revoke access instantly if a device is lost or compromised, ensuring full control over who and what can authenticate within the organization.

Requirements

Secure Device Enrollment
"As an administrator, I want to register new devices by scanning their unique identifiers so that they can be recognized and authenticated by the organization’s security system."
Description

Provide a secure enrollment portal for administrators and users to register new devices by capturing device identifiers, owner details, and device cryptographic fingerprints, integrating seamlessly with existing authentication workflows to ensure that only authorized devices can request access.

Acceptance Criteria
Admin registers a new trusted device
Given an authenticated administrator When they submit a new device ID, owner details, and valid cryptographic fingerprint Then the system stores the device record, marks the device as Active, and displays a confirmation message
User self-service device enrollment
Given an authenticated user When they access the enrollment portal and provide their device identifier, owner details, and valid fingerprint Then the system registers the device under their account and displays a success notification
Enrollment attempt with invalid cryptographic fingerprint
Given a user submits a device enrollment request with an improperly formatted or invalid fingerprint When the system validates the fingerprint Then the system rejects the request with an error message indicating “Invalid cryptographic fingerprint”
Duplicate device identifier submission
Given a device identifier already exists in the system When a user or administrator attempts to enroll a device with the same identifier Then the system prevents duplicate registration and displays an error stating “Device identifier already registered”
Enrollment portal session timeout
Given a user begins the enrollment process but remains inactive for 15 minutes When the session timeout threshold is reached Then the system terminates the session, clears entered data, and redirects the user to re-authenticate
Audit logging of enrollment transactions
Given any device enrollment request is processed When the request is accepted or rejected Then the system creates an audit log entry with timestamp, user ID, device ID, fingerprint data, and outcome status
Centralized Dashboard View
"As an administrator, I want to view a centralized list of all trusted devices with their statuses so that I can monitor device usage and quickly identify anomalies."
Description

Offer a centralized dashboard that displays all registered devices, their current authentication status, permission levels, and recent activity, providing administrators with at-a-glance visibility into device trust metrics and enabling quick filtering and search capabilities.

Acceptance Criteria
Dashboard Overview Accessibility
Given an authenticated administrator, When they navigate to the DeviceTrust Dashboard, Then the system displays a list of all registered devices including columns for device name, authentication status, permission level, and timestamp of last activity.
Filtering Devices by Authentication Status
Given the dashboard with devices displayed, When the administrator selects an authentication status filter (e.g., 'Authorized', 'Pending', 'Revoked'), Then only devices matching the selected status are shown and the count of filtered results is updated accordingly.
Searching for a Device by Identifier
Given the dashboard view, When the administrator enters a full or partial device identifier or name into the search bar and submits, Then the dashboard updates to show devices whose identifiers or names contain the search term, with search results returned in under 2 seconds.
Viewing Device Activity Details
Given a list of devices on the dashboard, When the administrator clicks on a device entry, Then a detail panel or modal appears showing recent authentication attempts, IP addresses, and activity logs for that device, and the information loads within 3 seconds.
Revoking Device Access from Dashboard
Given a device entry displayed in the dashboard, When the administrator clicks the 'Revoke Access' action and confirms in a dialog, Then the device’s authentication status updates to 'Revoked' in the dashboard within 2 seconds, and the device no longer appears in the 'Authorized' filter results.
Granular Permission Management
"As an admin, I want to set different access levels for each device so that I can enforce role-based security policies across the organization."
Description

Allow administrators to assign, modify, and revoke granular permission levels for each device, including network access, application privileges, and user-group associations, ensuring that devices adhere to role-based access control policies.

Acceptance Criteria
Assigning Network and Application Permissions upon Device Registration
Given an administrator has registered a new device, when they assign network access and application privileges, then the device’s network access and application privileges are saved correctly and enforced immediately.
Modifying User-Group Associations for an Existing Device
Given an existing device in the dashboard, when an administrator updates its user-group associations, then the new associations replace the old ones, take effect without delay, and are recorded in the system.
Revoking Device Access When Compromised
Given a device is flagged as compromised, when an administrator revokes its access, then the device is removed from the trusted list, any authentication attempts are denied, and a confirmation notification is sent to the administrator.
Batch Updating Permissions across Multiple Devices
Given multiple devices are selected, when an administrator applies batch permission changes, then the changes are applied to all selected devices, a summary of successful and failed updates is displayed, and any failures include detailed error messages.
Verifying Audit Logs for Permission Changes
Given permission changes occur, when an administrator views the audit log, then each change entry includes the device ID, changed permissions, timestamp, and administrator identity, and the logs can be filtered and exported.
Instant Access Revocation
"As an administrator, I want to revoke a device’s access instantly so that I can ensure compromised devices cannot further authenticate to our systems."
Description

Provide functionality for administrators to instantly revoke device access upon detection of compromise or loss, triggering immediate deauthorization in all connected services and notifying relevant stakeholders of the action taken.

