Employee Engagement SaaS

PulseSync

Catch Problems. Spark Thriving Teams.

PulseSync equips HR managers at mid-sized companies with instant, automated pulse surveys and vivid real-time heatmaps, revealing hidden morale issues overlooked by annual surveys. Managers spot emerging problems within hours, intervene early, and reduce costly turnover—building resilient, energized teams with data-driven insight that keeps workplace culture thriving, not sliding into silence.

Subscribe to get amazing product ideas like this one delivered daily to your inbox!

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
To empower every company to build thriving, resilient teams through real-time engagement insights that revolutionize workplace culture worldwide.
Long Term Goal
By 2028, empower 20,000 mid-sized companies to reduce unplanned turnover by 25% and boost employee satisfaction by 10 points through real-time engagement insights.
Impact
Reduces unplanned turnover by up to 27% for HR managers at mid-sized companies by cutting engagement issue detection time from weeks to hours and increasing employee satisfaction scores by over 10 points within six months, leading to measurable gains in retention and productivity.

Problem & Solution

Problem Statement
HR managers at mid-sized companies can’t detect drops in team morale early, as traditional surveys are infrequent and delayed, lacking real-time insights—leaving hidden issues unaddressed and resulting in preventable turnover and lost productivity.
Solution Overview
PulseSync delivers instant, automated pulse surveys directly through workplace tools and visualizes responses in real-time heatmaps, allowing HR managers to spot and resolve emerging morale issues within hours—ending the blind spots and costly delays of traditional engagement surveys.

Details & Audience

Description
PulseSync delivers real-time employee engagement analytics for HR managers at mid-sized companies. It empowers leaders to quickly spot morale drops and emerging issues, preventing costly turnover. Automated, integrated pulse surveys capture team sentiment seamlessly, while interactive heatmaps instantly reveal hidden problem areas—enabling fast, targeted action to fuel a thriving workplace culture.
Target Audience
HR managers (30-50) at mid-sized companies urgently seeking real-time engagement signals and early intervention tools.
Inspiration
During a team meeting, our founder noticed a usually enthusiastic engineer silent and withdrawn—no one realized he’d been quietly struggling for months. When he resigned soon after, leadership was blindsided. The annual engagement survey arrived too late, buried in data. That moment sparked PulseSync: a way to surface real-time team sentiment, making invisible struggles visible before valued people slip away.

User Personas

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

Product Features

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

Reaction Radar

A dynamic widget that aggregates and displays real-time emoji reactions across Slack channels as a live gauge. Managers gain instant visibility into overall team mood without leaving Slack, enabling swift recognition of positive vibes or emerging concerns.

Requirements

Slack API Authentication
"As an HR manager, I want to securely connect PulseSync to our Slack workspace so that I can aggregate team reaction data without manual exports or security risks."
Description

Implement secure OAuth-based integration with the Slack API to authorize PulseSync to access emoji reaction data from designated channels. This includes managing token storage, refresh cycles, and permission scopes to ensure seamless, reliable data retrieval without requiring users to leave the PulseSync platform.

Acceptance Criteria
Slack OAuth Flow Initiation
Given the HR manager is logged into PulseSync and navigates to the integration settings, When they click the 'Connect to Slack' button, Then the application must redirect them to Slack's OAuth consent page with the correct client_id and requested scopes.
OAuth Code Exchange and Token Retrieval
Given Slack redirects back with an authorization code, When the backend exchanges the code for an access token, Then the system must securely receive and store the access_token and refresh_token, and respond with a success status.
Access Token Refresh Cycle
Given an access_token is within 10 minutes of expiration, When the system triggers the refresh cycle, Then it must use the refresh_token to obtain a new access_token and refresh_token pair without user intervention, updating the stored tokens securely.
Permission Scope Validation
Given the Slack integration is connected, When retrieving emoji reactions, Then the system must confirm that the access_token has the 'reactions:read' and 'channels:read' scopes and log an error if missing.
Revoked Token Handling
Given a 401 Unauthorized response is received from Slack API, When this occurs, Then the system must detect revoked permissions, disable the Slack integration for the user, and prompt them to re-authenticate.
Real-Time Reaction Aggregation
"As an HR manager, I want PulseSync to update team mood metrics instantly when reactions appear in Slack so that I can detect shifts in sentiment in real time."
Description

Develop a low-latency data pipeline that listens for emoji reaction events in Slack channels and aggregates them centrally in PulseSync. This requires efficient event subscription setup, data normalization, and storage to support live updates within seconds of a reaction being posted.

Acceptance Criteria
Single Channel Reaction Processing
Given PulseSync is subscribed to a Slack channel When a user adds an emoji reaction to a message Then the reaction event is stored in the central database within 2 seconds
Multiple Channels Concurrent Reactions
Given simultaneous emoji reactions occur across multiple Slack channels When events are ingested Then all reactions are aggregated without loss or duplication and visible in PulseSync’s dashboard within 3 seconds
Data Normalization Consistency
Given varied Slack reaction payloads When events are processed Then all stored records conform to the schema with user_id, channel_id, message_timestamp, emoji_name, and event_timestamp fields populated
Real-Time Dashboard Update
Given the central database is updated with a new reaction When the Reaction Radar widget is open in Slack Then the live gauge reflects the updated count for that emoji within 1 second
Failure Recovery and Retry
Given a network failure occurs during event ingestion When the pipeline detects the failure Then the event is retried up to 3 times automatically and no events are lost
Reaction Visualization Widget
"As an HR manager, I want to view a visual summary of overall team mood directly in Slack so that I can quickly interpret current sentiment without switching to another application."
Description

Create an embeddable widget within Slack that displays a live gauge of aggregated emoji reactions, color-coded by sentiment intensity. The widget should allow drill-down into specific channels, support hover tooltips for counts, and adapt responsively to channel pane sizes.

Acceptance Criteria
Loading Emoji Reactions Gauge
Given the widget is loaded in Slack, when the user opens the channel pane, then the widget displays a live gauge with total emoji reaction count updated no older than 5 seconds.
Channel Drill-Down Interaction
When a user clicks on a channel name in the gauge, then the widget expands to show a breakdown of emoji reactions for that channel within 2 seconds.
Responsive Resize Behavior
When the Slack channel pane is resized narrower or wider, then the widget adjusts its width and font sizes to remain fully visible without overflow or clipping.
Hover Tooltip Display
When the user hovers over any segment of the gauge, then a tooltip appears showing the emoji type and its exact count, disappearing within 300 milliseconds after mouse leaves.
Sentiment Color Coding
Given an aggregated sentiment score, the widget segments are color-coded green for positive, yellow for neutral, and red for negative sentiment according to the brand palette.
Custom Reaction Sentiment Mapping
"As an HR manager, I want to define how different emojis impact the overall mood score so that PulseSync’s radar reflects our unique sentiment conventions."
Description

Enable configuration of custom sentiment weights for each emoji reaction. Managers can assign positive, neutral, or negative scores and adjust weight multipliers to tailor the mood gauge to their company culture and reaction semantics.

Acceptance Criteria
Adding Custom Sentiment Mapping
Given the manager navigates to the 'Custom Sentiment Mapping' section, When they add a new emoji mapping by selecting an emoji, assigning a sentiment category, and specifying a weight multiplier, Then the new mapping is saved, displayed in the mapping list, and persists after page reload.
Editing Sentiment Weight Multipliers
Given an existing emoji mapping, When the manager updates the sentiment category or weight multiplier and saves changes, Then the updates are reflected immediately in the mapping list and persist after reopening the settings.
Removing Custom Sentiment Mapping
Given multiple custom mappings, When the manager deletes a mapping and confirms the deletion, Then the mapping is removed from the list and no longer applied to subsequent mood calculations.
Validating Input Constraints for Weight Assignment
Given the manager inputs invalid data (e.g., non-numeric weight, weight outside allowed range -10 to +10), When attempting to save the mapping, Then the system displays an inline validation error and prevents saving until valid data is provided.
Reflecting Custom Sentiment Mappings in Live Gauge
Given the manager has configured custom mappings, When the Reaction Radar widget receives new emoji reactions from Slack channels, Then the live mood gauge updates in real time using the custom sentiment weights to calculate the overall team sentiment score.
Threshold-Based Alerting
"As an HR manager, I want to receive notifications when team sentiment dips below or spikes above certain levels so that I can intervene or celebrate in a timely manner."
Description

Implement automatic alerts that trigger when aggregated reaction sentiment crosses predefined positive or negative thresholds. Alerts should be deliverable via Slack notifications or email, with configurable frequency and escalation rules.

Acceptance Criteria
Admin Configures Sentiment Threshold
Given an HR manager accesses the alert settings page when they input a positive sentiment threshold of 80% and negative threshold of 20% then the system saves these values and displays a confirmation message
Threshold Breach Detection
Given real-time sentiment analysis is processing reactions when negative sentiment for a monitored Slack channel exceeds 20% within a 1-hour window then the system triggers an alert event
Slack Notification Delivery
Given an alert event is generated when a threshold is breached and the HR manager has connected Slack then the system posts a message to the designated Slack channel within 2 minutes containing the threshold breached channel name and timestamp
Email Alert with Escalation
Given the HR manager configures email notifications and sets escalation to the department head after 15 minutes of unacknowledged alerts when an alert is generated then the system sends an email to both the manager and the department head at the configured intervals until acknowledged
Alert Frequency Adjustment
Given the HR manager updates alert frequency from immediate to daily digest when settings are saved then the system suppresses individual alerts and consolidates them into a single daily email at the specified time
Data Security & Access Control
"As an HR manager, I want to restrict access to our team’s mood data so that sensitive sentiment insights remain confidential and compliant with company policy."
Description

Establish role-based access controls for the Reaction Radar feature, ensuring only authorized HR managers and team leads can view or configure sentiment dashboards. Include audit logging for data access and changes to alert thresholds or sentiment mappings.

Acceptance Criteria
HR Manager Access to Reaction Radar
Given a user with the HR Manager role When the user navigates to the Reaction Radar dashboard Then the user can view sentiment heatmaps and configure alert thresholds
Team Lead Access to Reaction Radar
Given a user with the Team Lead role When the user attempts to access the Reaction Radar feature Then the user can view sentiment dashboards but cannot modify alert thresholds
Unauthorized User Access Prevention
Given a user without HR Manager or Team Lead roles When the user tries to access the Reaction Radar dashboard Then the system denies access and displays an authorization error message
Data Access Audit Logging
Given any user accesses sentiment data or dashboard configurations When the action occurs Then the system logs user ID, timestamp, accessed data type, and action performed
Alert Threshold Modification Logging
Given an HR Manager modifies an alert threshold or sentiment mapping When the change is submitted Then the system logs user ID, timestamp, previous value, new value, and change reason

Channel Mood Timeline

An interactive timeline chart embedded in Slack that visualizes sentiment trends over time. Users can scroll through daily or hourly data to pinpoint exactly when morale shifts occur, helping leaders correlate events with sentiment changes.

Requirements

Real-Time Sentiment Data Fetch
"As an HR manager, I want to access up-to-date sentiment data at hourly granularity so that I can detect early shifts in team morale and address issues promptly."
Description

Retrieve and aggregate sentiment scores from pulse survey responses at hourly and daily intervals for each Slack channel. Ensures data accuracy and freshness by querying the sentiment analysis database every 15 minutes, normalizing results, and storing time-series records. This backend service provides the data foundation for the timeline visualization and enables consistent, up-to-date insights.

Acceptance Criteria
Hourly Sentiment Data Retrieval
Given the service runs every 15 minutes, when the database is queried, then hourly aggregated sentiment scores for each Slack channel are stored in the time-series table within 5 minutes after each hour.
Daily Sentiment Aggregation Consistency
Given 24 hourly sentiment records exist, when the daily aggregation job runs, then the summed hourly sentiment equals the daily aggregate for each channel without discrepancy.
Error Handling for Database Failures
Given a database connection failure during data retrieval, when the service encounters the error, then it logs the failure, retries up to three times, and sends an alert to the operations team if retries fail.
Data Normalization and Range Verification
Given raw sentiment scores from the survey responses, when normalization is applied, then all resulting values fall within the defined range of -1 to 1 for each stored record.
Real-Time Data Freshness Check
Given the backend service updates every 15 minutes, when inspecting the latest time-series record, then no record timestamp is older than 20 minutes from the current system time.
Interactive Timeline Chart Rendering
"As an HR manager, I want to view sentiment trends over time in an interactive chart so that I can visually identify patterns and anomalies in team morale."
Description

Develop a client-side chart component that dynamically renders time-series sentiment data as an interactive line or area chart. Supports zoom, pan, tooltips, and data point highlighting. Integrates with the product’s design system and visual style, ensuring clarity and responsiveness across devices. Enables users to quickly grasp trends, peaks, and troughs in morale over selected periods.

Acceptance Criteria
Initial Chart Rendering
Given the user opens the Channel Mood Timeline in Slack, when the sentiment data for the selected date range is loaded within 2 seconds, then the interactive line chart displays correctly with time labels on the x-axis, sentiment scores on the y-axis, and matches the design system’s style guidelines.
Zoom Interaction
Given the chart is displayed, when the user selects a zoom tool and drags to highlight a time range, then the chart zooms into that range, updating axes and displaying only data points within the selected window, with no visual artifacts.
Pan Across Timeline
Given the user is viewing a zoomed-in chart, when the user clicks and drags horizontally, then the chart shifts the visible time window accordingly, fetching additional data if needed and maintaining continuity of the line or area visualization.
Tooltip Display on Hover
Given the chart is rendered, when the user hovers over any data point, then a tooltip appears within 100ms showing the exact timestamp and sentiment value, and it disappears immediately when the cursor moves away.
Responsive Layout on Mobile
Given the user accesses the Channel Mood Timeline on a mobile device, when the screen width is less than 600px, then the chart reflows to fit the screen, tooltips become tap-triggered, and all interactive features remain functional and legible.
Timeframe Granularity Controls
"As an HR manager, I want to adjust the time granularity and range of the timeline so that I can focus on specific periods of interest and fine-tune my analysis."
Description

Implement UI controls allowing users to switch between hourly and daily sentiment views, adjust time ranges (e.g., last 24 hours, last week, custom dates), and seamlessly pan across the timeline. Ensures intuitive navigation with real-time data loading and smooth transitions, enabling precise exploration of sentiment changes at different scales.

Acceptance Criteria
Switch to Hourly View
Given the Channel Mood Timeline is displayed When the user selects 'Hourly' granularity Then the timeline updates to display sentiment data points for each hour in the selected range with timestamp labels and completes rendering within 200ms
Switch to Daily View
Given the Channel Mood Timeline is displayed When the user selects 'Daily' granularity Then the timeline updates to display aggregated sentiment scores for each day in the selected range with date labels and completes rendering within 200ms
Select Predefined Time Range
Given the timeline controls include preset options When the user selects the 'Last 24 Hours' or 'Last Week' preset Then the timeline updates to show data for that period, disables custom date inputs, and completes data load within 300ms
Select Custom Date Range
Given the custom date picker is visible When the user enters a valid start and end date and clicks 'Apply' Then the timeline updates to display sentiment data covering the exact range, validates date order, and shows an error if end date precedes start date
Pan Timeline Smoothly
Given the timeline is rendered When the user drags the timeline or clicks navigation arrows to pan Then the chart pans smoothly, loads new data dynamically, and maintains a frame rate of at least 30fps
Slack Block Kit Embedding
"As an HR manager, I want to view and interact with the sentiment timeline directly in Slack so that I can stay within my workflow and react to team insights instantly."
Description

Package the interactive timeline within Slack messages or modals using Slack Block Kit. Ensures compatibility with Slack’s interactive message APIs, including buttons for expanding the timeline view, refreshing data, and accessing detailed reports. Provides fallback for unsupported environments and guarantees a seamless in-app experience without leaving Slack.

Acceptance Criteria
Embedding Timeline in Slack Channel
Given a user is in a Slack channel When the system sends a message containing the timeline Then the interactive timeline block renders correctly within the channel message without requiring external links
Refreshing Data via Button
Given the timeline is displayed in Slack When the user clicks the “Refresh Data” button Then the timeline updates to show the latest sentiment data within 5 seconds
Expanding Timeline View in Modal
Given the timeline is embedded in a message When the user clicks the “Expand View” button Then a Slack modal opens displaying a full-screen interactive timeline with scrollable data
Fallback for Unsupported Environments
Given a Slack client does not support Block Kit When the timeline message is delivered Then the message includes a plain-text summary and a link to view the timeline in a web browser
Accessing Detailed Reports
Given the timeline is visible When the user clicks the “View Detailed Report” button Then the user is directed to the detailed report page within the Slack modal or web browser link
Event Annotation Overlay
"As an HR manager, I want to see significant company events on the timeline so that I can correlate sentiment changes with those events and understand their impact on morale."
Description

Allow overlaying of key organizational events (e.g., product launches, policy changes) onto the sentiment timeline. Fetch event metadata, render distinct markers or shaded regions, and support tooltips describing each event. Enables correlation between real-world occurrences and shifts in team sentiment, aiding root-cause analysis.

Acceptance Criteria
Overlay Events on Daily Sentiment View
Given the sentiment timeline displays daily sentiment data, when the system fetches event metadata for the same date range, then each event is overlaid as a distinct marker at the correct date position on the timeline.
Tooltip Display on Event Marker Hover
Given an event marker is present on the timeline, when a user hovers over the marker, then a tooltip appears showing the event title, date, and description within 200ms.
Fetch and Render Multiple Event Types
Given events from at least three different categories are available, when the timeline initializes, then markers or shaded regions for all event types are fetched and distinguished by unique colors or shapes according to the event type legend.
Time Zone Consistency for Event Markers
Given users in different time zones view the timeline, when events are rendered, then event markers align to the user's local date and time, matching the sentiment data time zone.
User Preferences for Event Layer Visibility
Given the user toggles the event overlay visibility setting, when the visibility toggle is disabled, then all event markers and shaded regions are hidden; when enabled, they are displayed again without requiring a page reload.
Performance and Caching Optimization
"As an HR manager, I want the timeline to load and respond quickly even with large data sets so that my analysis is uninterrupted and efficient."
Description

Implement caching strategies and performance optimizations for data fetching and chart rendering to ensure sub-second load times for typical data sets. Utilize server-side caching, client-side memoization, and lazy loading of off-screen data points. Continuously monitor performance metrics and set thresholds to trigger cache invalidation or scaling adjustments.

Acceptance Criteria
Initial Load Performance
Given a typical data set (up to 1,000 data points) When the user opens the Channel Mood Timeline Then the chart and heatmap must render in under 500 milliseconds
Smooth Lazy Loading on Scroll
Given the user scrolls beyond the currently rendered time window When off-screen data points fall into view Then the client must load and display those points within 300 milliseconds without freezing the UI
Cache Invalidation on New Data
Given a new pulse survey response arrives within the last hour When the server processes the update Then the server-side cache for the affected time range must invalidate and propagate updated data to the client within 2 minutes
Server-Side Cache Hit Rate Monitoring
Given the system is under normal load When any 5-minute window records a cache hit rate below 95% Then the performance monitoring system must trigger an alert to the operations dashboard
Client-Side Memoization for Revisited Ranges
Given the user revisits a previously viewed time range in the same session When the client requests data for that range Then the client must use memoized results and complete rendering in under 200 milliseconds without a network request

Custom Alert Configurator

A settings panel where HR and team leads define sentiment thresholds and reaction weightings to trigger automated notifications. By customizing alert criteria, managers receive only the most relevant warnings, reducing noise and ensuring timely interventions.