Acceptance Criteria
Administrator Revokes Lost Device Access
Given an administrator selects a registered device and marks it as lost, When they confirm the revocation action, Then the device is deauthorized in all connected services within 5 seconds and its status is updated to 'Revoked'.
Compromised Device Deauthorization
Given the system detects a security compromise alert for a device, When the alert is confirmed by an administrator, Then the system automatically revokes device access and prevents any further authentication attempts from the device immediately.
Stakeholder Notification After Revocation
Given a device access revocation has occurred, When the revocation succeeds, Then email notifications are sent to the device owner and relevant administrators within 1 minute with details of the action taken.
Revocation Audit Logging
Given any device access revocation event, When the revocation process completes, Then an audit log entry is created containing timestamp, administrator ID, device ID, and reason for revocation, and is stored in the audit log within 10 seconds.
Instant Revocation Across Services
Given multiple services (e.g., VPN, email, file storage) are connected, When a device access revocation is initiated, Then all service tokens and sessions for that device are invalidated within 5 seconds to block access uniformly.
Audit Logging and Reporting
"As a compliance officer, I want to review detailed logs of device management events so that I can audit device trust activities and ensure regulatory compliance."
Description

Maintain detailed audit logs of all device registration, modification, and revocation events, including timestamps, user actions, and device identifiers, and generate periodic security reports to comply with compliance standards and support forensic analysis.

Acceptance Criteria
Device Registration Audit Log Entry
Given a user registers a new device When the registration is successful Then the system logs an entry with the correct timestamp, user ID, device ID, action type "registration", and stores it in the audit log database
Device Permission Modification Audit Log Entry
Given an administrator updates device permissions When the update action is completed Then an audit log entry is created capturing the timestamp, admin user ID, device ID, previous permission level, new permission level, and action type "permission_modification"
Device Revocation Audit Log Entry
Given a user or admin revokes a device's access When the revocation is processed Then an audit log entry is generated including timestamp, actor ID, device ID, reason for revocation, and action type "revocation" and the device is marked as revoked in the log
Periodic Security Report Generation
Given the system is scheduled for daily report generation When the scheduled time arrives Then the system aggregates all audit log entries from the previous 24 hours, formats them into a security report including totals by action type, and sends the report to designated compliance email addresses
Forensic Audit Log Search
Given a compliance officer initiates a forensic search When search parameters (date range, user ID, device ID, action type) are entered Then the system returns all matching audit log entries within 2 seconds, displaying timestamp, actor, device details, and action type for each entry

SessionSense Guard

Monitors user behavior and session metrics in real time to detect anomalies or suspicious activity post-login. When irregular patterns emerge—such as unusual navigation or rapid data access—the feature automatically locks the session and prompts re-authentication, safeguarding sensitive information from potential breaches.

Requirements

Real-Time Behavior Monitoring
"As a security administrator, I want the system to monitor user actions in real time so that I can detect and respond to suspicious behavior as soon as it occurs."
Description

Continuously track and collect user interactions and session metrics post-login in real time, including navigation paths, access frequency, and data retrieval patterns. This requirement ensures that every user action is logged and analyzed immediately, enabling the system to detect deviations from normal behavior quickly. By integrating seamlessly with the existing session management framework in PulseSync, it lays the groundwork for anomaly detection, providing the raw data needed to identify security threats early and maintain a secure environment without impacting system performance.

Acceptance Criteria
Navigation Path Logging
Given a logged-in user, When the user navigates to any part of the app, Then the system records the page name, user ID, and timestamp within 1 second in the session log datastore.
Data Retrieval Pattern Logging
Given the system processes a data retrieval request, When the request completes, Then the system logs the endpoint accessed, response size, user ID, and timestamp, and increments the user’s access frequency counter in real time.
Anomaly Detection Threshold
Given real-time behavior data, When a user’s access frequency or navigation speed deviates by more than three standard deviations from their baseline within a rolling 5-minute window, Then the system flags the session as anomalous and emits an alert to the security service.
Automatic Session Lockout
Given a session flagged as anomalous, When the anomaly detection engine issues a lockout command, Then the user’s session is immediately locked, a re-authentication prompt is displayed, and no further actions are permitted until successful re-authentication.
Performance Impact Monitoring
Given monitoring of up to 100 concurrent sessions, When the logging subsystem is under peak load, Then its CPU and memory usage remains below 5% of total system resources, ensuring no perceivable degradation in user experience.
Anomaly Detection Engine
"As a security administrator, I want the system to automatically detect anomalous session patterns so that potential security breaches are identified without manual analysis."
Description

Implement an intelligent engine that analyzes collected session data against baseline behavioral models to identify irregularities such as unusual data access rates, atypical navigation sequences, or rapid page transitions. The engine should leverage machine learning algorithms to adapt thresholds over time, reducing false positives. It integrates with the behavior monitoring component and flags sessions that exceed anomaly confidence levels, enabling proactive threat identification and reducing reliance on manual oversight.

Acceptance Criteria
Initial Model Training and Threshold Configuration
Given the system has at least 100 historical session data points When the anomaly detection engine initializes Then it establishes baseline behavioral thresholds with ≥95% confidence and logs the model parameters
Real-Time Session Anomaly Detection
Given an active user session with behavior metrics exceeding defined thresholds When anomaly confidence ≥90% is reached Then the system flags the session within 2 seconds and generates an alert in the monitoring dashboard
Adaptive Threshold Adjustment Over Time
Given the engine processes new session data daily When deviation patterns persist for 7 consecutive days Then it automatically recalibrates thresholds and documents all adjustments
Integration with Session Lock and Re-Authentication Workflow
Given a flagged session When the user attempts further interaction Then the system locks the session and prompts for re-authentication before any data access is allowed
False Positive Rate Minimization Validation
Given the engine runs in production for 30 days When false positives are evaluated Then the false positive rate must remain below 5% and a false positive incident report is generated
Automatic Session Lockout
"As a team lead, I want the system to lock sessions when suspicious behavior is detected so that unauthorized access is prevented until identity is confirmed."
Description

Automatically lock a user’s session immediately upon detection of suspicious activity, such as accessing restricted data too rapidly or navigating outside normal parameters. The session lockout mechanism must halt all user actions, display a secure re-authentication prompt, and preserve session state to avoid data loss. This requirement safeguards sensitive information during active threats and ensures that only legitimate users can resume their sessions after identity verification.

Acceptance Criteria
Rapid Restricted Data Access Attempt
Given the user attempts to access more than 5 restricted records within 10 seconds, when this threshold is exceeded, then the session locks immediately and a re-authentication prompt is displayed.
Abnormal Navigation Pattern
Given the user navigates to sections outside their assigned role scope twice in a session, when two consecutive out-of-scope navigations occur, then the session locks and the user is prompted to re-authenticate.
IP Address Change Mid-Session
Given the user’s IP address changes to a different geographic region during an active session, when the system detects an IP region shift, then the session locks and re-authentication is required.
Session Duration Exceeds Expected Window
Given the average session for a user role is 30±5 minutes, when the session exceeds 45 minutes without normal logout, then the session locks and the user must re-authenticate to continue.
Multiple Consecutive Action Failures
Given the user encounters more than 3 failed secure actions (e.g., failed data retrieval or modification) within 5 minutes, when failures exceed this limit, then the session locks and a re-authentication prompt appears.
Configurable Security Thresholds
"As an administrator, I want to configure security thresholds so that anomaly detection aligns with my organization’s risk tolerance and operational needs."
Description

Provide an administrative interface to configure sensitivity levels, define custom anomaly rules, and adjust the behavior monitoring parameters such as access frequency limits and navigation depth. Administrators can tailor detection thresholds to match their organization’s security posture, balancing strictness against false-positive rates. Changes should take effect immediately and apply retroactively where feasible, giving managers precise control over how and when sessions are flagged or locked.