Requirements

Sentiment Threshold Settings
"As an HR manager, I want to set custom sentiment threshold values so that I only receive alerts when morale metrics cross relevant limits and avoid unnecessary notifications."
Description

The system shall provide an intuitive settings panel where HR managers can define minimum and maximum sentiment thresholds for pulse survey responses. These thresholds determine when alerts are triggered based on aggregated sentiment scores. The feature integrates directly into the Custom Alert Configurator, offering slider controls and numeric inputs for fine-tuning sensitivity. This capability helps reduce alert noise by ensuring notifications only fire when morale metrics cross manager-defined limits, improving focus on genuinely critical changes.

Acceptance Criteria
Initial Threshold Configuration by HR Manager
Given the HR manager navigates to the Sentiment Threshold Settings panel When they set the minimum sentiment threshold slider to a value between 0 and 100 and the maximum sentiment threshold slider to a higher value within the same range Then the system saves both values And displays a confirmation message stating 'Settings saved successfully' And the new thresholds are immediately reflected in the Custom Alert Configurator
Adjusting Thresholds to Reduce Alert Noise
Given the manager has received too many low-severity alerts When they adjust the minimum threshold numeric input to a higher value and click 'Save' Then the system validates that the minimum is less than the maximum And updates the threshold values And reduces alerts to only those below the new minimum sentiment score
Precise Numeric Input for Thresholds
Given the manager prefers exact values When they enter integer values into the minimum and maximum sentiment numeric fields and press 'Save' Then the system enforces value range constraints (0–100) And rejects out-of-range or non-numeric inputs with inline error messages And persists valid values upon confirmation
Validation of Invalid Threshold Ranges
Given the manager enters a minimum threshold greater than or equal to the maximum threshold When they attempt to save the settings Then the system prevents saving And displays an error message stating 'Minimum threshold must be less than maximum threshold' And highlights the invalid fields
Real-Time Preview of Alerts Based on Thresholds
Given the manager adjusts threshold values When the sliders or numeric inputs change Then the system updates a real-time heatmap preview showing which historical sentiment data points would trigger alerts under the new settings And no server call is required until ‘Save’ is clicked
Reaction Weight Management
"As a team lead, I want to weight different response categories so that alerts accurately reflect the significance of each type of feedback."
Description

Allow HR managers and team leads to assign weighting values to distinct reaction types (e.g., ‘concern’, ‘praise’, ‘neutral’) within the Custom Alert Configurator. Each reaction category can be increased or decreased in significance, affecting how aggregate sentiment scores are calculated. The feature includes input fields and presets, seamlessly integrating with existing pulse data and heatmap visualizations. This ensures alerts reflect the relative importance of different feedback types.

Acceptance Criteria
Setting Initial Reaction Weights
Given the HR manager navigates to the Custom Alert Configurator; When they input a weight value for each reaction type and click Save; Then the system stores the new weights and displays a success message; And default preset values remain unchanged.
Editing Existing Reaction Weights
Given an existing weighting configuration is loaded; When the manager modifies the weight for 'praise' and selects 'Update Preset'; Then the updated preset reflects the new weight; And subsequent pulse analyses use the revised weightings.
Invalid Weight Value Handling
Given the manager enters a non-numeric or out-of-range value (e.g., -10 or 150); When they attempt to save; Then the system rejects the input and displays an inline validation error message; And the invalid value is not persisted.
Applying Weight Presets to Sentiment Calculations
Given saved weight presets exist; When the system calculates aggregate sentiment scores for a pulse survey; Then each reaction type is applied according to its configured weight; And the resulting sentiment scores match expected weighted calculations.
Visualizing Weight Impact on Heatmap
Given new reaction weights are applied; When the HR manager views the heatmap; Then heatmap colors update to reflect the weighted sentiment; And differences from unweighted view are clearly indicated via legend.
Notification Rule Builder
"As an HR manager, I want to define when and how I’m notified so that I can promptly address morale issues using my team’s preferred communication tools."
Description

Provide a flexible rule builder interface where managers define criteria for alert notifications, including selection of channels (email, Slack, SMS), specific recipients or groups, and notification frequency (immediate, daily digest). The builder supports conditional logic (AND/OR) and integrates with the organization’s directory. By centralizing notification configuration, the feature ensures timely, relevant warnings reach the right stakeholders through preferred channels.

Acceptance Criteria
Create Notification Rule with Multiple Conditions
Given a logged-in manager on the Notification Rule Builder interface When the manager selects channels email and Slack, adds conditions ‘morale < 60%’ AND ‘negative sentiment > 20%’, chooses group ‘Department Heads’ as recipients, sets frequency to Daily Digest, and clicks Save Then the new rule is stored, appears in the rules list, and displays the correct channels, conditions, recipients, and frequency
Edit Existing Notification Rule
Given an existing notification rule in the manager’s rules list When the manager clicks Edit, changes the condition from OR to AND logic, updates the SMS channel to Slack, and saves Then the rule reflects the updated logic and channel in the rules list
Delete Notification Rule
Given a manager viewing the list of notification rules When the manager clicks Delete on a specific rule and confirms the action Then the rule is removed from the list and no longer triggers notifications
Trigger Notification on Threshold Breach
Given an active rule with condition ‘reaction weight ≥ 50’ set to immediate notifications When a new pulse survey response exceeds the specified reaction weight Then the system sends notifications immediately via the configured channels to the designated recipients
Recipient Selection via Directory Integration
Given a manager configuring a new notification rule When the manager searches for users or groups in the organization’s directory and selects multiple entries Then the selected users and groups populate the recipients field and the rule can be saved successfully
Alert Preview & Testing
"As an HR manager, I want to test my alert rules with mock data so that I can verify accuracy and avoid false notifications before going live."
Description

Introduce a sandbox mode within the Custom Alert Configurator that lets users simulate alerts based on historical or mock data. Users can run test scenarios to see which rules would trigger and review sample notifications before activating them. This feature integrates with the analytics engine to pull representative data, ensuring accuracy. It helps managers validate their configurations, preventing false positives and maintaining confidence in the alert system.

Acceptance Criteria
Simulate Alerts with Historical Data
Given a historical survey dataset from the last 14 days and an active alert rule with a sentiment threshold of -1.5, when the user runs a historical simulation in sandbox mode, then the system displays all instances where sentiment scores fell below -1.5, listing date, score, and reaction weighting in a results table.
Validate Mock Data Triggering
Given user-provided mock data in the required JSON schema and a configured alert rule, when the user uploads the mock data and initiates a simulation, then the system validates the data format, executes the rule engine on the mock dataset, and displays all matching triggers without errors.
Compare Threshold Adjustments
Given existing and adjusted alert rule thresholds, when the user runs a comparative simulation, then the system shows side-by-side counts and details of triggers for both the baseline and adjusted configurations, highlighting any increase or decrease in alerts.
Preview Notification Format
Given a simulated trigger in sandbox mode, when the user selects 'Preview Notification', then the system renders the full notification including the subject, body, and actionable link exactly as recipients will receive it.
Bulk Edge Case Simulation
Given a set of 50 mock scenarios covering boundary and edge cases, when the user executes a bulk simulation, then the system completes processing within 60 seconds and presents summary statistics with pass/fail counts for each scenario.
Escalation Workflow Configuration
"As an HR manager, I want to set escalation paths for severe sentiment drops so that urgent issues are quickly escalated to higher management if not addressed."
Description

Enable configuration of multi-level escalation workflows for alerts that exceed critical severity. Managers can define tiers (e.g., direct manager, HR director, executive), escalation delays, and override conditions. The feature ties into the existing notification framework, automatically routing alerts through the defined hierarchy if initial recipients do not acknowledge them. This ensures urgent issues escalate appropriately, reducing response time for high-impact morale declines.

Acceptance Criteria
Configuring Multi-Level Tiers
Given an HR manager opens the Escalation Workflow Configuration panel When the manager defines three escalation tiers (direct manager, HR director, executive) with respective delays of 1 hour and 2 hours Then the system saves each tier and delay correctly and displays a confirmation message
Alert Routing Through Defined Hierarchy
Given an alert exceeds the critical severity threshold When no acknowledgment is received from the direct manager within the configured delay Then the system automatically escalates the alert to the HR director, and after the next delay, to the executive
Acknowledgement Halts Further Escalation
Given an alert has been escalated to a higher tier When any recipient in the escalation chain acknowledges the alert Then the system stops further escalations and logs the acknowledgment timestamp
Override Conditions Trigger Immediate Escalation
Given an override condition (e.g., sentiment drop >20% within 1 hour) is configured When the system detects the override condition Then the alert is immediately escalated to all defined tiers without waiting for delays
Fallback Routing for Unavailable Recipients
Given a recipient’s contact method is invalid or unreachable When an alert escalation attempt fails at any tier Then the system routes the alert to the next available recipient in the hierarchy and logs the failure
Configuration Audit Log
"As an administrator, I want to view a history of configuration changes so that I can audit modifications and maintain compliance."
Description

Implement an audit log tracking system that records all changes made to alert configurations. Logged entries include the user who made the change, timestamp, IP address, and before/after values for the modified settings. The log is accessible via the admin console, with filtering and export capabilities. This feature supports compliance and governance by providing a transparent history of configuration adjustments and enabling easy review of who altered alert rules and when.

Acceptance Criteria
Viewing Recent Configuration Changes
Given an admin user on the audit log page When they select a date range and click ‘Apply’ Then only entries within that range display showing user, timestamp, IP address, and before/after values for each change
Filtering by Change Type
Given an admin selects a specific configuration setting from the ‘Change Type’ dropdown When the filter is applied Then the audit log lists only entries for that setting with complete metadata
Exporting Audit Log Data
Given an admin clicks ‘Export’ and chooses CSV format When the export completes Then the downloaded file contains all displayed entries with columns for user, timestamp, IP address, change type, old values, and new values
Recording New Configuration Changes
Given any alert configuration is modified When the user saves changes Then a new audit log entry is created within five seconds recording the user ID, timestamp, IP address, and before/after values
Preventing Unauthorized Access
Given a non-admin user attempts to access the audit log URL Then the system returns a 403 Forbidden response and no log data is exposed

Contextual Peek

Hover-enabled snapshots that reveal anonymized key message excerpts when hovering over sentiment spikes on the widget. This feature provides immediate context to reactions, helping managers understand the root cause behind sudden mood swings without compromising privacy.

Requirements

Hover-triggered Context Popover
"As an HR manager, I want to hover over a sentiment spike to see a brief, anonymized message excerpt so that I can quickly understand the reason behind sudden mood changes without navigating away."
Description

Implement a hover-enabled popover that appears when the user hovers over a sentiment spike on the widget, displaying a snapshot of anonymized key message excerpts to provide immediate context. The popover should load dynamically without requiring a click, integrate seamlessly with the existing heatmap visualization, and automatically disappear when the cursor moves away. This functionality enhances user efficiency by reducing clicks and offering instant insights into mood swings.

Acceptance Criteria
Hovering Over High Sentiment Spike Displays Popover
Given a sentiment spike is visible on the heatmap, when the user hovers the cursor over the spike, then a popover appears within 500ms at the cursor proximity and displays up to 3 anonymized key message excerpts without requiring any click.
Popover Disappears on Cursor Exit
Given a popover is displayed for a sentiment spike, when the user moves the cursor away from the spike and popover boundary, then the popover disappears within 300ms and no popover remains visible.
Rapid Hovering Through Multiple Spikes Loads Correct Content
Given multiple sentiment spikes are present, when the user quickly hovers over spike A then spike B, then the popover for spike A closes before opening spike B's popover and the content corresponds to spike B's anonymized messages with load time under 700ms.
Anonymized Content Integrity
Given a popover is displayed, when message excerpts are shown, then all user identifiers are removed, only anonymized excerpts appear, and no personal data is revealed.
Responsive Popover Rendering on Various Viewports
Given the application is viewed on desktop, tablet, and mobile, when the user hovers over a spike, then the popover adjusts its position to remain fully visible within the viewport and content remains legible without overflow or more than two lines per excerpt.
Secure Data Anonymization
"As an HR manager, I want message excerpts displayed to be fully anonymized so that employee privacy is maintained while I analyze sentiment spikes."
Description

Develop a robust anonymization engine that processes message excerpts before display, stripping or masking all personally identifiable information (names, email addresses, identifiers) while preserving the core sentiment context. This engine must comply with privacy regulations and company policies, ensuring no sensitive details are exposed. It should integrate with the data retrieval API to anonymize excerpts in real time.

Acceptance Criteria
Hover Display of Anonymized Excerpt
Given a manager hovers over a sentiment spike, When the system fetches the associated message excerpt, Then the UI displays the excerpt within 300ms with all names, emails, and identifiers masked or removed, preserving only sentiment-bearing words.
PII Detection Accuracy
Given the anonymization engine processes a test dataset containing varied PII formats, When run through the engine, Then it detects and masks 100% of PII instances across names, emails, phone numbers, and IDs, with zero false negatives and less than 1% false positives.
Bulk Anonymization Compliance
Given a batch of 10,000 message excerpts slated for anonymization, When processed in one job, Then the engine completes anonymization for all excerpts without data loss, ensuring compliance with GDPR and CCPA by masking sensitive data, and logs compliance status for each record.
Real-time API Integration
Given a request to the data retrieval API for message excerpts, When the API endpoint is called, Then the anonymization engine integrates seamlessly to return only anonymized excerpts in the API response, with HTTP 200 status and no PII present.
Anonymization Performance Under Peak Load
Given concurrent anonymization requests during peak usage (100 requests per second), When the engine processes these requests, Then average anonymization latency remains under 500ms per request and CPU usage stays below 80% to ensure system stability.
Spike Identification Algorithm
"As an HR manager, I want the system to automatically identify and highlight significant mood swings so that I can focus my attention on the most critical sentiment changes."
Description

Create and integrate an algorithm that accurately detects significant sentiment spikes within pulse survey data. The algorithm should analyze trends, flag anomalies above a configurable threshold, and mark corresponding data points on the heatmap for hover interactions. It must run efficiently on large datasets and support adjustable sensitivity settings for different survey cadences.

Acceptance Criteria
Spike Detection Accuracy
Given a pulse survey dataset containing a known sentiment spike above the default threshold When the Spike Identification Algorithm processes the dataset Then it detects and flags the spike at the correct timestamp/index with 100% recall and precision
Threshold Sensitivity Adjustment
Given the user adjusts the algorithm’s sensitivity threshold to a new configurable value When the algorithm runs on historical data Then it only flags sentiment changes exceeding the new threshold and ignores smaller fluctuations
Heatmap Data Point Marking
Given the algorithm identifies sentiment spikes in the dataset When spikes are flagged Then each corresponding data point on the heatmap is visibly marked with an icon or color change for hover interactions
Performance on Large Datasets
Given a pulse survey dataset of at least 10,000 entries When the Spike Identification Algorithm executes Then the run completes within 5 seconds without exceeding 80% CPU utilization
Real-time Update Responsiveness
Given new sentiment data arrives continuously When the algorithm ingests incoming data streams Then new spikes are detected and marked on the heatmap within 60 seconds of data arrival
Responsive Popover Positioning
"As an HR manager, I want the context popover to always appear fully in view regardless of where I hover so that I can read insights without obstruction."
Description

Implement intelligent positioning logic for the context popover to ensure it remains fully visible within the viewport, adapting dynamically to widget boundaries and screen size. The popover should flip or shift its anchor point to avoid clipping, handle window resizing gracefully, and maintain readability on both desktop and tablet layouts.

Acceptance Criteria
Automatic Flip on Right Edge
Given a sentiment spike near the right edge of the widget When the user hovers over it Then the popover flips to the left of the anchor point and remains fully visible within the viewport with no clipping
Automatic Flip on Left Edge
Given a sentiment spike near the left edge of the widget When the user hovers over it Then the popover flips to the right of the anchor point and remains fully visible within the viewport with no clipping
Vertical Shift at Top Edge
Given a sentiment spike near the top edge of the widget When the user hovers over it Then the popover shifts below the anchor point and remains fully visible within the viewport
Dynamic Reposition on Window Resize
Given the popover is visible When the browser window is resized Then the popover re-evaluates its position and re-renders within 100ms to avoid clipping or overflow
Responsive Tablet Layout
Given the device width is between 600px and 1024px When the user hovers over a sentiment spike Then the popover scales to a maximum width of 90% of the widget, adjusts font size for readability, and remains fully within the viewport
Performance Optimization
"As an HR manager, I want the hover popover to display instantly without lag so that my workflow remains uninterrupted."
Description

Optimize the popover rendering pipeline and data-fetching processes to ensure hover interactions are responsive, targeting a display latency under 200ms. Implement caching strategies for repeated spike views, lazy load excerpt data, and minimize DOM updates. Ensure the feature scales smoothly as survey volume grows, without degrading overall widget performance.

Acceptance Criteria
Quick Popover Rendering on First Hover
Given a user hovers over a sentiment spike for the first time When the hover event is received Then the popover must fully render within 200ms of the event timestamp
Cached Popover Display on Subsequent Hovers
Given a user hovers again on the same sentiment spike Within the same session When the hover event is received Then the popover must display using cached data in under 50ms
Lazy Loading for Distant Spikes
Given spikes that have not been hovered over yet When the user hovers over such a spike Then excerpt data is fetched on demand (lazy loaded) and the popover appears without preloading all excerpts
Consistent Performance under High Survey Volume
Given the widget is rendering over 500 pulse entries in the background When multiple hover interactions occur during a 1-hour stress test Then 95% of popover renderings must complete within 200ms
Efficient DOM Updates on Popover Trigger
Given a hover triggers popover display When the component updates the DOM Then it performs no more than 5 DOM mutations to minimize layout thrashing
Accessibility & Keyboard Navigation
"As an HR manager with accessibility needs, I want to navigate to sentiment spikes using my keyboard and have the popover read aloud so that I can access insights without using a mouse."
Description

Ensure the context popover is accessible via keyboard and adheres to WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Users should be able to focus on sentiment spikes using tab navigation and trigger the popover with Enter or Space keys. Implement appropriate ARIA roles and labels, and ensure screen readers announce popover content correctly.

Acceptance Criteria
Keyboard Focus Through Sentiment Spikes
Given the PulseSync dashboard is loaded, When the user presses the Tab key repeatedly, Then each sentiment spike becomes focusable in the order they appear, and receives a visible focus indicator.
Open Contextual Peek with Enter
Given a sentiment spike is focused, When the user presses the Enter key, Then the contextual peek popover is triggered and displayed, and focus moves into the popover.
Open Contextual Peek with Space
Given a sentiment spike is focused, When the user presses the Space key, Then the contextual peek popover is triggered and displayed, and focus moves into the popover.
ARIA Roles and Labels for Popover
The contextual peek popover element has appropriate ARIA roles (e.g., role='dialog' or 'tooltip') and an accessible label or descriptive aria-labelledby attribute, ensuring screen readers announce its content upon opening.
Close Popover with Escape
Given the contextual peek popover is open, When the user presses the Escape key, Then the popover closes, and focus returns to the previously focused sentiment spike.

Multi-Channel Pulse

A consolidated dashboard within Slack that combines sentiment data from multiple channels into a unified view. Team leads overseeing cross-functional groups can monitor all relevant conversations at once, ensuring no team’s morale falls through the cracks.

Requirements

Unified Channel Aggregation
"As a team lead, I want to view sentiment data from all my Slack channels in one dashboard so that I can quickly assess the overall morale of my cross-functional teams without toggling between channels."
Description

Provide a consolidated dashboard that automatically pulls sentiment data from multiple Slack channels, merging them into a single unified view. This functionality enables team leads to see all relevant conversations at a glance, ensures seamless integration with Slack’s API for continuous real-time updates, and supports filtering by channel or keyword. The outcome is a streamlined interface that saves time, reduces context switching, and ensures no team’s morale trends are overlooked.

Acceptance Criteria
Real-time Data Sync Initialization
Given the dashboard is accessed by an authenticated HR manager, when they open the Multi-Channel Pulse dashboard, then the system must automatically pull the latest sentiment data from all configured Slack channels within 5 seconds and display combined sentiment scores without manual refresh.
Channel-based Filtering
Given the unified dashboard is populated with multi-channel sentiment data, when a team lead selects one or more specific Slack channels from the filter menu, then the dashboard must update to display only the sentiment heatmaps and metrics for the selected channels within 2 seconds.
Keyword-driven Sentiment Drill-down
Given the dashboard shows overall sentiment trends, when a user enters a keyword or phrase into the keyword filter, then all messages across channels matching the keyword must be highlighted in the sentiment heatmap, and the sentiment score recalculated to include only those messages.
Dashboard Loading Performance
Given an HR manager with over 20 configured channels, when they access the unified dashboard, then the initial load time must not exceed 4 seconds on a standard broadband connection, and all interactive elements (filters, tooltips) must be functional without delay.
Slack API Failure Handling
Given the dashboard is polling Slack’s API for sentiment updates, when the API returns an error or times out for any channel, then the dashboard must display a non-blocking error message for the affected channel, attempt to retry the connection every 60 seconds, and continue displaying data from other channels.
Real-Time Sentiment Analysis
"As an HR manager, I want messages in Slack channels to be analyzed as they arrive so that I can spot negative sentiment immediately and intervene before issues escalate."
Description

Implement an automated sentiment analysis engine that processes messages in selected Slack channels in real time, categorizing them as positive, neutral, or negative. Integrate natural language processing models optimized for workplace communication to ensure accuracy and contextual relevance. The requirement supports instant detection of emerging issues and updates the dashboard heatmap without manual intervention.

Acceptance Criteria
Instant Sentiment Classification
Given a message is posted in a selected Slack channel, when the sentiment analysis engine processes the message, then it categorizes the message as positive, neutral, or negative within 2 seconds of posting.
Heatmap Auto-Refresh
Given new sentiment data is available, when the engine updates the sentiment category, then the dashboard heatmap automatically refreshes to reflect the new data within 5 seconds without manual input.
Channel-Specific Data Aggregation
Given multiple Slack channels are selected for monitoring, when messages are processed, then only messages from these channels are aggregated and displayed in the unified dashboard.
Sentiment Accuracy Threshold
Given a benchmark dataset of workplace communications, when the sentiment analysis engine processes the dataset, then it achieves at least 85% accuracy in categorizing messages correctly.
Scalability Under Load
Given up to 10 selected Slack channels receiving up to 100 messages per minute each, when the sentiment engine processes messages, then system throughput remains above 95% and response times stay within 3 seconds per message.
Custom Channel Grouping
"As a project lead, I want to group related Slack channels into custom sets so that I can monitor the morale of my project team separately from the rest of the organization."
Description

Allow users to create and save custom groups of Slack channels based on project, department, or cross-functional team criteria. Enable drag-and-drop grouping in the UI and persistent group definitions tied to user roles. This feature enhances flexibility, letting team leads focus on specific subsets of conversations relevant to their responsibilities.

Acceptance Criteria
Creating a New Custom Channel Group
Given the user is on the Custom Channel Grouping page, When they click 'New Group' and name the group and select at least one channel, Then clicking 'Save' adds the group to the list and displays it in the dashboard.
Editing an Existing Custom Channel Group
Given the user selects an existing group, When they click 'Edit', rename the group or drag channels in or out, Then saving updates immediately reflect in the group list and dashboard.
Drag-and-Drop Channel Grouping Interaction
Given the user views the ungrouped channel list, When they drag a channel into a group container, Then the UI highlights the target group and adds the channel to it, and the order persists after saving.
Persistent Group Definitions by User Role
Given a user with a specific role logs in on any device or session, When they navigate to the dashboard, Then their custom channel groups load automatically according to their saved definitions and role permissions.
Deleting a Custom Channel Group
Given the user views their list of custom groups, When they click 'Delete' on a group and confirm action, Then the group is removed from the list, no longer accessible in the dashboard, and an undo option appears for 10 seconds.
Automated Alert Notifications
"As a department head, I want to receive alerts when channel sentiment falls below a set level so that I can address team concerns before they become widespread issues."
Description

Develop an alerts system that triggers notifications via Slack DM or email when sentiment in any monitored channel or group drops below a configurable threshold. Include settings for frequency, threshold levels, and recipient lists. This proactive feature ensures that stakeholders are immediately informed of morale dips and can take timely action.

Acceptance Criteria
Configurable Threshold Breach Notification
Given the sentiment threshold is configured at 60% and a monitored channel’s sentiment drops to 55%, when the system analyzes the data in the next polling cycle, then a Slack DM is sent to all configured recipients within 5 minutes. And an email alert with channel name, timestamp, current score, and threshold is sent within 10 minutes.
Frequency Control for Alert Notifications
Given the notification frequency is set to once per hour and sentiment remains below threshold for multiple checks within that hour, when alerts would normally trigger, then only one notification is sent in that hour. When the next hour begins and sentiment is still below threshold, then a new alert is sent.
Recipient List Management
Given a configured list of Slack DM recipients and email addresses, when an alert triggers, then each recipient receives the notification via their preferred channel. If a recipient has opted out of email, then only a Slack DM is delivered.
Threshold Adjustment and Immediate Re-evaluation
Given an admin updates the threshold setting from 50% to 40% in the settings UI, when the new threshold is saved, then the system immediately re-evaluates current sentiment. If current sentiment is below the new threshold, then an alert is sent within 5 minutes.
Historical Alert Archive Access
Given a user views the alert history dashboard, when they filter by channel and date range, then all matching past alerts are displayed with details including sentiment scores, timestamps, and recipient lists.
Cross-Functional Reporting
"As an HR director, I want to generate comprehensive sentiment reports for cross-functional teams so that I can present data-driven insights to senior leadership."
Description

Build a reporting module that generates consolidated sentiment reports across multiple channels or groups, including historical trends, comparative heatmaps, and exportable formats (PDF, CSV). Schedule automated report delivery and provide on-demand report generation to support strategic planning and executive decision-making.

Acceptance Criteria
Scheduled Automated Report Delivery
Given an HR manager sets a report schedule with frequency, channels, and recipients, When the scheduled time is reached, Then the system automatically generates and emails the report in the specified format (PDF or CSV) within 5 minutes of the schedule, And a confirmation notification is logged in the manager’s dashboard.
On-Demand Report Generation
Given an HR manager requests a report on demand for selected channels and date range, When the request is submitted, Then the system generates the report in under 60 seconds, And displays a download link for PDF and CSV formats on the dashboard.
Comparative Heatmap Visualization
Given the generated report includes sentiment heatmaps for multiple channels, When viewing the heatmap section, Then color gradients accurately reflect sentiment scores ranging from -1 to +1, And side-by-side comparisons highlight channel performance differences.
Historical Trend Analysis Export
Given an HR manager selects historical trend analysis for a specified period, When exporting the report, Then the CSV file contains time-stamped sentiment averages per channel, And the PDF includes a trend chart showing month-over-month sentiment changes.
Multi-Channel Consolidation Accuracy
Given multiple channels with active sentiment data, When the consolidated report is generated, Then it includes combined sentiment scores that match individual channel data within a ±1% variance, And lists any channels with insufficient data flagged for review.

Predictive Pulse Insights

An AI-driven module that analyzes historical sentiment data to forecast potential morale dips before they happen. By highlighting at-risk teams ahead of time, leaders can proactively engage with employees and deploy targeted morale-boosting activities.

Requirements

Historical Sentiment Data Aggregation
"As an HR manager, I want the system to compile and standardize historical morale data so that the AI engine has a reliable foundation for forecasting future sentiment trends."
Description

Collect and normalize sentiment responses from past pulse surveys, performance reviews, and engagement metrics to create a unified historical dataset. This requirement ensures that all relevant employee feedback is accurately aggregated, preprocessed, and stored in a scalable data warehouse, enabling the AI module to analyze trends over time and identify baseline morale patterns.

Acceptance Criteria
Multi-Source Data Ingestion
• Given pulse survey, performance review, and engagement metric files, when the ingestion process runs, then all datasets are loaded into staging with less than 1% failure rate within 5 minutes. • Each ingested record includes metadata: timestamp, source identifier, and unique employee ID. • Ingestion errors are logged, retried up to two times, and failures are reported in an alert dashboard.
Sentiment Score Normalization
• Given raw sentiment scores on varying scales, when normalization executes, then all scores are converted to a unified -1 to +1 scale according to mapping rules. • Each normalized score retains a reference to its original value and source in the data lineage. • Normalization logic is validated against a sample set with 100% accuracy before deployment.
Historical Data Completeness Verification
• Given 12 months of historical data, when the completeness check runs, then at least 95% of expected data points per month are present. • Missing or corrupt records are identified, logged, and flagged for manual review within the same operational cycle. • A completeness report is automatically generated and published to the analytics dashboard.
Scalable Data Warehouse Storage
• Given a peak ingestion load of 10,000 records per minute, when ingestion occurs, then no storage errors occur and write latency remains below 2 seconds. • The data warehouse auto-scales to handle up to 3× the peak load without manual intervention. • Older data (beyond 24 months) is archived to long-term storage within one hour of ingestion.
AI Module Data Accessibility
• Given an AI analysis request for historical data over six months, when the API is queried, then data is returned within 3 seconds for payloads up to 1 MB. • All requests require valid authentication tokens and return HTTP 200 for successful queries. • Error responses conform to documented error codes and include descriptive messages for debugging.
AI Forecasting Engine Integration
"As a product owner, I want an AI-powered forecasting engine integrated into the platform so that we can predict potential morale dips before they occur."
Description

Integrate a machine learning pipeline capable of training and updating predictive models based on historical sentiment data. This component must support automated feature engineering, model validation, and periodic retraining to maintain accuracy. It should expose a REST API for real-time inference, allowing the system to generate forward-looking morale risk scores for each team.

Acceptance Criteria
Model Training Pipeline Execution
Given a complete historical sentiment dataset is present When the ML pipeline is initiated Then the system completes data preprocessing, model training, and stores a trained model artifact with performance metrics recorded within 2 hours
Automated Feature Engineering Process
Given new survey data is ingested When feature engineering runs Then at least 10 relevant features are automatically generated, transformed, and stored in the feature store adhering to schema definitions
Model Validation and Metrics Logging
Given a newly trained model is available When validation is executed Then the system calculates accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score and logs them in the monitoring dashboard with pass thresholds defined
Scheduled Retraining Job
Given model performance drops below the 85% accuracy threshold When the daily scheduler triggers retraining Then a full retraining cycle runs, updates the production model, and sends a success notification to the ML team
REST API Real-Time Inference
Given the forecasting engine API is deployed When a request with team ID and recent sentiment data is sent Then the API responds within 200ms with a valid morale risk score and metadata in JSON format
Forecast Output Accuracy Monitoring
Given live inference scores are generated When comparing predicted risk scores to actual next-day pulse survey results Then the monitoring system computes and displays a rolling 7-day prediction error rate below 10%
Real-Time Morale Dip Alerts
"As an HR manager, I want to receive immediate alerts when a team’s predicted morale dips below a safe level so that I can intervene proactively and address issues early."
Description

Implement a notification system that monitors AI-generated risk scores and triggers alerts when a team’s predicted morale score falls below a predefined threshold. Alerts must be delivered via email, in-app notifications, and Slack integrations. The system should allow administrators to configure alert frequency and channels to ensure timely awareness.

Acceptance Criteria
Threshold-Based Alert Generation
Given a team’s predicted morale score drops below the predefined threshold, when the AI risk analysis completes, then the system automatically generates an alert within 5 minutes.
Administrator Configures Alert Preferences
Given an administrator accesses alert settings, when they select alert channels and frequency and save changes, then the system persists these settings and applies them to all subsequent alerts.
Email Alert Delivery
Given an alert is triggered for a team and email channel is enabled, when the alert fires, then an email with team name, predicted score, timestamp, and link to heatmap is sent to all subscribed email addresses within 2 minutes.
In-App Notification Reception
Given an alert is triggered and in-app notifications are enabled, when a user is logged into the application at the time of the alert, then the user sees a new notification in their notification center within 1 minute, containing team details and a link to the insights page.
Slack Channel Notification
Given an alert is triggered and Slack integration is configured, when the alert fires, then a message with team name, predicted score, and link to the dashboard is posted to the designated Slack channel within 2 minutes.
Customizable Prediction Thresholds
"As an HR administrator, I want to set custom risk thresholds for each department so that alerts align with our team’s unique culture and performance baselines."
Description

Offer administrators the ability to define and adjust prediction thresholds for different teams or departments. The interface should allow setting sensitivity levels (e.g., high, medium, low risk) and schedule periodic reviews of threshold settings. This requirement ensures that alerts are tailored to team-specific norms and reduces false positives.

Acceptance Criteria
Admin Creates Team-Specific Threshold
Given the administrator is logged in and on the Prediction Thresholds page When they select a team and set the risk sensitivity level and review schedule Then the system saves the settings, displays a confirmation message, and applies the threshold to future forecasts for that team.
System Applies Thresholds to Forecast Alerts
Given distinct thresholds defined for multiple teams When a new sentiment forecast is generated below a team’s threshold Then the system triggers an alert only for that team and notifies the designated administrators within five minutes.
Threshold Settings Persist Across Sessions
Given an administrator has customized thresholds and logged out When they log back in Then the previously configured thresholds are accurately displayed on the Prediction Thresholds page and no default values override them.
Periodic Threshold Review Reminder
Given an administrator has scheduled a periodic review date for threshold settings When the review date is within three days Then the system sends both an email reminder and an in-app notification to the administrator automatically.
Admin Adjusts Threshold Without Affecting Historical Data
Given historical predictive data exists under previous thresholds When the administrator updates threshold settings Then the system retains all historical data unchanged and applies new thresholds only to forecasts generated after the change.
Visual Forecast Heatmap
"As an HR director, I want a visual heatmap of future morale predictions so that I can quickly identify at-risk teams and understand underlying drivers."
Description

Design and develop an interactive heatmap dashboard displaying predicted morale scores across teams and time horizons. The visualization should allow filtering by department, time frame, and risk level. It must update in real time as new data arrives and provide drill-down capabilities to view contributing factors for each prediction.

Acceptance Criteria
Filtering by Department
Given the heatmap dashboard is displayed When the user selects a specific department from the department filter dropdown Then the heatmap displays predicted morale scores exclusively for that department and hides all other departments’ data
Adjusting Time Frame
Given the heatmap dashboard is displayed When the user selects a different time horizon (e.g., 1 week, 1 month, 3 months) Then the heatmap updates to show predicted morale scores for the chosen time frame
Real-time Data Update
Given new sentiment input arrives in the system When the data processing completes Then the heatmap automatically refreshes within 5 seconds to reflect updated predictions without requiring a page reload
Drilling Down into Prediction Factors
Given a user clicks on a specific cell representing a team’s predicted score When the click is registered Then a detail panel opens showing the top three contributing factors and their weightings for that team’s prediction
Highlighting High-risk Teams
Given predictions are calculated for all teams When any team’s predicted morale score falls below the high-risk threshold Then the corresponding heatmap cell is highlighted in red and displays a tooltip indicating 'High Risk' with the exact predicted score
Proactive Engagement Recommendations
"As a team leader, I want tailored suggestions for morale-boosting actions so that I can address forecasted issues with targeted interventions."
Description

Generate AI-driven suggestions for targeted morale-boosting activities based on predicted risk factors, such as team workshops, one-on-one check-ins, or peer recognition programs. The system should rank recommendations by potential impact and allow managers to schedule or assign them directly from the platform.

Acceptance Criteria
Notification of Predicted Morale Dip
Given the system predicts a morale decline for a team, when the manager opens the dashboard, then a notification appears showing the team name, predicted dip timeframe, and risk level.
Display Ranked Engagement Recommendations
Given a predicted morale dip, when the manager views the recommendations panel, then the top three morale-boosting activities display in descending order of impact score, each with description, required resources, and estimated execution time.
Schedule Recommended Activity
Given a displayed recommendation, when the manager clicks 'Schedule', then a calendar dialog opens with the next working day preselected, allows time adjustments, and upon confirmation adds the activity to the team calendar with a confirmation message.
Assign Recommendation to Team Member
Given a recommendation is selected, when the manager chooses 'Assign to' and selects a team member, then the system sends an assignment notification with activity details and due date to that member and logs the assignment in history.
Recommendation Impact Tracking
Given activities have been scheduled or assigned, when the manager opens the 'Activity History' tab, then past recommendations are listed with status (Scheduled, Completed, Overdue), actual completion dates if available, and post-activity sentiment change metrics.

Dip Detector

Continuously monitors team sentiment using machine learning to identify significant morale dips within minutes. By catching dips as they happen, managers can intervene swiftly, preventing issues from escalating and maintaining a positive culture.

Requirements

Real-Time Sentiment Analysis Engine
"As an HR manager, I want real-time sentiment analysis so that I can monitor team morale instantly and respond quickly."
Description

Implement a component that continuously ingests pulse survey responses, applies natural language processing and sentiment scoring in real time, and maintains an up-to-date sentiment index for each team. This engine should support high-frequency data input, handle text and emoji analysis, and produce sentiment scores within seconds of data arrival.

Acceptance Criteria
High-Frequency Pulse Data Ingestion
Given the system receives 1000 survey responses per minute, When ingestion occurs, Then all responses are stored in the database within 1 second of arrival with zero loss.
Real-Time Sentiment Scoring Accuracy
Given a survey response containing positive, neutral, and negative statements, When processed by the engine, Then the sentiment score matches the manual benchmark with at least 95% accuracy.
Emoji and Text Mixed Analysis
Given responses that include both text and emojis, When analyzed, Then the combined sentiment score accurately reflects both modalities within 2% variance from expected values.
Real-Time Sentiment Index Update
Given incoming pulse data, When new sentiment scores are computed, Then the team sentiment index in the dashboard is updated and visible within 5 seconds.
System Performance Under Peak Load
Given a spike of 5000 simultaneous survey submissions, When processing load increases, Then the engine maintains response latency below 3 seconds and CPU usage under 80%.
ML Dip Detection Algorithm
"As an HR manager, I want the system to detect sudden drops in team sentiment within minutes so that I can intervene before issues escalate."
Description

Develop and integrate a machine learning model that identifies statistically significant dips in team sentiment within minutes. The algorithm should establish a dynamic baseline using historical data, detect anomalies beyond defined thresholds, and minimize false positives through continuous learning and calibration.