Acceptance Criteria
Configure Access Frequency Limit
Given an administrator sets the maximum access frequency to 30 requests per minute, When a user issues 31 requests within a rolling 60-second window, Then the system must immediately flag the session, lock it within 2 seconds, and prompt the user for re-authentication, And all sessions under the limit remain unaffected.
Define Custom Anomaly Rule
Given an administrator creates a custom anomaly rule that triggers on navigation depth greater than 10 clicks in under 2 minutes, When a user exceeds this navigation depth, Then the system must lock the session, generate an alert, and record the event in the audit log with the applied rule ID.
Adjust Sensitivity Levels
Given an administrator selects the “High” sensitivity preset, When the system evaluates session metrics, Then it must apply a 20% lower threshold for anomaly detection compared to the “Medium” preset and surface 20% more potential flags in the dashboard metrics.
Immediate Effect of Configuration Changes
Given an administrator updates any threshold or rule and clicks Save, When the save operation completes, Then all new sessions initiated within the next 10 seconds must honor the updated configuration, and the dashboard must display the new settings in real time.
Retroactive Application of Thresholds
Given an administrator changes the anomaly detection parameters, When the change is saved, Then all active sessions from the past 5 minutes must be reevaluated against the new parameters, and any sessions now breaching thresholds must be flagged and locked.
Audit Trail and Alerting
"As a compliance officer, I want detailed logs and instant alerts for security events so that I can review incidents and ensure regulatory requirements are met."
Description

Record detailed logs of all detected anomalies, session lockouts, re-authentication attempts, and administrator changes to security thresholds. Implement a real-time alerting mechanism that notifies designated stakeholders via email or in-app notifications when critical events occur. The requirement ensures full traceability for compliance and forensic analysis while keeping relevant team members informed for rapid incident response.

Acceptance Criteria
Anomaly Logging Scenario
Given a user session where an anomaly is detected, when the detection algorithm flags the session, then the system logs an entry containing the timestamp, user ID, session ID, anomaly category, and relevant request details.
Session Lockout Notification Scenario
Given a session is automatically locked due to suspicious activity, when the lockout occurs, then the system sends an email and in-app notification to the user and designated stakeholders within one minute, including event type, timestamp, and next steps.
Re-authentication Attempt Logging Scenario
Given a locked session requiring re-authentication, when a user submits credentials, then the system logs each attempt with timestamp, user ID, outcome (success or failure), and IP address.
Security Threshold Update Audit Scenario
Given an administrator updates security threshold settings, when the update is confirmed, then the system records the administrator ID, timestamp, previous values, new values, and a description of the change in the audit log.
Real-Time Alert Delivery Scenario
Given a critical security event (e.g., five consecutive failed re-authentication attempts), when the event is detected, then the system delivers an in-app notification to designated stakeholders within thirty seconds and sends a detailed email alert.

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Press Coverage

Imagined press coverage for this groundbreaking product concept.

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PulseSync Unveils AI-Powered Morale Forecasting with DipDetect and ForecastBoard