Acceptance Criteria
Real-time Sentiment Dip Detection
Given the model has ingested at least one week of historical team sentiment data When new pulse survey responses are received Then the system recalculates the sentiment score within 5 minutes and flags a dip if the score deviates by more than two standard deviations from the dynamic baseline
Dynamic Baseline Calibration
Given at least four weeks of continuous sentiment data When daily data ingestion occurs Then the algorithm updates the dynamic baseline and adjusts detection thresholds automatically
Threshold-Based Anomaly Detection
Given the dynamic baseline is established When sentiment deviation exceeds the configured threshold Then the system generates a dip alert with a confidence level of at least 90%
False Positive Reduction Through Continuous Learning
Given initial model training is complete When false positives are reviewed and feedback is provided Then the algorithm retrains and reduces the false positive rate below 5% within the next calibration cycle
System Integration and Manager Notification
Given a dip alert is generated When the alert meets severity criteria Then the system displays the alert on the dashboard and sends an email notification to the manager within 2 minutes
Alert Notification System
"As an HR manager, I want to receive instant notifications when team sentiment dips so that I can address concerns promptly."
Description

Design a notification framework that sends real-time alerts to managers via email, in-app notifications, and Slack when a sentiment dip is detected. The system should support customizable notification thresholds, escalation paths, and delivery channels to ensure timely awareness.

Acceptance Criteria
Email Alert for Standard Threshold
Given the system detects a sentiment dip meeting the standard threshold When the threshold is crossed Then an email is sent to the manager’s registered email within 5 minutes containing dip magnitude, timestamp, and team identifier
In-App Notification for Critical Dip
Given the detected sentiment dip exceeds the critical threshold When the user is logged into the PulseSync app Then an in-app notification is displayed within 2 minutes with dip details and link to the real-time heatmap
Slack Alert with Escalation
Given a sentiment dip persists above threshold for more than 30 minutes without acknowledgment When no acknowledgment is received Then a Slack message is posted to the manager’s designated channel and, if still unacknowledged after 15 more minutes, escalated to the HR lead
Custom Threshold Configuration
Given the manager defines custom threshold settings for sentiment dips When the manager saves the new settings Then the system applies the custom thresholds for future alerts and displays a confirmation message
Alternate Channel Escalation
Given delivery to the primary notification channel fails When the system retries the notification twice and failures continue Then the system escalates the alert via the next configured channel and logs the failure events
Sentiment Trend Heatmap Dashboard
"As a manager, I want a heatmap view of sentiment trends so that I can quickly identify which teams need attention and understand the context of morale changes."
Description

Create an interactive dashboard featuring heatmap visualizations of sentiment trends over time. The dashboard should allow managers to filter by team, time range, and survey type, and provide drill-down capabilities to view individual responses and contextual comments.

Acceptance Criteria
Filtering Heatmap by Team
Given the manager selects a specific team filter When the dashboard reloads the heatmap Then only sentiment data for the selected team is displayed And the color intensity accurately reflects that team’s sentiment values
Time Range Selection
Given the manager chooses a custom time range When the dashboard applies the time range filter Then the heatmap updates to show sentiment trends only within the selected timeframe And historical data outside the range is excluded
Survey Type Filtering
Given the manager selects one or more survey types When the filter is applied Then the heatmap displays data exclusively from the chosen survey types And the legend updates to reflect only the included survey categories
Drill-Down Detailed View
Given the manager clicks on a specific heatmap cell When the drill-down panel opens Then individual responses and contextual comments for that cell’s date and category are displayed And responses are sorted by sentiment score
Real-Time Data Update
Given new survey data is submitted When the dashboard refresh interval elapses (e.g., every 5 minutes) Then the heatmap automatically updates to include the latest sentiment results And no manual page reload is required
Data Privacy and Compliance
"As a compliance officer, I want sentiment data to be anonymized and secure so that we comply with data protection regulations and protect employee privacy."
Description

Ensure all sentiment data is anonymized at source, encrypted in transit and at rest, and stored in compliance with GDPR and relevant data protection regulations. Implement role-based access controls and audit logs to maintain data security and employee confidentiality.

Acceptance Criteria
Anonymization at Source
Given sentiment data collection at the employee’s device, when data is captured, then all personal identifiers (name, email, IP address) are stripped and replaced with a pseudonymous identifier before transmission.
Encryption in Transit and at Rest
Given pseudonymized sentiment data is in transit between client and server, when data is transmitted, then it is encrypted using TLS 1.2 or above; and when data is stored at rest, then it is encrypted using AES-256.
GDPR-Compliant Data Storage
Given sentiment data storage operations, when storing or replicating data, then data must reside only on GDPR-compliant servers within approved EU regions, and any storage or replication requests outside these regions are rejected.
Role-Based Access Control Enforcement
Given a user requests access to sentiment data, when the user logs in, then access is granted only if the user’s role matches one of the predefined authorized roles for that data segment; otherwise, access is denied.
Immutable Audit Logging
Given any access or modification to sentiment data occurs, when the event is executed, then an immutable audit log entry is created recording timestamp, user ID, action type, and affected data, and logs cannot be altered or deleted by standard user roles.

Alert Prioritizer

Ranks detected anomalies by severity and potential impact, ensuring managers address the most critical morale issues first. This targeted approach saves time and resources by focusing attention where it matters most.

Requirements

Severity Scoring Engine
"As an HR manager, I want anomalies scored by severity so that I can quickly identify the most critical morale issues."
Description

Implements a robust severity scoring engine that analyzes anomalies based on factors such as magnitude of deviation from baseline pulse survey scores, frequency of occurrence, and employee engagement metrics. Scores are normalized and ranked to highlight the most urgent morale issues, ensuring that managers receive a clear, prioritized list of concerns. The algorithm integrates seamlessly with the existing heatmap visualization and data pipeline, updating in real-time as new survey responses arrive. Expected outcome: faster identification of high-risk issues and more efficient allocation of managerial intervention resources.

Acceptance Criteria
Anomaly Severity Ranking on Dashboard
Given new survey responses are received, the engine computes normalized severity scores (0–100) for all anomalies within 2 seconds, and the dashboard displays anomalies sorted in descending order by score.
Magnitude-based Anomaly Detection
Given an anomaly’s pulse score deviates by two or more standard deviations from the baseline, the engine flags it and assigns a severity score of at least 80.
Frequency-based Severity Escalation
Given an anomaly persists across three consecutive survey cycles, the engine increases its severity score by at least 15% compared to its initial detection score.
Engagement Metric Weight Integration
Given an anomaly involves an employee engagement score below 50%, the engine applies a 30% weight to the engagement factor, and the final severity score reflects this weighted composition accurately.
Heatmap Integration and Real-time Update
When severity scores update, the corresponding heatmap cells refresh automatically within one second, updating colors per the defined severity color scale without manual page refresh.
Impact Weight Configuration
"As an HR manager, I want to adjust impact weights for different factors so that the prioritization reflects my organization’s context."
Description

Provides a configuration interface allowing HR managers to adjust impact weight parameters for factors including team size, department performance variance, geographic location, and employee tenure. Customizable weight settings enable the prioritization algorithm to reflect organizational priorities and contextual nuances. Changes to weights immediately influence severity scores and alert rankings, supporting flexible response strategies and ensuring the system adapts to unique company structures.

Acceptance Criteria
Team Size Weight Adjustment
Given the HR manager is on the Impact Weight Configuration page When they adjust the team size weight slider to a new value within the allowed range and click 'Save' Then the system persists the updated team size weight and displays a success notification; And recalculates existing alert severity scores using the new team size weight, reflecting changes in the Alert Prioritizer within 5 seconds.
Department Performance Variance Weight Adjustment
Given the HR manager edits the department performance variance weight field When they input a valid numeric value and submit the form Then the configuration is updated; And the Alert Prioritizer reorders alerts based on the new weight immediately; And the updated weight is visible in the saved settings.
Bulk Weight Import via File Upload
Given the HR manager selects a JSON file containing weight values for all factors and uploads it When the file schema matches the required format Then the system validates all fields; And imports and applies all weight settings in one operation; And displays a summary of applied changes with any errors highlighted.
Invalid Weight Input Handling
Given the HR manager enters a non-numeric or out-of-range value for any weight parameter When they attempt to save the configuration Then the system prevents saving; And displays a clear error message indicating the valid input range (0-100); And the weight parameter remains unchanged.
Reset to Default Weight Settings
Given the HR manager clicks the 'Reset to Default' button When the action is confirmed Then all weight parameters revert to their system default values; And a confirmation message is shown; And the Alert Prioritizer recalculates severity scores based on default weights within 5 seconds.
Dynamic Threshold Calibration
"As a product manager, I want the system to adapt its alert thresholds so that I receive relevant alerts with fewer false positives."
Description

Enables dynamic calibration of alert thresholds by analyzing historical pulse survey data and trend patterns over time. The system automatically adjusts sensitivity levels to minimize false positives and align alerts with typical team behavior. Calibration algorithms monitor baseline shifts and seasonal variations, recalibrating thresholds on a weekly basis. This adaptive approach reduces noise, improves alert relevance, and increases manager trust in the prioritizer.

Acceptance Criteria
Weekly Threshold Recalibration Execution
Given a weekly schedule triggers at 2 AM UTC When the system initiates calibration Then thresholds are recalibrated based on the latest seven days of survey data without errors and logged accordingly.
Historical Data Analysis Accuracy
Given at least six months of pulse survey data When calibration runs historical trending analysis Then anomalies are correctly identified, and thresholds adjust within ±5% of expected baseline shifts based on known data patterns.
Seasonal Variation Adaptation
Given a recognized seasonal trend in survey responses When the calibration algorithm detects deviation beyond two standard deviations Then it adjusts threshold sensitivity to account for seasonal baseline shifts to prevent false positives.
Alert Sensitivity Reduction
Given a team with low response variability over four weeks When recalibration occurs Then alert sensitivity decreases by at least 10% to reduce noise while maintaining coverage of significant morale changes.
Calibration Failure Recovery
Given a calibration run fails due to data retrieval error When the system detects the failure Then it retries up to three times within one hour and escalates an error notification to admins if still unsuccessful.
Escalation Workflow Integration
"As an HR manager, I want critical alerts automatically escalated to senior leadership so that urgent issues get timely attention."
Description

Integrates prioritized alerts with established escalation workflows by automatically forwarding top-tier anomalies to designated stakeholders via email, SMS, or in-app notifications. Configurable escalation paths allow managers to define which severity levels trigger escalation and specify notification channels. The integration ensures high-impact issues are promptly surfaced to senior leadership, facilitating timely decision-making and targeted interventions.

Acceptance Criteria
High-Severity Anomaly Email Escalation
Given a manager has configured email as the notification channel for high-severity anomalies and set the threshold to severity ≥ 4 When the system detects an anomaly with severity 4 or 5 Then an email containing anomaly details, severity level, timestamp, and a link to the heatmap is sent to all designated stakeholders within 5 minutes of detection
Critical Alert SMS Notification
Given a manager has added mobile numbers for SMS notifications and assigned the critical severity level When the system detects a critical anomaly (severity 5) Then an SMS message with concise anomaly summary and link to full details is sent to each configured mobile number within 2 minutes with no duplicate messages
In-App Notification for High Impact Issues
Given a manager has enabled in-app notifications for high-impact anomalies (severity 3-4) When the system identifies an anomaly in this range Then a notification appears in the user’s in-app notification center with the anomaly summary and a direct navigation link to the detailed report
Customizable Escalation Path Configuration
Given a manager accesses the escalation settings UI When they define or update mappings between severity levels and notification channels Then the system saves the new configuration immediately and applies it to all subsequent anomaly detections without requiring a system restart
Fallback Notification Channel on Delivery Failure
Given a primary notification channel (email or SMS) fails to deliver When the system logs a delivery failure Then it automatically retries using the next configured channel, logs both attempts, and sends a confirmation notification to the manager once a fallback succeeds
Senior Leadership Dashboard Alert Visibility
Given an alert has been escalated to senior leadership When the intended stakeholders log into the dashboard Then the alert appears with accurate severity, timestamp, related comments, and a link to the pulse survey heatmap, and is accessible only to users with leadership roles
Analytics Dashboard Visualization
"As an HR manager, I want to visualize prioritized alerts on my dashboard so I can monitor and investigate them effectively."
Description

Enhances the PulseSync dashboard with a dedicated visualization panel that displays a ranked list of anomalies, color-coded by severity and annotated with impact metrics. Managers can sort and filter alerts by priority, time frame, or team, and click through for detailed drill-downs on underlying survey data. The visualization updates in real-time and supports exportable reports, empowering managers to monitor morale trends and track intervention outcomes effectively.

Acceptance Criteria
Real-Time Anomaly Ranking Display
Given the dashboard is loaded, When anomalies are detected by the system, Then a ranked list of anomalies appears in descending order of severity within 5 seconds of detection.
Filter and Sort Alerts
Given a list of anomalies displayed, When the manager selects filter criteria (priority, time frame, team), Then the list updates to show only anomalies matching the selected filters and maintains correct ranking.
Drill-Down to Detailed Survey Data
Given an anomaly in the list, When the manager clicks on the anomaly, Then the dashboard displays a detailed view with underlying survey responses including date, respondent demographics, and comment excerpts.
Color-Coded Severity Indicators
Given the anomaly list, When anomalies are displayed, Then each anomaly entry is color-coded (red for critical, orange for high, yellow for medium, green for low) according to severity and matches the legend.
Exportable Reports Generation
Given the manager has applied filters and sorting, When the manager chooses to export, Then the system generates a report in PDF and CSV formats including the current view, timestamp, and summary metrics and provides a download link.

Root Cause Analyzer

Correlates sentiment anomalies with underlying conversation topics, events, and reaction patterns to reveal what triggered the dip. Providing this context empowers managers to craft precise, effective responses rather than guessing at solutions.

Requirements

Real-time Sentiment Anomaly Detection
"As an HR manager, I want to be alerted to sentiment anomalies in real time so that I can address issues before they escalate."
Description

Continuously monitor pulse survey sentiment scores and real-time feedback data to detect statistically significant deviations from baseline morale levels, flagging anomalies within minutes of occurrence. This capability integrates seamlessly with the existing heatmap visualization pipeline, enabling early warning of emerging issues and reducing time to intervention.

Acceptance Criteria
Baseline Sentiment Deviation Detection
Given a 24-hour sentiment baseline, when the real-time rolling average deviates by ≥2 standard deviations, then the system flags an anomaly within 5 minutes.
Heatmap Visualization Integration
When an anomaly is detected, the heatmap updates within 1 minute, highlighting affected teams or topics with distinct color coding consistent with UI guidelines.
Anomaly Alert Delivery
Given a detected anomaly with severity above threshold, when identified, then email and in-app notifications are sent to the assigned manager within 2 minutes, including anomaly details (time, deviation magnitude, affected group).
Continuous Monitoring Accuracy
The system processes ≥95% of incoming survey entries in real time and correctly calculates rolling sentiment averages without data loss over a 24-hour test period.
False Positive Rate Control
Over a 7-day simulated period without true sentiment dips, the false positive anomaly rate remains below 5%.
Conversational Topic Extraction
"As an HR manager, I want to see the main topics driving sentiment changes so that I can understand employee concerns."
Description

Implement an NLP-driven pipeline to analyze open-ended survey responses, chat logs, and meeting transcripts, extracting and categorizing key conversation topics. Correlate these topics with sentiment trends to reveal prevalent concerns, ensuring the Root Cause Analyzer surfaces meaningful themes behind morale shifts.

Acceptance Criteria
Topic Extraction from Survey Responses
Given a batch of 100 open-ended survey responses When the NLP pipeline runs Then at least 90% of manually validated key topics are automatically extracted and categorized correctly
Topic Extraction from Chat Logs
Given a sample of 50 chat log entries When the pipeline processes the logs Then it identifies at least 5 distinct conversation topics with an F1 score ≥ 0.85
Topic Extraction from Meeting Transcripts
Given meeting transcripts of varying lengths When the system analyzes the transcripts Then it surfaces all major topics discussed (≥90% topic recall) and tags them with timestamps
Correlation of Topics with Sentiment Trends
Given time-series sentiment data and extracted topic frequencies When correlating the two datasets Then the system highlights topics whose frequency changes have a Pearson correlation coefficient ≥ 0.7 with sentiment shifts
Topic Categorization and Frequency Reporting
Given a monthly report request When generating the topics report Then the tool lists all topics with occurrence counts, categories, and visual indicators for the top five recurring themes
Event and Timeline Correlation
"As an HR manager, I want the system to link dips in morale to recent company events so that I can identify triggers accurately."
Description

Correlate detected sentiment anomalies with relevant organizational events—such as deadlines, policy announcements, and all-hands meetings—by integrating with calendar and events data. This timeline alignment provides contextual insights into potential triggers for dips in morale.

Acceptance Criteria
Sentiment Anomaly After Policy Announcement
Given a policy announcement event is imported from the organizational calendar When a pulse survey detects a sentiment dip within 24 hours after the announcement Then the system aligns and displays the announcement event on the sentiment timeline with timestamp and event details.
Deadline-Related Morale Drop Detection
Given an upcoming project deadline recorded in the calendar When sentiment scores decline by more than 15% within 48 hours of the deadline Then the system flags the deadline event on the timeline and correlates it as a potential morale trigger.
All-Hands Meeting Impact Correlation
Given an all-hands meeting entry in the company calendar and a sentiment anomaly detected within 12 hours after it When presenting the timeline Then the all-hands meeting must be marked and linked to the anomaly with its title and timestamp.
Custom Event Type Workshop Correlation
Given a custom tagged event type "Team Workshop" added to the calendar and a corresponding sentiment change When the Root Cause Analyzer processes data Then the system surfaces the workshop event as correlated with the sentiment change in the heatmap view.
Overlap of Multiple Events
Given multiple organizational events occur within the window of a detected sentiment dip When the analyzer runs Then it lists all overlapping events in chronological order and assigns each an impact score based on temporal proximity and event type.
Reaction Pattern Analysis
"As an HR manager, I want to understand how employees react over time so that I can gauge the severity of issues."
Description

Analyze employee engagement patterns—response rates, emoji reactions, follow-up discussions—to enrich root cause insights. Integrate with collaboration platforms (Slack, Teams) to identify response clusters and reaction trajectories that signal strengthening or waning sentiment over time.

Acceptance Criteria
Detecting Engaged Employees Through Emoji Clusters
Given integrated Slack data, when emoji reactions to a pulse survey reach a cluster size of at least 20 unique users within a 24-hour window, then the system flags the group as 'Highly Engaged' and displays the cluster on the heatmap.
Tracking Response Rate Trends from Slack Integration
Given daily Slack responses to pulse surveys, when response rate changes by more than 15% over three consecutive days, then the system updates the sentiment trend line and generates an alert for the manager.
Identifying Waning Sentiment via Reaction Trajectories
Given time-series reaction data for a specific team, when negative reaction counts increase by 10% week-over-week for two weeks, then the system highlights a potential sentiment decline and recommends a root cause analysis report.
Analyzing Follow-up Discussion Depth Over Time
Given Teams integration, when follow-up discussion threads average more than five messages per thread for empathetic topics, then the system marks the conversation cluster as 'High Depth' and includes it in the root cause insights.
Correlating Reaction Patterns with Survey Sentiment Anomalies
Given a sentiment anomaly detected in the pulse survey, when corresponding reaction patterns on Slack or Teams show at least three distinct spikes in negative emojis within 48 hours, then the system correlates the anomaly with those reaction patterns and surfaces the correlated topics in the root cause analyzer.
Contextual Insight Reporting
"As an HR manager, I want a consolidated report that summarizes triggers and recommended actions so that I can swiftly implement solutions."
Description

Generate comprehensive reports that combine sentiment anomalies, correlated topics, event timelines, and reaction patterns into a unified dashboard. Include visual heatmaps, trend charts, and data-driven recommendations to guide precise managerial interventions.

Acceptance Criteria
Daily Sentiment Heatmap Review
Given the manager accesses the Contextual Insight Dashboard and selects the Daily Report option When the system generates the report Then a heatmap displays sentiment scores for each department over the last 24 hours using a green-to-red color gradient matching predefined thresholds And the heatmap loads within 5 seconds And hovering over any cell reveals the exact sentiment score and timestamp.
Topic Correlation Drill-down
Given the manager clicks on an anomaly indicator in the heatmap When the system correlates sentiment anomalies with conversation topics Then a drill-down view lists the top five correlated topics ranked by impact score And each topic entry displays the number of related comments and percentage change in sentiment.
Event Timeline Analysis
Given the manager views a detected sentiment dip on the dashboard When they open the event timeline for that dip Then the timeline shows key events, meeting records, and reaction patterns in chronological order And each event entry includes a timestamp, event type, and associated sentiment change.
Data-driven Recommendation Delivery
Given the system identifies a root cause for a sentiment anomaly When the manager requests recommendations Then the dashboard provides at least three actionable, data-driven suggestions tailored to the detected cause And each recommendation includes expected impact and confidence level.
Historical Trend Comparison
Given the manager selects a custom date range for trend analysis When the system generates a comparative report Then trend charts display sentiment trajectories side by side for the selected period and the equivalent prior period And chart legends clearly distinguish current and previous periods with consistent color coding.

Adaptive Sensitivity

Dynamically adjusts anomaly detection thresholds based on historical sentiment trends for each team. By learning normal variation patterns, this feature reduces false positives and ensures alerts remain relevant and actionable.

Requirements

Historical Data Aggregator
"As an HR manager, I want the system to aggregate and clean historical sentiment data from past pulse surveys so that anomaly detection thresholds are based on accurate and comprehensive team sentiment trends."
Description

This module collects and consolidates historical sentiment data across pulse surveys, ensuring complete datasets by team and time period. It integrates with existing survey storage, preprocesses data to smooth inconsistencies, and maintains data quality for accurate trend analysis and threshold calculation.

Acceptance Criteria
Team Historical Data Compilation
Given a team with multiple pulse surveys spanning several months, when the Historical Data Aggregator runs, then it consolidates sentiment scores, timestamps, and team identifiers into a single dataset with no missing entries for the specified date range.
Missing Data Imputation
Given gaps in survey submissions for certain periods, when the aggregator detects missing data, then it applies the predefined smoothing algorithm to impute values and flags any imputed records for audit.
Data Preprocessing Consistency Check
Given raw survey data with potential inconsistencies, when preprocessing is complete, then the output dataset contains only unique records, no out-of-range sentiment values, and conforms to the defined schema.
Integration with Survey Storage
Given the existing survey storage API endpoint, when the Historical Data Aggregator connects, then it retrieves all required survey fields (sentiment, timestamp, team ID) without errors and logs any retrieval failures.
Dataset Availability for Threshold Calculation
Given the consolidated historical dataset, when accessed by the threshold calculation module, then the dataset is available within 5 seconds, contains all required fields, and passes schema validation.
Dynamic Threshold Calculator
"As an HR manager, I want the system to calculate and adjust anomaly thresholds dynamically based on each team’s historical sentiment patterns so that alerts reflect meaningful deviations from normal behavior."
Description

This component computes adaptive anomaly detection thresholds by analyzing aggregated historical sentiment patterns for each team. It applies statistical methods (e.g., moving averages, standard deviation) to establish baseline variations and automatically updates thresholds as new data arrives, minimizing false positives while highlighting significant deviations.

Acceptance Criteria
Initial Baseline Threshold Computation
Given a team with at least 30 days of historical sentiment data, when the system computes the baseline, then it calculates the moving average and standard deviation for the past 30 days. The computed threshold must be within two standard deviations of the moving average. The threshold values are stored and retrievable via the API, matching the computed results.
Onboarding New Team with Default Sensitivity
Given a team with fewer than 7 days of data, when the threshold calculation runs, then it applies default threshold values derived from company-wide trends. The system logs a warning indicating insufficient team-specific data. Default thresholds are configurable and can be updated in settings.
Real-Time Threshold Update Upon Data Ingestion
Given new sentiment data arrives, when ingested, then threshold recalculation completes within 5 minutes. The updated threshold reflects the most recent 14-day moving average and standard deviation. Previous and updated thresholds are versioned and available for audit.
Historical Trend Recalibration After Significant Shift
Given a sentiment trend shift exceeding 3 standard deviations over a 7-day window, when recalibration triggers, then the system expands the analysis window to 60 days. Recalibration events are logged and managers receive notifications about threshold changes. The recalibrated threshold reduces alert sensitivity for the next 3 days.
False Positive Suppression for Normal Variations
Given sentiment fluctuations within one standard deviation, when anomaly detection runs, then no alert is generated. The system tracks and reports false positive rates, ensuring they remain below 5% over a 30-day period. Suppressed variations are logged for review under a 'suppressed' tag.
Real-Time Threshold Adjustment Engine
"As an HR manager, I want threshold adjustments to happen in real time as new survey data comes in so that I receive alerts promptly when sentiment deviates significantly."
Description

A real-time processing engine that recalculates sensitivity thresholds immediately upon receipt of new survey responses. It integrates with the streaming data pipeline, updates thresholds dynamically without manual intervention, and pushes updated criteria to the alerting module to ensure timely and relevant notifications.

Acceptance Criteria
Streaming Data Integration
Given a continuous stream of survey responses, when the real-time engine ingests a batch of responses, then it processes and recalculates thresholds within 5 seconds of ingestion, logs the update timestamp, and maintains 99.9% message delivery success rate.
Immediate Threshold Update Upon Response Receipt
Given an individual survey response is received, when it enters the pipeline, then the engine recalculates the sensitivity threshold and makes the new threshold available to the alerting module within 2 seconds.
Threshold Persistence Across Failovers
Given the threshold engine experiences a restart or failure, when it reinitializes, then it retrieves the last computed thresholds from persistent storage within 5 seconds and resumes processing without data loss.
Alerting Module Synchronization
Given a threshold update event, when the engine computes a new threshold, then it publishes the updated threshold to the alerting module's API within 100 milliseconds and confirms receipt.
Historical Trend–Based Adjustment
Given at least 30 days of historical sentiment data, when recalculating thresholds, then the engine applies weighted historical volatility and demonstrates a minimum 25% reduction in false-positive alerts compared to static thresholds during the same period.
Sensitivity Override Controls
"As an HR manager, I want to be able to override the automatically calculated sensitivity thresholds for a team so that I can tailor anomaly detection during special circumstances."
Description

Provides a user interface and API for HR managers to manually override or fine-tune automatic sensitivity thresholds for specific teams or periods. Features include adjustable threshold factors, the ability to disable dynamic sensitivity, and audit logging of manual changes to maintain transparency and control during special events.

Acceptance Criteria
Manual Threshold Adjustment via UI
Given an HR manager accesses the team's sensitivity override interface, When the manager sets the threshold factor slider to a value between 0.5 and 2.0 and clicks Save, Then the system updates the team's dynamic sensitivity threshold to the specified value and displays a success notification.
Disable Dynamic Sensitivity Through UI for Special Event
Given an HR manager navigates to the global sensitivity settings, When the manager toggles off dynamic sensitivity and confirms the action, Then the system disables dynamic threshold adjustments for the selected teams during the defined period and shows an alert indicating dynamic sensitivity is disabled.
API-Based Sensitivity Override for Team Period
Given an authenticated API client with HR manager permissions, When a POST request is sent to /api/teams/{teamId}/sensitivity-override with a valid threshold factor and start/end dates, Then the API responds with HTTP 200 OK and the team's sensitivity settings reflect the override for the specified period.
Audit Log Records Manual Threshold Overrides
Given any manual override of sensitivity settings via UI or API, When the override is saved, Then the system creates an audit log entry including manager ID, timestamp, team ID, previous and new threshold values, and method of change.
Batch Threshold Overrides via CSV Import
Given an HR manager uploads a CSV file with team IDs and threshold factors, When the upload is processed, Then the system applies overrides to each specified team, returns a summary of successful and failed updates, and retains original settings for any failures.
Threshold Visualization in Heatmaps
"As an HR manager, I want to see dynamic threshold ranges on the sentiment heatmap so that I can visually assess when team sentiment deviates from normal patterns."
Description

Enhances the existing heatmap dashboard by overlaying dynamic threshold bands for each team, illustrating normal sentiment variation ranges. Interactive elements allow users to explore historical threshold trends, view real-time updates, and compare current sentiment against baselines directly on the visual interface.

Acceptance Criteria
Manager Reviews Dynamic Threshold Bands
Given the heatmap dashboard is loaded for Team Alpha, when the Dynamic Threshold feature is activated, then colored bands representing the calculated normal sentiment range must be displayed accurately around the team’s sentiment line within 2% of the historical variation.
User Explores Historical Threshold Trends
Given a user clicks the ‘Historical Trends’ overlay on the heatmap, when the data for the past 12 weeks is fetched, then a timeline chart showing week-by-week threshold band changes for the selected team must render within 3 seconds.
Real-time Sentiment vs Baseline Comparison
Given live sentiment data updates every hour, when the heatmap refreshes, then the current sentiment values must be compared against the baseline thresholds and highlighted in green if within range or red if outside.
Threshold Band Visibility Toggle
Given the heatmap dashboard is displayed, when a user toggles the ‘Threshold Bands’ switch off, then all dynamic threshold visuals must be hidden immediately without affecting sentiment data display.
Performance Under High Data Volume
Given the system processes heatmap data for more than 50 teams, when threshold bands are rendered, then the visual dashboard must load and display all overlays within 5 seconds.

Escalation Workflow

Automates notification routing, follow-up reminders, and escalation paths when initial alerts go unacknowledged. This structured process guarantees timely attention and accountability, keeping morale management on track.

Requirements

Alert Routing Configuration
"As an HR manager, I want to configure escalation alert routing based on roles and teams so that the right stakeholders are notified promptly without manual oversight."
Description

Provide a user interface for defining and customizing the routing of escalation alerts based on team structures, roles, and custom criteria. This includes selecting which user or group receives the initial alert, specifying fallback recipients, and setting dynamic conditions such as time-based assignments or workload balancing. The feature integrates with the existing PulseSync user management system and ensures that alerts are directed to the appropriate stakeholders without manual intervention, reducing response time and improving accountability.

Acceptance Criteria
Initial Recipient and Fallback Configuration
Given the user is on the Alert Routing Configuration page When the user selects a primary recipient and one or more fallback recipients Then the system saves the selections and displays a confirmation message
Time-Based Escalation Rule
Given a primary recipient and an escalation time threshold When the threshold expires without acknowledgment Then the system automatically notifies the fallback recipient
Workload Balancing Assignment
Given a set of team members with current workload metrics When the user enables workload balancing Then alerts route to the team member with the lowest current workload
Dynamic User Management Integration
Given a new user or group added to PulseSync user management When the Alert Routing Configuration interface is loaded Then the new user or group appears in the recipient selection list
Automated Routing Execution
Given a saved routing configuration When a pulse alert is triggered Then the system automatically routes the alert to the configured recipients without manual intervention
Automated Follow-Up Reminders
"As an HR manager, I want the system to send automated follow-up reminders for unacknowledged alerts so that no alert is overlooked and accountability is maintained."
Description

Implement a reminder engine that automatically sends follow-up notifications at configurable intervals when an initial alert is not acknowledged. The system should allow HR managers to set reminder frequency, escalation thresholds, and message templates. Integration with email, in-app notifications, and SMS ensures multiple touchpoints. This mechanism guarantees that pending alerts remain visible and prompts timely action from responsible parties.

Acceptance Criteria
Reminder Scheduling with Configurable Intervals
Given an unacknowledged alert exists and the reminder interval is set to X hours, When the time elapsed since the initial alert is greater than or equal to X hours, Then the system automatically sends a follow-up notification to the responsible party.
Escalation Threshold Enforcement
Given an alert has had Y reminders sent without acknowledgment and the escalation threshold is configured as Y, When the Yth reminder is triggered, Then the system routes the escalation notification to the next-level manager according to the defined hierarchy.
Multi-Channel Notification Delivery
Given an alert is pending acknowledgment and the notification channels include email, in-app notification, and SMS, When a reminder event is triggered, Then the system sends the reminder via all configured channels within five minutes of the trigger.
Custom Message Template Application
Given a custom message template is defined for reminders, When the system generates a reminder notification, Then it populates the template with the alert details and dispatches the message using the custom template.
Reminder Acknowledgment Cancellation
Given a scheduled reminder exists for an outstanding alert, When the alert is acknowledged before the scheduled send time, Then the system cancels any pending reminders for that alert and does not send further notifications.
Escalation Path Definition
"As an HR manager, I want to set up multi-level escalation paths so that alerts are escalated systematically if initial recipients do not respond."
Description

Allow administrators to define multi-level escalation paths with ordered stakeholders and conditional triggers. Each path can include branches based on alert severity, elapsed time, or specific non-response criteria. The configuration interface should support drag-and-drop reordering of escalation steps and real-time validation to prevent loops. This feature ensures a structured and reliable escalation workflow aligned with organizational policies.

Acceptance Criteria
Defining a Simple Linear Escalation Path
Given an administrator is on the Escalation Path Definition interface When they add Stakeholder A, B, and C in sequence and save the path Then the system persists the path with three ordered stakeholders and displays a confirmation message
Branching Escalation Based on Severity
Given an administrator configures a branch for high-severity alerts to escalate to the VP When an alert with severity set to High triggers the escalation path Then the system, after the configured elapsed time, sends a notification to the VP only on high-severity alerts
Preventing Escalation Loop
Given an escalation path already contains Stakeholder A and B When the administrator attempts to add Stakeholder A again later in the same path Then the interface blocks the action and displays an error indicating a loop prevention violation
Drag-and-Drop Reordering of Steps
Given an escalation path with five stakeholders defined When the administrator drags the fifth stakeholder to the second position and drops it Then the system updates the order accordingly and displays the new sequence in real time without page refresh
Real-Time Validation of Conditional Triggers
Given the administrator sets a negative elapsed time or invalid non-response criteria in a step When focus is moved away from the invalid field Then the system displays an inline validation error and disables the Save button until the criteria is corrected
Notification Delivery Tracking
"As an HR manager, I want to see delivery and read receipts for escalation notifications so that I can verify alerts reached recipients and measure response times."
Description

Track and display the delivery and read status of each escalation notification across channels. This includes timestamps for when alerts were sent, delivered, opened, and acted upon. The tracking system integrates with PulseSync’s analytics dashboard, enabling HR managers to monitor response rates, identify bottlenecks, and generate reports on escalation effectiveness. Visibility into notification performance drives continuous improvement.

Acceptance Criteria
Alert Sent Confirmation Tracking
Given an HR manager triggers an escalation notification, When the system sends the alert via configured channels, Then the system logs a ‘Sent’ timestamp in the tracking UI within one minute of initiation.
Notification Delivery Latency Monitoring
Given an alert has been sent, When the message is accepted by the delivery vendor, Then the system records a ‘Delivered’ timestamp and updates the status to ‘Delivered’ within the SLA threshold defined for each channel.
Read Receipt Verification
Given a notification has been delivered, When the recipient opens the notification, Then the system logs an ‘Opened’ status with the precise timestamp and displays it in the notification tracking table.
Action Timestamp Recording
Given the recipient has opened the notification, When the recipient clicks the acknowledgment or action link, Then the system records an ‘Acted Upon’ timestamp, updates the status to ‘Acknowledged’, and halts any pending follow-up reminders.
Escalation Analytics Dashboard Integration
Given multiple notifications have status events recorded, When an HR manager views the analytics dashboard, Then charts and tables accurately display counts and timestamps for Sent, Delivered, Opened, and Acted statuses, and exported reports include all timestamp fields.
Escalation Dashboard Visibility
"As an HR manager, I want a dashboard view of all active escalations and their statuses so that I can quickly identify and address high-priority issues."
Description

Enhance the PulseSync dashboard with an Escalation View that visualizes active alerts, their current escalation stage, pending acknowledgements, and time to next escalation. Use heatmap indicators and color-coded status markers to highlight critical or overdue items. Real-time updates ensure managers have a consolidated view of outstanding issues and can intervene proactively to resolve pending escalations.

Acceptance Criteria
Viewing Active Alerts Overview
Given the manager opens the Escalation Dashboard, When active alerts exist, Then the dashboard displays all active alerts in a paginated list sorted by time to next escalation.
Monitoring Escalation Stage Progression
Given an active alert moves past its acknowledgement window, When the next escalation stage is reached, Then the alert’s escalation stage label updates and the responsible stakeholder is notified automatically.
Identifying Overdue Acknowledgements
Given alerts with elapsed acknowledgement time exceeding thresholds, When the dashboard loads, Then overdue alerts are highlighted in red and accompanied by a tooltip showing time overdue.
Interpreting Heatmap Indicators
Given multiple alerts across departments, When viewing the heatmap view, Then department cells are color-coded based on alert count severity and filterable by escalation stage.
Real-Time Dashboard Refresh
Given changes in alert statuses, When new alerts are triggered or escalation stages advance, Then the dashboard updates within 5 seconds without requiring manual refresh.

Insight Digest

Delivers customizable daily or weekly summaries of detected anomalies, trend insights, and recommended next steps. These concise reports keep busy managers informed and prepared to address emerging issues proactively.

Requirements

Delivery Schedule Configuration
"As an HR manager, I want to configure my preferred delivery schedule for the Insight Digest so that I receive timely summaries without manual intervention."
Description

Enable HR managers to configure their preferred delivery cadence for Insight Digests, selecting daily or weekly schedules and specifying the exact time of day for report delivery. This feature integrates seamlessly with user profiles and time-zone settings, ensuring personalized, timely summaries that fit into managers’ workflows and eliminate the need for manual checks.

Acceptance Criteria
Daily Delivery Time Configuration
Given the HR manager selects a daily cadence and chooses 08:00 in their profile settings, When they save the configuration, Then the system must schedule and deliver the Insight Digest every day at 08:00 local time without manual intervention.
Weekly Delivery Day and Time Selection
Given the HR manager selects a weekly cadence and picks Monday at 09:30 from the schedule options, When they confirm the choice, Then the system must schedule and deliver the Insight Digest every Monday at 09:30 local time.
Timezone Awareness in Scheduling
Given the HR manager’s profile timezone is set to UTC+2 and they schedule the digest for 17:00, When the system calculates delivery times across timezones, Then the report must arrive at 17:00 UTC+2 regardless of server location.
Profile Integration and Next-Run Display
Given the HR manager updates their delivery cadence or time, When the change is saved, Then the updated schedule must reflect in their profile and show the next scheduled delivery timestamp correctly.
Invalid Time Input Handling
Given the HR manager enters an invalid time format (e.g., 25:00) or leaves the time field blank, When they attempt to save, Then the system must display a validation error message and prevent saving until a valid time is provided.
Anomaly Detection Summary
"As an HR manager, I want to receive a concise summary of detected anomalies and emerging trends so that I can quickly identify areas needing attention."
Description

Automatically analyze pulse survey data to detect emerging anomalies, shifts in sentiment, and significant trends. Summarize these insights in a concise section of the digest, highlighting key changes and potential hotspots. This component leverages existing analytics pipelines and ensures that critical morale issues are surfaced quickly for proactive intervention.