Imagined Press Article

New York, NY – 2025-05-24 – PulseSync, the leading provider of AI-driven team morale tracking, today announced the launch of its groundbreaking DipDetect and ForecastBoard features, empowering small business owners and team leads to predict and prevent engagement dips up to two weeks in advance. This powerful combination of proactive analytics and intuitive visualization marks a major step forward in workforce sentiment management, giving leaders unmatched insight and control over team morale. Introduction As businesses scale and teams grow, maintaining a positive workplace culture becomes increasingly challenging. Traditionally, managers have relied on retrospective surveys or anecdotal feedback, often discovering issues only after they’ve affected performance and retention. PulseSync’s new DipDetect feature leverages advanced machine learning models to analyze historical and real-time sentiment data, accurately forecasting potential dips in morale before they materialize. Paired with ForecastBoard, an interactive visual dashboard, teams can now see predicted engagement trends alongside current sentiment in one unified view. Feature Details DipDetect harnesses AI to process thousands of anonymous pulse survey responses, mood ring patterns, and contextual event markers. By identifying subtle shifts and historical patterns, DipDetect generates a confidence score for upcoming morale dips, enabling managers to act preemptively. ForecastBoard visualizes these insights through dynamic charts, overlaying forecasted sentiment curves with real-time mood flow data. Users can filter views by department, project team, or demographic group, ensuring targeted interventions where they’re needed most. According to PulseSync product manager Avery Lee, “DipDetect and ForecastBoard redefine how businesses approach employee engagement. Rather than reacting to issues, managers can anticipate challenges and deploy customized strategies ahead of time, saving valuable resources and fostering a more resilient culture.” Customer Impact Early adopters report up to a 30% reduction in turnover rates within the first month of deployment. Rachel Kim, CEO of GreenLeaf Marketing, said, “With PulseSync’s forecasting tools, I can see morale dips before they affect our deadlines. We schedule workshops, recognition events, and one-on-one check-ins based on DipDetect alerts, and the difference in team energy has been night and day.” Integration and Accessibility Available immediately, DipDetect and ForecastBoard are included in PulseSync’s Pro and Enterprise plans at no additional cost. Small business customers can upgrade via their existing dashboard settings or contact their account representative for personalized onboarding. The features integrate seamlessly with Slack and Microsoft Teams, delivering TrendPulse Recap reports and InsightFlash alerts directly to team channels. Benefits and ROI By combining predictive analytics with intuitive dashboards, PulseSync helps leaders: • Prevent morale dips through early warnings and targeted action plans • Allocate resources more effectively by pinpointing at-risk teams • Improve retention and productivity by fostering a proactive engagement strategy • Demonstrate ROI with measurable reductions in turnover and absenteeism Quote from Leadership “Predicting team sentiment has always been the missing link in employee engagement,” said PulseSync CEO Miranda Hayes. “With DipDetect and ForecastBoard, we’re equipping managers with the foresight they need to keep teams motivated, aligned, and high-performing, even in fast-paced small business environments.” About PulseSync PulseSync delivers instant, AI-powered team morale tracking for small businesses. Automated, anonymous pulse surveys and live dashboards reveal hidden disengagement, surfacing early warning signs managers usually miss. Cut turnover, spot emerging issues, and act fast—all without the overhead or complexity of traditional enterprise solutions. Contact Information Media Relations: press@pulsesync.com Sales Inquiries: sales@pulsesync.com Website: www.pulsesync.com Phone: (212) 555-0124

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PulseSync Launches Adaptive Action Blueprints to Empower Managers with Tailored Interventions

Imagined Press Article

New York, NY – 2025-05-24 – PulseSync, the AI leader in real-time team morale solutions, today announced the general availability of Adaptive Action Blueprints, a breakthrough feature designed to guide managers through context-specific, data-driven intervention strategies. This feature transforms raw sentiment data into actionable step-by-step plans, ensuring timely, relevant, and effective responses to engagement changes. Introduction In today’s dynamic workplace, leaders need more than alerts; they require clear, proven guidance tailored to their unique team context. Adaptive Action Blueprints leverages PulseSync’s AI engine to analyze live survey results, mood ring patterns, and historical intervention outcomes, automatically generating custom playbooks. These blueprints remove guesswork, reduce decision fatigue, and accelerate response times, helping managers maintain high morale and productivity. Feature Details Adaptive Action Blueprints uses a multi-step AI process: 1. Data Aggregation: Combines anonymous emoji check-ins, mood alerts, and contextual event markers. 2. Trend Analysis: Identifies sentiment shifts and correlates them with past intervention success rates. 3. Playbook Generation: Crafts detailed, scenario-based action plans with suggested outreach scripts, recognition messages, and follow-up schedules. 4. Continuous Optimization: Monitors outcomes and refines strategies based on real-time feedback. “Managers often struggle with the ‘what next’ question after seeing an alert,” said Chief Technology Officer Dr. Lucas Ortiz. “Adaptive Action Blueprints solves that by providing a proven roadmap, helping leaders address morale dips with confidence and precision.” User Experience Within the PulseSync dashboard, managers receive a new “Action Plan” tab whenever a Mood Alert or DipDetect forecast triggers. The tab presents a prioritized list of recommendations, complete with conversational scripts, suggested recognition templates, and timelines. Users can customize any step, assign tasks to team members, and track progress in a collaborative workspace. Benefits Early trials show that teams using Adaptive Action Blueprints see a 45% faster resolution of engagement issues and a 20% increase in positive sentiment within two weeks of implementation. Benefits include: • Streamlined decision-making with AI-curated intervention plans • Consistent, repeatable strategies proven to work in similar scenarios • Reduced manager stress through clear guidance • Enhanced employee trust through timely, thoughtful outreach Customer Testimonial “We faced a sudden morale dip after a major product launch,” said Talent Manager Priya Desai from Orion Tech Solutions. “Adaptive Action Blueprints gave us precise, step-by-step scripts to address concerns and celebrate wins. Our post-intervention survey showed a 35% bump in positive sentiment.” Availability and Pricing Adaptive Action Blueprints is available to all PulseSync Pro and Enterprise customers starting today. For existing customers, the feature can be enabled in the dashboard’s feature settings. New users can sign up at www.pulsesync.com/pricing to schedule a demo and learn more about tailored implementation support. About PulseSync PulseSync delivers instant, AI-powered team morale tracking for small businesses. Automated, anonymous pulse surveys and live dashboards reveal hidden disengagement, surfacing early warning signs managers usually miss. Cut turnover, spot emerging issues, and act fast—all without the overhead or complexity of traditional enterprise solutions. Contact Information Media Relations: press@pulsesync.com Product Inquiries: product@pulsesync.com Website: www.pulsesync.com Phone: (212) 555-0124