Acceptance Criteria
Daily Report Overview Generation
Given daily pulse survey data is available, when the system processes responses, then the anomaly detection pipeline must identify sentiment shifts greater than 10% and include at least three anomalies in the 6 AM digest, each detailing team name, sentiment change percentage (one decimal place), and time range.
Weekly Trend Highlight Delivery
Given seven days of pulse survey data, when generating the weekly digest, then the system must detect and list the top five sentiment trends with sustained drift greater than 5% over three days, sorted by drift magnitude, each accompanied by a current vs. previous week comparison thumbnail.
Hotspot Alert in Email Digest
Given any team’s positive sentiment score falls below 60%, when the weekly or daily digest is assembled, then the system must flag that team as a hotspot with an alert icon, list it at the top of the summary, and attach at least one recommended next step from the knowledge base.
Insight Export Accuracy
Given a user requests export of the digest, when the system generates the PDF or CSV, then the exported anomaly summary must exactly match the on-screen data within ±0.1%, and the file must be available for download within 10 seconds of request.
Recommendation Relevance Verification
Given detected anomaly types are mapped to recommended actions, when generating the summary, then at least 90% of the recommendations must match the predefined mapping in the test dataset, and each recommendation must be contextually relevant to the corresponding anomaly.
Actionable Recommendations Engine
"As an HR manager, I want the digest to include recommended next steps based on detected issues so that I can proactively address team morale."
Description

Incorporate a rules-based engine that generates tailored, actionable next steps based on detected anomalies and trends. Recommendations draw from best-practice playbooks and past intervention outcomes, guiding managers on targeted actions to improve team morale. This engine connects with the product’s knowledge base to deliver contextual suggestions within the digest.

Acceptance Criteria
Manager Receives Daily Insight Digest with Tailored Recommendations
Given the engine detects at least one new anomaly in team sentiment, when the daily digest is generated, then the digest includes a minimum of three actionable next steps tailored to the specific anomaly.
Manager Reviews Weekly Trend Analysis with Contextual Suggestions
Given the weekly summary is requested, when anomalies and trends are compiled, then each identified trend is accompanied by two to five contextualized recommendations sourced from the knowledge base.
Engine Retrieves Contextual Suggestions from Knowledge Base
Given a detected anomaly, when querying the knowledge base, then the engine returns matching best-practice interventions within 2 seconds and includes citation of source materials.
Engine Adjusts Recommendations Based on Feedback Loop
Given a manager marks a recommendation as successful or ineffective, when feedback is submitted, then the engine updates its rule weights and adapts future suggestions accordingly within the next digest.
Recommendations Delivered via Email and In-App Notification
Given the digest is finalized, when delivery channels are selected, then the system sends identical recommendation content via email and in-app notification with consistent formatting and links to relevant playbooks.
Report Template Customization
"As an HR manager, I want to customize the report layout and metrics so that the digest aligns with my company's reporting standards."
Description

Provide a drag-and-drop template editor enabling users to customize the digest’s layout, choose which metrics and charts to include, and apply company-specific branding elements like logos and color themes. This module ensures that the Insight Digest aligns with organizational standards and preferences across different stakeholders.

Acceptance Criteria
Drag-and-Drop Layout Customization
Given an HR manager accesses the Report Template Customization editor When they drag a chart or metric widget into the template canvas Then the widget appears in the selected location without layout distortion And the template preview updates in real time
Metric and Chart Selection
Given the customization editor is open When the user selects or deselects metrics and chart types from the sidebar Then only the chosen metrics/charts appear in the preview And unselected items are removed
Branding Element Application
Given the user uploads their company logo and selects a color theme When they apply branding settings Then the preview displays the logo at the designated header position And all template elements update to reflect the chosen color palette
Template Save and Persistence
Given the user has modified the template layout and branding When they click "Save" Then the system stores the customized template in the user’s account And the next digest generation uses this template
Preview and Revert to Default
Given the user is viewing the customization editor When they click "Preview" Then a modal displays a sample digest using the current template When they click "Revert to Default" Then all customizations are cleared And the default template layout, metrics, and branding are restored
Multi-Channel Distribution
"As an HR manager, I want to receive the Insight Digest via email, in-app notifications, and Slack so that I can access reports through my preferred channel."
Description

Support distribution of the Insight Digest through multiple channels, including email, in-app notification center, and Slack integration. Users can enable or disable channels per preference, and each delivery method formats the digest for optimal readability. This requirement ensures that managers can access insights via their most convenient communication platform.

Acceptance Criteria
Email Digest Delivery
Given a manager has enabled the email channel in their preferences When the daily or weekly Insight Digest is generated Then an HTML-formatted email is sent to the manager’s registered address within 5 minutes containing the correct subject line “PulseSync Insight Digest” and the complete summary of anomalies, trends, and recommendations
In-App Notification Delivery
Given a manager has enabled in-app notifications When the Insight Digest is published Then a new notification appears in the application’s notification center within 2 minutes showing a concise summary with timestamp and a link to view the full digest
Slack Digest Delivery
Given a manager has connected and authorized a Slack workspace and channel When the Insight Digest is generated Then a message is posted to the configured Slack channel within 5 minutes using markdown formatting, including a header, anomaly highlights, trend insights, and recommended next steps
Channel Preference Management
Given a manager navigates to the distribution settings When they enable or disable any of the available channels (email, in-app, Slack) and save changes Then the updated preferences are persisted and applied to all subsequent Insight Digest deliveries
Digest Format Consistency
For each enabled channel When the Insight Digest is delivered Then the content adheres to channel-specific formatting rules (HTML for email, markdown for Slack, plain text summary in-app), includes all required elements, and displays correctly without truncation or layout issues

EmotionWave Analysis

Automatically analyzes each 30-second audio clip to detect and visualize core emotions—such as happiness, frustration, or encouragement—on an intuitive waveform. Managers quickly grasp the tone of feedback without listening to every recording, enabling faster, more empathetic responses.

Requirements

Audio Clip Preprocessing Pipeline
"As an HR manager, I want audio clips to be automatically cleaned and standardized so that emotion analysis yields consistent and accurate results."
Description

The system must automatically ingest raw 30-second audio clips, normalize file formats, apply noise reduction, and segment audio to ensure consistent, high-quality inputs for emotion analysis without manual intervention.

Acceptance Criteria
Ingestion and Format Normalization
Given a raw 30-second audio clip in various formats (e.g., MP3, WAV), when the preprocessing pipeline runs, then it outputs a single WAV file sampled at 16 kHz, mono channel, with no format conversion errors within 10 seconds of ingestion.
Noise Reduction Efficacy
Given a normalized audio clip containing background noise, when the noise reduction step is applied, then the output clip’s signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improves by at least 15 dB and automated noise profiling metrics confirm background noise is below the defined threshold.
Audio Segmentation for Analysis
Given a 30-second preprocessed audio clip, when segmentation is executed, then the clip is split into ten equal 3-second segments, each segment is time-stamped in the metadata, and segment boundaries align with the expected timestamps within a 100 ms tolerance.
Error Handling for Corrupted Files
Given a corrupted or unreadable audio file in the input queue, when the pipeline attempts ingestion, then it logs a descriptive error with code, moves the file to a quarantine folder, and does not halt processing of other files.
Scalability Under Load
Given a batch of 100 concurrent 30-second audio clips, when the pipeline processes the batch, then all files are preprocessed successfully within 2 minutes, CPU and memory usage stay within 10% of baseline thresholds, and no clips fail due to resource constraints.
Emotion Detection Engine Integration
"As an HR manager, I want the system to detect core emotions automatically from audio so that I can quickly understand team sentiment without listening to each clip."
Description

Integrate a machine learning model that analyzes audio features to detect core emotions—such as happiness, frustration, and encouragement—assigning confidence scores and timestamps for each detected emotion.

Acceptance Criteria
Real-time Emotion Detection
Given a 30-second audio clip is submitted through the PulseSync interface When the Emotion Detection Engine processes the clip Then it returns a JSON response within 5 seconds containing detected emotions (happiness, frustration, encouragement) each with start and end timestamps and confidence scores
Bulk Audio Batch Processing
Given a batch of 50 audio clips is queued for processing When the Emotion Detection Engine completes the batch Then all 50 results are available in a single downloadable report within 10 minutes and no clip processing errors are reported
Emotion Confidence Timestamp Logging
Given an emotion is detected in an uploaded audio clip When detection occurs Then the system logs each emotion’s start and end timestamps and a confidence score ≥ 0.6 for high-confidence labels in the database
Multilingual Audio Support
Given a 30-second audio clip in Spanish is submitted When processed by the Emotion Detection Engine Then it identifies core emotions with at least 85% accuracy against the Spanish emotion detection benchmark dataset
Silence and Noise Filtering
Given an audio clip containing background noise and silence When processed Then the engine filters out noise and silence, detects voice segments longer than 0.5 seconds, assigns emotions only within voice segments, and tags non-voice segments with no emotions
Real-Time EmotionWave Visualization
"As an HR manager, I want to see an intuitive emotion waveform visualization so that I can quickly grasp the tone of feedback at a glance."
Description

Render an interactive waveform that maps time to emotion intensity and type, using color-coded segments and tooltips, allowing managers to hover over sections to see detailed emotion data in real time.

Acceptance Criteria
Initial Loading of EmotionWave
Given the manager opens the EmotionWave view, when the audio clip is loaded, then the interactive waveform must be rendered within 200ms, mapping time accurately from start to end and displaying color-coded emotion segments.
Hover Display of Emotion Details
Given the waveform is displayed, when the manager hovers over any segment, then a tooltip showing emotion type, intensity, timestamp, and detection confidence must appear within 100ms.
Real-Time Streaming Update
Given a live audio stream, when new audio data is received, then the waveform updates smoothly at ≥30 FPS, appending new segments in real time without lag or stutter.
Segment Color-Coding Accuracy
Given predefined emotion types, when segments are rendered, then each segment must use the correct color mapping (happiness=green, frustration=red, encouragement=blue) matching the detection output.
Performance Under Full Load
Given a full 60-second audio clip, when rendering completes, then total render time must be ≤500ms and frame drops must not exceed 5%.
Filtering and Segmentation Controls
"As an HR manager, I want to filter emotion waves by team or time period so that I can analyze specific segments of feedback."
Description

Provide controls to filter emotion waves by date range, department, team, or emotion threshold, enabling managers to segment feedback and focus on specific groups or time periods.

Acceptance Criteria
Date Range Filter Applied
Given the manager selects a start and end date, when the filter is applied, then only emotion waves within that date range are displayed.
Department Selection Filter
Given the manager selects one or more departments, when the department filter is applied, then emotion waves from those departments only are shown.
Team-Level Segmentation
Given the manager selects a specific team, when the team filter is applied, then emotion waves for that team are displayed exclusively.
Emotion Threshold Adjustment
Given the manager sets an emotion threshold slider value, when the threshold is applied, then only emotion points exceeding the threshold are visible on the waveform.
Multi-Criteria Filter Combination
Given the manager applies date range, department, and emotion threshold filters simultaneously, when filters are active, then the waveform displays emotion waves that meet all selected criteria.
Custom Emotion Category Configuration
"As an HR manager, I want to customize which core emotions the system detects so that I can focus on relevant sentiments for my team's context."
Description

Allow administrators to add, remove, or rename core emotion categories, adjust detection thresholds, and map custom labels to ensure the analysis aligns with the organization’s unique culture and terminology.

Acceptance Criteria
Admin creates a custom emotion category
Given an authenticated administrator is on the EmotionWave settings page, when they enter a unique category name and a valid detection threshold and click 'Save', then the new emotion category appears in the list and is persisted with the correct threshold.
Admin renames an existing emotion category
Given an administrator selects an existing emotion category and edits its name to a new unique title and clicks 'Update', then the category name is updated in the list and stored in the database without errors.
Admin removes a custom emotion category
Given an administrator selects a custom emotion category and confirms deletion, when they click 'Delete', then the category is removed from the list, no longer appears in the dashboard, and is deleted from the database.
Admin adjusts detection threshold for an emotion
Given an administrator navigates to an emotion category’s settings, when they modify the detection threshold to a value between 0 and 1 and save, then the new threshold is applied in subsequent analyses and persists after page reload.
Admin maps custom labels to existing emotions
Given an administrator is editing an existing emotion category, when they assign or update a custom label and click 'Save', then the custom label appears in the analysis dashboard and is stored for future visualization.
Exportable EmotionWave Reports
"As an HR manager, I want to export emotion waveforms and data so that I can share insights with stakeholders and include them in formal reports."
Description

Enable exporting of emotion waveforms and underlying data to PDF and CSV formats, including emotion timelines and confidence scores, for sharing with stakeholders and archiving.

Acceptance Criteria
Stakeholder Meeting Report Export
Given a completed pulse survey, When the HR manager selects ‘Export to PDF’ and confirms, Then the system generates and downloads a PDF containing emotion waveform visualizations, emotion timeline, and confidence scores for each 30-second audio clip; And the PDF file name follows the format ‘EmotionWave_Report_<surveyID>_<YYYYMMDD>.pdf’; And the file size does not exceed 5MB.
Data Analysis CSV Download
Given a completed pulse survey, When the HR manager selects ‘Export to CSV’ and confirms, Then the system generates and downloads a CSV containing columns (timestamp, emotion label, intensity score, confidence score); And rows sorted chronologically; And includes a header row.
Archive Historical Reports
Given the HR manager initiates an archive export for multiple surveys, When they select a date range and export format (PDF/CSV) and confirm, Then the system packages individual reports into a ZIP file containing separate PDF and CSV files for each survey; And file names follow ‘EmotionWave_Report_<surveyID>_<YYYYMMDD>.pdf’ and ‘_ .csv’ conventions; And the ZIP file includes a manifest JSON listing each file with metadata.
Download Integrity Verification
Given an exported file completes download, When the HR manager opens the file, Then the waveform visualizations match those displayed in-app; And all emotion timelines and confidence scores align with the raw data; And the file passes checksum validation.
Mobile Export Functionality
Given the HR manager uses the PulseSync mobile app, When they export reports to PDF or CSV, Then the export functionality is accessible and produces files consistent with desktop exports; And the files save to the device’s downloads folder with correct naming.

SmartClip Highlights

Uses AI to identify and timestamp the most impactful moments in an audio feedback session, generating concise text summaries and direct links to those key snippets. HR leaders save time by focusing on critical insights and emergent themes in employee sentiment.

Requirements

Real-Time Audio Ingestion
"As an HR manager, I want to upload or stream audio feedback sessions in real-time so that I can receive immediate analysis without waiting for batch processing."
Description

Develop a robust audio ingestion pipeline capable of capturing, normalizing, and pre-processing live or uploaded employee feedback sessions. It should seamlessly integrate with PulseSync’s existing storage architecture, support multiple common audio formats (e.g., MP3, WAV), apply noise reduction filters, and buffer streams to ensure minimal latency. This ensures clean, standardized audio ready for downstream AI analysis, enabling timely identification of sentiment shifts and critical feedback moments.

Acceptance Criteria
Live Audio Capture
Given an active audio feedback session is streaming live When the ingestion pipeline receives audio packets Then audio data is captured continuously with no packet loss and end-to-end latency under 300ms
File Upload Processing
Given an HR manager uploads an MP3 or WAV feedback recording When the file is submitted to the ingestion endpoint Then the pipeline normalizes sample rate to 16kHz, converts mono/stereo appropriately, and stores the processed file in the existing storage architecture
Multi-Format Audio Handling
Given feedback files in formats MP3, WAV, FLAC, or AAC When each file is ingested Then the system accepts and processes at least 99.5% of files per format without errors
Noise Reduction Implementation
Given raw audio containing background noise When noise reduction algorithms are applied Then background noise level is reduced by a minimum of 20dB as measured by signal-to-noise ratio
Real-Time Buffering Performance
Given fluctuating network conditions during live ingestion When jitter or packet delay occurs Then the buffer adjusts dynamically to maintain continuous playback with latency not exceeding 500ms
AI-Powered Moment Detection
"As an HR analyst, I want the system to automatically detect emotionally charged or significant audio segments so that I can focus on the most insightful parts without listening to entire recordings."
Description

Implement an AI engine that processes ingested audio to detect moments of heightened emotional intensity, sentiment changes, and key thematic phrases. Leveraging deep learning models for emotion recognition, acoustic feature extraction, and natural language understanding, the engine will timestamp segments with the highest significance. The output metadata should include start/end times and confidence scores for each detected highlight.

Acceptance Criteria
Emotional Peak Detection
Given a processed audio feedback session longer than 5 minutes, When the AI engine analyzes the audio, Then it must identify at least three segments with the highest emotional intensity, and each segment must include start and end timestamps with confidence scores above 0.8.
Sentiment Shift Identification
Given continuous audio input containing both positive and negative sentiments, When the AI processes the recording, Then it should detect sentiment change points and timestamp them, and each detected shift must have a confidence score above 0.75.
Key Thematic Phrase Extraction
Given a feedback session with multiple discussion topics, When the AI engine applies natural language understanding, Then it extracts at least five key thematic phrases and links each phrase to its corresponding audio segment with a confidence score above 0.7.
Accurate Timestamp Generation
Given highlighted moments identified by the AI, When reviewed against ground-truth annotations, Then the start and end times must correspond within ±500ms of the actual moment boundaries in 95% of cases.
Performance Under Load
Given 100 concurrent audio uploads averaging 15 minutes each, When the AI engine processes these sessions, Then the average processing time per session must not exceed 2 minutes with a 95% success rate.
Automated Text Summary Generation
"As an HR leader, I want to read concise summaries of audio highlights so that I can quickly understand employee concerns and save time."
Description

Generate concise, contextually accurate text summaries of AI-identified audio highlights using advanced NLP techniques (e.g., abstractive summarization, keyword extraction). Summaries should present key insights as bullet points or short paragraphs, highlighting emergent themes, sentiment shifts, and actionable feedback. This reduces cognitive load and saves time for HR leaders by providing immediate, digestible overviews of critical moments.

Acceptance Criteria
On-Demand Summary Generation
Given a completed audio feedback session, When the HR manager initiates summary generation, Then the system generates a text summary within 10 seconds containing bullet points that cover at least 90% of AI-highlighted segments, including timestamps and sentiment indicators.
Contextual Accuracy Verification
Rule-Oriented: The summary must preserve the original context of audio highlights without factual discrepancies; at least 95% of summary statements must align with the source transcript.
Format and Structure Compliance
Rule-Oriented: Summaries are displayed as bullet points or short paragraphs, with a maximum of 5 sentences per paragraph, each bullet includes a timestamp and thematic label, and the total word count does not exceed 200 words.
Performance under High Load
Given 50 concurrent summary requests, When the system processes these requests, Then at least 95% of summaries are returned within 10 seconds with zero processing errors.
Sentiment and Theme Extraction Accuracy
Given AI-highlighted segments tagged with themes and sentiment scores, When generating summaries, Then at least 90% of emergent themes and sentiment shifts are correctly represented, as validated by a manual review sample of 30 sessions.
Timestamped Snippet Playback
"As an HR manager, I want to click on a summary item and listen to the exact audio snippet so that I can verify the context and nuance behind key feedback moments."
Description

Provide functionality to play back specific highlight snippets via clickable timestamps. Integrate an embedded audio player into the PulseSync dashboard with controls for play, pause, skip, and volume adjustment. Ensure seamless navigation within longer recordings by allowing users to jump directly to the start of any detected highlight snippet.

Acceptance Criteria
HR Manager Navigates to Highlight Snippet
Given an HR manager views a feedback session transcript with timestamps, When they click on a timestamp link, Then the embedded audio player should load the recording at the exact start time of the highlighted snippet and begin playback automatically.
Jump to Snippet Start Within Long Recordings
Given a recording longer than five minutes with multiple detected snippets, When an HR manager selects the third snippet’s timestamp, Then the audio player’s progress bar should move directly to the snippet’s start position within one second and play that segment.
Playback Control Functionality
Given the audio player is playing a snippet, When the HR manager clicks pause, Then playback should halt immediately and retain the current position; When they click play again, Then playback should resume from that position.
Volume Adjustment Operation
Given the embedded audio player is active, When an HR manager adjusts the volume slider, Then the audio output volume should change in real time without interrupting playback and reflect the chosen volume level.
Skip Between Highlight Snippets
Given multiple highlight snippets identified in a single session, When the HR manager uses next/previous snippet buttons, Then the audio player should jump to the start time of the subsequent or preceding snippet within one second and begin playback.
Highlight Dashboard Integration
"As an HR director, I want an intuitive dashboard showing AI-detected highlights and sentiment trends so that I can monitor team morale and take proactive actions."
Description

Integrate AI-detected highlights and summaries into the PulseSync dashboard with intuitive UI components. Design a highlights panel displaying timestamped entries, sentiment scores, and summary text, along with filters for sentiment, date range, and themes. Include visual indicators (e.g., heatmap overlays) to show frequency or intensity of highlights, maintaining consistent branding and responsive design.

Acceptance Criteria
Highlight Panel Display on Dashboard
Given the user accesses the PulseSync dashboard with AI-detected highlights available When the Highlights panel loads Then the panel must list each highlight entry with a correct timestamp, sentiment score, and concise summary text And the panel UI must adhere to PulseSync branding colors, typography, and layout And the panel must render correctly across desktop and tablet viewports
Filtering Highlights by Sentiment and Date Range
Given the Highlights panel is visible When the user applies sentiment filter (e.g., positive, neutral, negative) and selects a custom date range Then only highlights matching the selected sentiment and falling within the specified dates are displayed And the panel updates results within two seconds of filter changes
Filtering Highlights by Theme
Given the Highlights panel is visible When the user selects one or more thematic tags (e.g., recognition, workload, culture) Then the panel displays only highlights tagged with the chosen themes And the panel supports multi-select and updates displayed entries dynamically
Heatmap Overlay Visualization
Given multiple highlights exist within the same session When the user toggles the heatmap overlay on the Highlights panel Then a color-coded heatmap overlay appears, mapping frequency or intensity of highlights across the session timeline And the overlay uses defined heatmap gradient colors from the PulseSync style guide
Responsive Design on Mobile and Desktop
Given the user views the Highlights panel on various devices When the viewport size changes from desktop to mobile dimensions Then all UI components (panel, filters, heatmap overlay) adjust layout and remain fully functional And no horizontal scrolling is required on any supported device size

AudioTrend Tracker

Aggregates and charts emotion data from multiple VoiceClip submissions over time, revealing trends in mood shifts across teams or departments. This helps CultureChampions and PulsePilots spot broad patterns, measure the effect of interventions, and refine engagement strategies.

Requirements

Historical Emotion Data Aggregation
"As a PulsePilot, I want the system to compile and retain emotion scores from voice submissions over time so that I can analyze long-term mood shifts in my teams."
Description

Implement a backend service that collects, processes, and stores emotion metrics from individual VoiceClip submissions over time, ensuring data consistency and scalability. This service will integrate with existing survey pipelines, periodically batch-ingest new voice-emotion analysis results, normalize them into a unified schema, and store them in a time-series database for efficient retrieval and trend computation. Expected outcomes include reliable historical datasets that power downstream analytics and visualizations without performance degradation.

Acceptance Criteria
Batch Ingestion of New VoiceEmotion Results
Given that new voice-emotion analysis results are generated hourly, when the batch ingestion job runs, then all new records since the last run are ingested without duplicates.
Normalization into Unified Emotion Schema
Given raw emotion metrics from multiple analysis engines, when data passes through the normalization pipeline, then all metrics are mapped to the unified schema and pass schema validation with 100% field coverage.
Time-Series Database Storage
Given normalized emotion data, when the service stores records, then each data point is written to the time-series database with correct timestamps and tags and is retrievable via timestamp range queries.
Trend Data Retrieval Performance
Given a request for emotion trends over a 30-day period, when the API endpoint is called, then aggregated trend data is returned within 500 ms under normal load.
High-Volume Ingestion Scalability
Given a surge of up to 10,000 voice clip submissions per minute, when the ingestion pipeline processes the surge, then it completes without errors and CPU/memory usage increases by no more than 10%.
Trend Visualization Dashboard
"As a CultureChampion, I want to view interactive charts of emotion trends over weeks or months so that I can measure the impact of engagement initiatives."
Description

Develop a dynamic dashboard component that renders emotion trend charts across multiple dimensions such as teams, departments, and time intervals. This dashboard should support line graphs, heatmaps, and comparative overviews, allowing users to toggle between views, select date ranges, and hover for precise data points. It will be integrated into the PulseSync UI under the AudioTrend Tracker section, using the historical data store and ensuring responsive performance.

Acceptance Criteria
Team Emotion Trend Line Chart Rendering
Given emotion data for a selected team and date range, when the user selects 'Line Graph' view, then a responsive line chart plots average emotion scores over time with interactive tooltips showing timestamp and score; chart updates within 1 second of selection.
Departmental Heatmap Overview
Given emotion data grouped by department and selected interval, when the user chooses 'Heatmap' view and a valid date range, then a heatmap is displayed with correct color intensity corresponding to emotion values, includes a legend, and displays precise data values on hover.
Comparative View of Multiple Teams
Given two or more teams selected, when the user switches to 'Comparative Overview' mode, then the dashboard overlays line charts for each team with distinct colors and a legend; comparative view renders without missing or duplicated data.
Responsive Performance Under Data Load
Given a dataset of up to 10,000 data points, when the dashboard loads visualizations, then each chart renders within 2 seconds, maintaining UI responsiveness without blocking user interactions.
Precise Data Point Hover Details
Given any point on the trend chart, when the user hovers over it, then a tooltip appears displaying date, time interval, emotion score, and associated team or department, without overlapping nearby tooltips.
Filtering and Segmentation Controls
"As a PulsePilot, I want to filter mood trend charts by department and date range so that I can focus on specific team dynamics."
Description

Add filtering and segmentation UI controls to the AudioTrend dashboard, enabling users to narrow emotion trends by attributes such as team, department, role, location, and custom tags. Filters should apply in real time, update charts without page reloads, and allow multi-select and range sliders for detailed drill-down. This feature will enhance the relevance and actionability of trend insights for targeted interventions.

Acceptance Criteria
Department Filter Application
Given the AudioTrend dashboard is displayed When a user selects one or more departments from the Department filter control Then the trend charts update instantly to show emotion data only for the selected departments And the URL query parameters reflect the chosen departments for sharing and bookmarking
Role Multi-Select Filtering
Given multiple roles are available in the Role filter control When a user multi-selects several roles Then the dashboard refreshes in real time to aggregate and display emotion trends for all selected roles And any deselected roles are excluded from the trend data visualization
Location Range Slider Drill-Down
Given locations are represented on a range slider control When a user adjusts the minimum and maximum location range Then the emotion trend charts dynamically update to include only submissions from locations within the selected range And the slider handles snap to valid location values without requiring manual entry
Combined Filter Segmentation
Given a user applies filters across team, department, role, and custom tags simultaneously When all filter selections are confirmed Then the AudioTrend charts update in real time to display emotion trends that meet every selected criterion And the filter panel shows the active filters count and allows clearing individual filters without a full reset
Real-Time Chart Update Verification
Given any filter control is modified When the user changes the selection Then the charts refresh within 500ms to reflect the new filter state And no full page reload occurs, preserving the user's scroll position and current dashboard context
Alert and Notification System
"As a CultureChampion, I want to receive alerts when negative emotion trends persist so that I can intervene before issues escalate."
Description

Create an alert module that monitors emotion trend data and triggers notifications when predefined thresholds are crossed (e.g., sustained negative sentiment). Admins can configure threshold rules per team or department. When triggered, notifications will be sent via email and in-app alerts, linking directly to relevant trend charts. This ensures timely awareness and fast intervention on emerging morale issues.

Acceptance Criteria
Threshold Rule Configuration Validation
Given an admin has navigated to the alert configuration page When they define a new emotion threshold rule for a team with specific values and click Save Then the system persists the rule and displays it in the configuration list without errors
Negative Sentiment Threshold Breach Alert
Given real-time emotion data analysis detects a single data point crossing the predefined negative sentiment threshold When the breach occurs Then the system immediately generates an email and in-app notification to the configured admins linking to the relevant trend chart
Sustained Negative Trend Notification
Given emotion data continually exceeds the negative sentiment threshold for three consecutive measurement periods When the third consecutive breach is recorded Then the system escalates the alert by sending a follow-up notification highlighting the sustained trend
Custom Department Rule Alert Delivery
Given an admin configures unique threshold rules for multiple departments When a rule for Department A is breached Then only the admins assigned to Department A receive the email and in-app alerts
Alert Link to Trend Chart Verification
Given a notification is generated for a threshold breach When the admin clicks the link in the email or in-app alert Then they are directed to the correct trend chart filtered to the team or department where the breach occurred
Real-Time Data Refresh Engine
"As a PulsePilot, I want the trend charts to update automatically when new voice data is processed so that I always see the most current mood indicators."
Description

Implement a real-time data refresh engine that pushes new emotion analysis results to the AudioTrend dashboard within minutes of VoiceClip submission. Use WebSockets or server-sent events to update visualizations without manual refresh, ensuring stakeholders have the latest information. The engine will manage subscription channels per user session and degrade gracefully during high load.

Acceptance Criteria
Real-Time Push via WebSockets
Given a VoiceClip submission is processed When the analysis result is available Then the dashboard updates within 2 minutes via WebSocket without requiring manual refresh
Server-Sent Events Fallback
Given the client environment lacks WebSocket support When a new emotion analysis result is ready Then the dashboard receives updates via server-sent events within 2 minutes
Subscription Channel Management
Given a user session is initiated When the user authenticates Then the engine subscribes the session to the correct user-specific channel and only receives authorized updates
Graceful Degradation under High Load
Given simulated high load of 500 concurrent sessions When server capacity is exceeded Then the engine switches to polling every 5 minutes and displays the last known data without errors
Data Consistency on Rapid Submissions
Given multiple VoiceClips are submitted in quick succession When the backend processes overlapping analysis tasks Then the dashboard displays all results in chronological order with no missing entries
Exportable Trend Reports
"As a CultureChampion, I want to export trend analyses to share with leadership so that I can present data-driven insights in team meetings."
Description

Provide functionality for exporting emotion trend data and visualizations into PDF and CSV formats. Users can select date ranges, teams, and chart types, then generate a downloadable report that includes summary statistics, trend graphs, and annotations. This feature integrates with the dashboard controls and supports scheduled report delivery via email.

Acceptance Criteria
On-Demand Export of Emotion Trend Reports
Given a logged-in user on the AudioTrend Tracker dashboard, When the user selects a valid date range, one or more teams, and preferred chart types, and clicks the “Export” button, Then the system generates and initiates download of a PDF containing summary statistics, trend graphs, and annotations, and a CSV file containing the raw emotion data for the specified parameters.
Scheduled Email Delivery of Trend Reports
Given a user configures a scheduled report in the dashboard specifying frequency, date range, teams, and recipients, When the scheduled time arrives, Then the system automatically generates the report in PDF and CSV formats and sends it as email attachments to all configured recipients without error.
Customizable Chart Type Selection in Export
Given the available chart types (line, bar, heatmap), When a user selects specific chart types for export, Then only the selected chart visualizations and corresponding data appear in both the PDF and CSV outputs.
Validation of Date Range and Team Filters
Given a user inputs an invalid date range or selects a team with no available data, When the user attempts to export, Then the system displays a clear validation error message and prevents report generation until valid inputs are provided.
Performance of Large Data Exports
When a user exports trend data spanning six months across multiple teams and chart types, Then the system completes the generation and download of PDF and CSV files within 60 seconds and each file does not exceed 10MB in size.

ContextSync Transcripts

Aligns auto-transcribed text with corresponding audio timestamps, enabling seamless toggling between text and voice. InsightMiners and TeamGuardians can scan transcripts for specific phrases, then play the exact clip for deeper nuance—bridging the gap between raw data and human context.

Requirements

Timestamp Alignment Engine
"As an InsightMiner, I want each line of the transcript linked to its exact audio timestamp so that I can quickly play and analyze specific moments without manually searching through the recording."
Description

Implement a robust alignment engine that accurately synchronizes each transcribed word and sentence with its precise audio timestamp. The engine should handle variances in speech rate and interruptions, ensuring that users can instantly locate and play the exact audio segment corresponding to any highlighted text. Integration with the existing transcription pipeline is required, and the alignment data must be stored in a format compatible with the front-end viewer for real-time toggling between text and audio.

Acceptance Criteria
Word-Level Timestamp Accuracy
Given an audio recording with known reference timestamps, when the alignment engine processes the transcription, then each transcribed word shall be assigned start and end timestamps within ±100 milliseconds of the reference.
Sentence-Level Timestamp Synchronization
Given a multi-sentence transcript, when alignment is completed, then each sentence’s timestamp range (start of first word to end of last word) shall be accurate within ±200 milliseconds of the actual audio boundaries.
Speech Rate Variation Handling
Given audio segments spoken at normal, fast, and slow rates, when the engine aligns the transcript, then timestamp accuracy tolerance (as defined above) shall be maintained regardless of speech rate.
Interruption and Overlap Resilience
Given audio containing speaker interruptions, filler words, and overlapping speech, when alignment occurs, then only clearly recognized words shall be timestamped, and misaligned or overlapping tokens shall be flagged for review.
Real-Time Front-End Integration
Given a user toggles text to audio in the front-end viewer, when a word or sentence is clicked, then the corresponding audio segment must begin playback within 200 milliseconds of the click.
Alignment Data Format Compatibility
Given the existing transcription pipeline data structures, when alignment data is stored, then it shall conform to the front-end schema (JSON with word-level timestamps) without requiring additional transformation.
Full-Text Transcript Search
"As a TeamGuardian, I want to search the entire transcript for specific terms so that I can immediately find and review all relevant instances without reading through the whole document."
Description

Provide a full-text search capability across all auto-transcribed content, allowing users to input keywords or phrases and receive a list of matching transcript excerpts with their associated timestamps. The search should support partial matches, case insensitivity, and highlight results within the transcript viewer. This feature empowers users to swiftly pinpoint discussions or comments relevant to their analysis.

Acceptance Criteria
Keyword Search Returns Relevant Excerpts
Given a transcript containing the keyword “project” When the user searches for “project” Then the system returns a list of all transcript excerpts containing “project” with their associated timestamps
Case-Insensitive and Partial Match Functionality
Given transcript entries with varying cases and partial words (e.g., “Sync,” “synchronize”) When the user searches for “sync” Then the system returns matches for “Sync,” “sync,” and “synchronize”
Timestamp Navigation from Search Results
Given a list of search results with timestamps When the user clicks on a search result Then the audio player jumps to the exact timestamp corresponding to that excerpt and plays the clip
Highlighting Search Results in Transcript Viewer
Given a displayed transcript containing search results When the user searches for a term Then all instances of the term are highlighted in the transcript viewer in a distinguishable color
Search Performance on Large Transcripts
Given a transcript file up to 100,000 words When the user performs a keyword search Then the system returns results within 2 seconds
Inline Audio Playback
"As an HR Manager, I want to play audio snippets from within the transcript so that I can gauge tone and nuance in real time without leaving the text view."
Description

Embed inline audio controls directly within the transcript viewer for sentence-level playback. When users click a play icon next to any sentence or phrase, the audio player should cue and play that exact segment. This functionality enhances context understanding by letting users hear tone, pacing, and emphasis without navigating away from the transcript.

Acceptance Criteria
Displaying sentence-level play controls
When the transcript loads, each sentence displays a play icon aligned to its start. Clicking the icon triggers playback of that sentence’s audio. The play icon changes to a pause icon during playback.
Accurate playback of selected sentence audio
Given a specific sentence with timestamps, when a user clicks its play icon, then the audio plays starting exactly at the sentence’s start time and stops at its end time within a tolerance of ±200ms.
Transcript and audio synchronization when scrolling
Given the user scrolls through the transcript while audio is playing, then the currently playing sentence is automatically brought into view and highlighted.
Responsive audio controls under varying loads
When multiple play icons are clicked in quick succession, then only one audio segment plays at a time, with the previous segment stopping immediately upon new playback initiation.
Playback resume after fast navigation
Given playback is paused mid-sentence and the user navigates away then returns, when the user clicks the play icon again, then playback resumes from the paused timestamp of the original sentence.
Segment Export
"As an InsightMiner, I want to export chosen transcript sections with their audio clips so that I can share curated insights with my team in meetings and reports."
Description

Enable users to select multiple transcript segments along with their audio clips and export them as a bundled package. Export formats should include a shareable audio file (e.g., MP3) for each clip and a text document listing the corresponding transcript excerpts and timestamps. This allows stakeholders to review curated discussions offline or in presentations.

Acceptance Criteria
Selective Segment Bundle Export
Given the user selects multiple transcript segments and their corresponding audio clips, when the user initiates the export, then the system generates a ZIP package containing individual MP3 files for each selected clip and a text document listing each transcript excerpt with accurate timestamps.
Offline Stakeholder Review Package
Given the exported ZIP package is downloaded, when a stakeholder opens the package without internet access, then all audio files play in standard media players and the text document displays correctly formatted transcript excerpts and timestamps.
Presentation-Ready Export Format
Given the user selects the ‘presentation-ready’ option before exporting, when the export completes, then the package includes an additional combined audio file and the text document is formatted with clear headers and slide numbers for seamless integration into presentation software.
Large Selection Performance
Given the user selects up to 50 transcript segments, when the export process runs, then the system completes packaging within 2 minutes without errors or timeouts.
Export Integrity Verification
Given the export process finishes, when the system runs post-export validation, then every generated audio file’s duration matches its transcript timestamps and no selected segments are missing from the package.
Viewer Mode Toggle
"As a user, I want to switch between transcript text view and audio waveform view so that I can analyze data in the format that best suits my workflow without restarting playback."
Description

Design a seamless UI toggle that allows users to switch between a text-focused transcript view and an audio waveform view. The toggle should maintain current playback position and selection context across modes. This ensures users can choose their preferred analysis interface—visual waveform for audio pattern recognition or text view for reading and research—without losing their place.