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PulseSync Introduces InstantReward Cards and Reward Marketplace to Elevate Team Engagement

Imagined Press Article

New York, NY – 2025-05-24 – PulseSync, the pioneer in AI-driven morale tracking, today unveiled two highly anticipated features—InstantReward Cards and Reward Marketplace—designed to seamlessly integrate recognition and incentive strategies into everyday team workflows. These innovations empower managers to reward participation and celebrate achievements in real time, driving higher response rates and reinforcing positive culture. Introduction Incentives and recognition play a critical role in sustaining engagement, yet many small businesses lack the tools to deliver timely rewards without administrative overhead. InstantReward Cards provide digital gift cards that are automatically issued upon survey completion, ensuring that team members feel valued the moment they share their feedback. Meanwhile, Reward Marketplace offers a curated catalog of incentive options—ranging from branded swag to charitable donations—allowing participants to redeem points for rewards that resonate personally. Feature Details InstantReward Cards: As soon as a team member completes a pulse survey, PulseSync’s AI engine verifies participation and instantly delivers a digital gift card via email or Slack. Administrators can configure reward types, values, and participation thresholds in the SmartPulse Scheduler settings to optimize timing and budget. Reward Marketplace: Participants accumulate points with each survey, milestone badge, or engagement streak. The Reward Marketplace provides an easy-to-navigate portal where they can browse curated options, filter by category or point range, and redeem rewards with a single click. Organizations can customize the catalog to include company-branded merchandise, third-party gift cards, or charitable contributions, aligning incentives with company values. Benefits and Impact By integrating automated rewards directly into the morale-tracking workflow, PulseSync helps businesses: • Increase survey response rates by up to 25% through instant gratification • Strengthen a culture of recognition with timely, personalized incentives • Simplify reward management with centralized catalog and reporting tools • Measure ROI with detailed Redemption Insights analytics Quote from Leadership “Recognition shouldn’t be an afterthought—it’s a critical driver of engagement,” said Chief Operating Officer Maya Singh. “InstantReward Cards and Reward Marketplace make it effortless for managers to show appreciation, turning every check-in into an opportunity to reinforce positive behavior and build lasting team loyalty.” Customer Success Story “Before PulseSync’s rewards features, we struggled to keep our remote sales team engaged,” said Regional Manager Carlos Mercado of Horizon Retail Group. “Now, every completed survey triggers an instant gift card, and our team loves choosing items from the marketplace. Participation has surged, and our quarterly engagement score increased by 18 points.” Availability and Access InstantReward Cards and Reward Marketplace are rolling out to all PulseSync Business, Pro, and Enterprise plans starting today. Administrators can enable the features in the Incentives section of the dashboard and customize reward settings to suit their budgets and cultural goals. For comprehensive setup assistance, visit www.pulsesync.com/support or contact your customer success manager. About PulseSync PulseSync delivers instant, AI-powered team morale tracking for small businesses and team leads. Automated, anonymous pulse surveys and live dashboards reveal hidden disengagement, surfacing early warning signs managers usually miss. Cut turnover, spot emerging issues, and act fast—all without the overhead or complexity of traditional enterprise solutions. Contact Information Media Relations: press@pulsesync.com Customer Support: support@pulsesync.com Website: www.pulsesync.com Phone: (212) 555-0124

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