Acceptance Criteria
Switching to Waveform View Preserves Playback Position
Given the user is viewing the transcript at timestamp T When the user toggles to waveform view Then the waveform loads with the playhead at timestamp T and audio playback resumes from T
Switching to Transcript View Preserves Playback Position
Given the user is viewing the waveform at timestamp T When the user toggles to transcript view Then the transcript scrolls to and highlights text corresponding to timestamp T and audio playback resumes from T
Maintaining Text Selection Context Across Views
Given the user has selected a phrase in the transcript corresponding to time range [T1, T2] When the user toggles to waveform view Then the waveform highlights the region from T1 to T2 and the audio selection context remains intact
Toggle via Keyboard Shortcut
Given the user has focus on the transcript or waveform view When the user presses the designated keyboard shortcut (e.g., Ctrl+T) Then the view toggles between transcript and waveform without changing playback position or context
Toggle Without Interrupting Playback
Given audio is playing in either view When the user toggles between transcript and waveform views Then the audio continues playing seamlessly without pausing or restarting

Shareable Snippet Cards

Allows managers to create anonymized, branded snippet cards that pair a highlighted audio excerpt with its transcription and emotion score. These cards can be shared in Slack or email to illustrate positive feedback, recognize employee voices, or communicate action plans transparently.

Requirements

Snippet Card Template Customization
"As an HR manager, I want to customize the look and feel of snippet cards so that shared feedback reflects our company’s brand identity and maintains consistency in external communications."
Description

Provide managers with tools to customize the appearance of snippet cards, including company logos, color schemes, font styles, and layout options. The customization interface should integrate seamlessly into PulseSync's admin settings, allowing users to upload branding assets, select from predefined themes, and preview changes in real time. This customization will ensure that each snippet card aligns with organizational brand guidelines, enhances visual consistency, and fosters recognition across all shared communications.

Acceptance Criteria
Logo Upload and Preview
Given an admin uploads a supported image file (PNG or JPG), when the upload completes, then the logo displays correctly scaled and centered in the template preview within 2 seconds.
Color Scheme Selection
Given an admin selects a predefined color theme, when the selection is made, then the template preview updates the card’s background and text colors in real time without page reload.
Custom Font Application
Given an admin chooses a font style from the dropdown, when the font is selected, then all text elements in the preview switch to the chosen font immediately.
Layout Reordering
Given an admin reorders snippet card elements using drag-and-drop, when the element is dropped into place, then the preview reflects the new layout order within 2 seconds.
Template Save and Apply
Given an admin saves the customized template, when a new snippet card is generated, then the card uses the updated logo, colors, fonts, and layout when shared via Slack or email.
Anonymization and Privacy Controls
"As an HR manager, I want to anonymize sensitive information in snippet cards so that employee privacy is protected while sharing honest feedback."
Description

Implement robust anonymization features that automatically redact or replace personal identifiers in audio excerpts and transcriptions. Managers should be able to choose between different levels of privacy, such as pseudonymization or full anonymity. The system must ensure compliance with corporate privacy policies and data protection regulations by masking names, titles, or any other sensitive information. This control panel should integrate with user permission settings to restrict who can view or modify anonymization levels.

Acceptance Criteria
Anonymization Level Configuration
Given a manager selects the pseudonymization level in the privacy control panel, When the system processes the selected audio excerpt, Then all personal identifiers (names, titles, sensitive details) are replaced with generic labels before saving or display.
Automatic Redaction Compliance
Given the system ingests an audio excerpt, When it detects personal identifiers in the transcription, Then those identifiers are automatically redacted or replaced with placeholders in both the transcript and audio metadata, ensuring no identifiable information is stored or shown.
Snippet Card Generation
Given a manager generates a snippet card at the chosen anonymity level, When the card is exported to Slack or email, Then the card displays only anonymized labels, the correct emotion score, and the transcription without any real personal identifiers.
Selective Permission Access
Given a user without 'Manage Anonymization Settings' permission attempts to access the privacy control panel, When they try to change anonymization levels, Then the system denies access and displays an appropriate authorization error message.
Audit Logging of Anonymization Changes
Given any change is made to anonymization settings by a user, When the user saves the new settings, Then the system records an audit log entry with the timestamp, user ID, previous settings, and new settings for compliance tracking.
Audio Excerpt Selection and Timestamping
"As an HR manager, I want to select and timestamp specific audio excerpts so that I can highlight exactly the parts of feedback that showcase key insights."
Description

Enable managers to select precise audio segments directly from recorded pulse survey responses using an intuitive waveform interface. Each selected excerpt should automatically generate a corresponding transcription and timestamp to provide context. The tool must allow trimming, replaying, and bookmarking of excerpts. Integration with the transcription engine should ensure accurate transcription generation and synchronization with the audio timestamps.

Acceptance Criteria
Selecting and Timestamping a Survey Response Excerpt
Given a recorded pulse survey response with a displayed waveform, when the manager selects start and end points on the waveform and confirms the selection, then the system extracts the audio segment, assigns accurate start and end timestamps (hh:mm:ss), and displays them alongside the excerpt.
Trimming and Bookmarking Excerpts
Given an extracted audio excerpt, when the manager trims the beginning or end of the excerpt using the waveform handles and adds a bookmark label, then the system updates the excerpt boundaries, adjusts the timestamps accordingly, and displays the bookmark label in the excerpt list.
Transcription Synchronization Verification
Given a selected audio excerpt, when the system generates the transcription, then each word in the transcription must be linked to its exact timestamp in the audio (±0.1s), and the transcription display should highlight the current word in sync during playback.
Replay and Quality Check of Selected Audio
Given a selected and transcribed excerpt, when the manager clicks the replay button, then the system plays only the selected audio segment, and the playback controls allow pausing, seeking, and adjusting volume without exceeding the segment boundaries.
Edge Case Handling for Excerpt Length
Rule: The system must prevent selections shorter than 2 seconds and longer than 120 seconds; if a manager attempts such a selection, the UI displays an error message and disables the confirm button until a valid range is chosen.
Emotion Score Visualization
"As an HR manager, I want to see emotion scores visualized on snippet cards so that I can understand the sentiment of feedback at a glance."
Description

Display emotion analysis results alongside each snippet card in a clear, visual format. Use emotive icons and color-coded indicators to represent detected emotions such as joy, frustration, or neutrality. The visualization should integrate with existing heatmap data, allowing managers to compare individual snippet emotions with team-level trends. This feature will help managers quickly interpret the sentiment behind each excerpt and communicate results in a more engaging way.

Acceptance Criteria
Snippet Card Visualization Initialization
Given a manager opens a snippet card, When the card loads, Then an emotion icon, color-coded indicator, and numeric emotion score are displayed within 2 seconds of data retrieval.
Color-Coded Emotion Indicator Conforms to Score
Given a detected emotion score, When the score is in the ranges >70, 30–70, or <30, Then the indicator uses green, yellow, or red color gradients respectively and displays a tooltip showing the exact percentage.
Emotive Icon Corresponds to Detected Emotion
Given an excerpt’s emotion classification, When the system renders the snippet card, Then it displays the correct icon for joy, neutrality, or frustration, matching the approved design assets and including alt text for accessibility.
Integration with Team Heatmap Data
Given a manager views both the snippet card and the team heatmap, When the manager selects the snippet, Then the heatmap highlights the corresponding team segment and adjusts the color scale to reflect the difference between the individual snippet’s emotion score and the overall team trend.
Export and Sharing Preserves Visualization
Given a manager exports or shares a snippet card via Slack, email, or image download, When the file or message is delivered, Then it includes the emotion icon, color-coded indicator, and numeric score at 96 DPI or higher, with file size under 1 MB.
Slack and Email Sharing Integration
"As an HR manager, I want to share snippet cards directly to Slack or email so that I can quickly distribute key feedback to stakeholders without leaving the platform."
Description

Develop seamless sharing functionality that allows managers to send snippet cards directly to Slack channels or email recipients from within the PulseSync interface. For Slack, use OAuth to authenticate and select target channels or direct messages. For email, integrate with SMTP or third-party services like SendGrid to format cards as HTML-rich messages. The sharing module should log share events and track engagement metrics such as opens and clicks for reporting purposes.

Acceptance Criteria
Slack Channel Sharing with OAuth Authentication
Given a manager has authenticated with Slack via OAuth When the manager selects a snippet card and chooses a Slack channel from the channel selector Then the snippet card is posted to the selected Slack channel with branded formatting And a confirmation message appears in the PulseSync interface
Slack Direct Message Sharing
Given a manager has authenticated with Slack via OAuth When the manager selects a snippet card and enters a user’s Slack handle for direct message Then the snippet card is sent to the correct user’s DM with transcription and emotion score And the interface displays the recipient’s name and a success alert
Email Sharing via SMTP Integration
Given valid SMTP server credentials are configured When the manager enters one or more email addresses and clicks send Then an HTML-rich email containing the snippet card is delivered to each recipient within 60 seconds And the UI displays a ‘Email sent successfully’ confirmation
Email Sharing via SendGrid Service
Given a valid SendGrid API key and sender identity are configured When the manager shares a snippet card via the SendGrid option Then the card is queued and dispatched through SendGrid And the email arrives with correct branding and embedded transcription
Share Event Logging and Engagement Tracking
Given any snippet card is shared via Slack or email When the share action completes Then the system logs the event with timestamp, medium (Slack or Email), target channel or recipient And engagement metrics (opens and clicks) are tracked and visible in the PulseSync reporting dashboard within 5 minutes

Snippet Spotlight

On hover, instantly display a concise, anonymized excerpt from relevant comments. Users gain immediate context for sentiment spikes without leaving the heatmap, enabling faster, more informed interventions.

Requirements

Instant Hover Activation
"As an HR manager, I want the comment snippet to appear instantly when I hover over a heatmap cell so that I can quickly understand the sentiment context without disruption."
Description

The system must detect mouse hover events over heatmap cells and instantly display the Snippet Spotlight tooltip with a relevant comment excerpt in under 200ms. This requirement ensures seamless interaction with zero noticeable delay, providing users with immediate context for sentiment spikes without disrupting workflow, and integrates directly with the heatmap UI layer to trigger tooltip rendering upon hover.

Acceptance Criteria
Standard Cell Hover Interaction
Given the user hovers over any heatmap cell, when the hover event is detected, then the Snippet Spotlight tooltip appears within 200ms displaying a relevant anonymized comment excerpt.
Rapid Sequential Hover Events
Given the user moves the cursor rapidly over adjacent heatmap cells, when each hover event occurs, then a new tooltip appears within 200ms for each cell without delay or overlap.
Network Latency Resilience
Given simulated network latency of up to 500ms, when the user hovers over a heatmap cell, then the tooltip renders within 200ms using pre-fetched or cached data.
Heatmap UI Layer Integration
Given the heatmap UI is fully loaded, when hovering over a cell, then the tooltip is triggered by the UI layer and rendered without any visual glitches within 200ms.
Edge Cell Tooltip Positioning
Given the user hovers over a heatmap cell at the edge of the viewport, when the hover event occurs, then the tooltip appears fully within the viewport boundaries within 200ms.
Contextual Snippet Extraction
"As an HR manager, I want the snippet to capture the most relevant part of comments so that I get accurate context about sentiment trends."
Description

The backend service must retrieve and format the most representative sentence or phrase from user comments associated with sentiment spikes. Excerpts should be concise—no longer than 200 characters—while accurately reflecting the comment’s theme. This requirement drives relevance and clarity in the spotlighted snippets, enhancing decision-making by surfacing the most impactful feedback.

Acceptance Criteria
Heatmap Cell Hover Triggers Snippet Display
Given a user hovers over a heatmap cell indicating a sentiment spike When the front-end sends a snippet request to the backend service Then the backend returns an anonymized excerpt and the UI displays it in a tooltip
Anonymized Snippet Reflects Comment Theme
Given multiple comments linked to a sentiment spike When the service analyzes and selects the representative sentence Then the snippet accurately conveys the dominant theme without revealing user identity
Snippet Does Not Exceed Character Limit
Given the backend extracts a representative phrase When formatting the snippet for display Then the final excerpt length must be ≤200 characters
Representative Sentence Selection from Multiple Comments
Given a cluster of comments with similar sentiment When the service processes the comments Then it selects the sentence with the highest relevance score as the snippet
Snippet Retrieval Within Performance Threshold
Given a hover action triggers a snippet request When the backend processes and returns the snippet Then the total response time must be under 300ms
Anonymized Data Masking
"As a company employee, I want my feedback to remain anonymous so that I feel safe sharing honest opinions."
Description

The feature must automatically detect and redact any personally identifying information within comment excerpts, replacing names and identifiers with neutral placeholders. This requirement guarantees complete anonymity for respondents, upholds privacy standards, and builds trust, while preserving the meaning and tone of the feedback.

Acceptance Criteria
Masking Personal Names in Hovered Snippet
Given a comment excerpt containing explicit personal names, when a user hovers over the heatmap cell, then all names must be replaced with neutral placeholders (e.g., [Employee], [Manager]) while preserving sentence structure.
Replacing Identifiers in Company-Specific Comments
Given a comment excerpt containing company-related identifiers (project codes, department names), when displayed in the snippet, then each identifier must be redacted and replaced with a generic placeholder (e.g., [Project], [Department]) without altering the context of feedback.
Handling Mixed Data Types within Excerpts
Given a comment excerpt containing a mix of personal names, email addresses, and phone numbers, when the snippet is shown, then each type of PII must be detected and masked according to its category (e.g., emails become [Email], phone numbers become [Phone]).
Escaping Edge Cases with No Private Data
Given a comment excerpt with no personal or identifiable information, when hovered over, then the snippet should display the original text verbatim with no placeholders inserted.
Ensuring Tone Preservation Post-Masking
Given any redacted comment excerpt, when placeholders replace PII, then the tone, sentiment polarity, and punctuation of the original feedback must remain unchanged.
Tooltip UI Styling
"As an HR manager, I want the tooltip to be visually clear and aligned with the UI so that I can easily read and interpret the snippet."
Description

The Snippet Spotlight tooltip should adhere to PulseSync’s design system, using approved typography, color contrast ratios, and responsive layouts. It must display clearly on various screen sizes, maintain visual consistency with existing UI components, and ensure readability under different lighting conditions. This requirement enhances user experience by providing an intuitive and polished interface.

Acceptance Criteria
Correct Typography on Tooltip Display
Given a user hovers over a data point, when the tooltip appears, then the text must use the design system’s font family, size 14px, line height 20px, and weight 400 (regular) and 600 (bold) exactly as defined in the PulseSync style guide.
Color Contrast Compliance
Given the tooltip’s background and text colors, then the contrast ratio must be at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text, in accordance with WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
Responsive Layout on Mobile and Tablet
Given viewport widths between 320px and 1920px, when the tooltip is displayed, then it must reposition or resize to remain fully within the viewport, maintain 8px padding, and wrap text without overflow or horizontal scrolling.
Visual Consistency with Existing UI Components
Given the design system’s component tokens, then the tooltip’s border radius must be 4px, shadow elevation level 2, and spacing aligned to an 8px grid to match existing UI elements.
Readability at Maximum Device Brightness
Given device brightness set to 100%, when viewing the tooltip, then the text and background must remain legible, maintaining required contrast ratios and clarity without color distortion or blur.
Performance Monitoring and Logging
"As a product owner, I want to track usage and performance metrics so that I can identify issues and improve the feature over time."
Description

Implement logging and analytics within the Snippet Spotlight feature to capture interaction metrics such as hover frequency, tooltip load times, and error rates. This requirement enables ongoing performance monitoring against SLAs, early detection of issues, and data-driven optimizations for future releases.

Acceptance Criteria
Hover Interaction Logging
Given a user hovers over a heatmap cell When the Snippet Spotlight tooltip appears Then an event is recorded with timestamp, cell ID, user ID, and session ID
Tooltip Load Time Tracking
Given a tooltip trigger When the tooltip content is requested Then the system logs the request time and the time when content is fully rendered and stores the load duration in analytics
Error Rate Detection
Given any failure in loading or displaying a tooltip When an error occurs Then an error event is logged with error code, cell ID, and timestamp and increments the tooltip failure counter
Analytics Data Export
Given the performance data is collected When an admin requests a report Then the system exports logs including hover frequency, load times, and error rates for a specified date range in CSV format
Real-time Dashboard Update
Given performance metrics are ingested When new log entries arrive Then the real-time monitoring dashboard reflects updated hover counts, average load times, and error rates within 30 seconds

Sentiment Score Overlay

Reveal a quick-view sentiment meter directly within each heatmap cell when hovered. Managers can immediately gauge positivity or negativity levels, prioritizing cells that need urgent attention.

Requirements

Hover-triggered Sentiment Overlay
"As an HR manager, I want to see a sentiment meter overlay when hovering over a heatmap cell so that I can quickly gauge employee mood without navigating away."
Description

When a user hovers over a heatmap cell, an overlay appears showing the sentiment score as a meter with color coding, allowing immediate visual feedback without clicking. This integrates seamlessly with the existing heatmap component, enhancing user interaction by providing instant sentiment insights.

Acceptance Criteria
Hovering Over a Heatmap Cell Displays Overlay
Given a user hovers over any heatmap cell for at least 200ms, When the hover action is detected, Then a sentiment overlay appears above the cell without requiring a click.
Hovering Over a High Sentiment Cell
Given the cell sentiment score is ≥ 80%, When the user hovers over that cell, Then the overlay meter displays green shading proportional to the score and shows the numeric percentage.
Hovering Over a Low Sentiment Cell
Given the cell sentiment score is ≤ 40%, When the user hovers over that cell, Then the overlay meter displays red shading proportional to the score and shows the numeric percentage.
Keyboard Focus Triggers Sentiment Overlay
Given a heatmap cell has keyboard focus, When the focus moves to the cell via Tab or arrow keys, Then the sentiment overlay appears with identical content and styling as on hover.
Overlay Rendering Performance Under Load
Given a heatmap with 100+ cells rendered, When a user hovers over any cell, Then the sentiment overlay must appear within 100ms without any dropped frames or UI lag.
Sentiment Data Retrieval API
"As a product owner, I want an API that returns up-to-date sentiment scores for specific heatmap cells so that overlays reflect the most current data when displayed."
Description

Implement a backend API endpoint that retrieves real-time sentiment scores for each heatmap cell based on the latest pulse survey data. The endpoint must support efficient querying by cell identifiers and return standardized JSON responses for frontend consumption, ensuring data freshness and consistency.

Acceptance Criteria
Valid Cell ID Data Retrieval
Given a valid cell ID "cell-123", when the client sends a GET request to /api/sentiment?cellId=cell-123, then the API returns HTTP 200 with JSON containing "cellId":"cell-123" and "sentimentScore": a number between -1.0 and 1.0.
Handling Missing Survey Data
Given a valid cell ID with no associated survey responses, when the client requests sentiment data, then the API returns HTTP 200 with JSON where "sentimentScore" is null and includes a message indicating "No data available".
JSON Response Format Validation
When the client queries the sentiment endpoint for any cell ID, then the response JSON must match the schema: {"cellId":string, "sentimentScore":number|null, "timestamp":string (ISO 8601)} with no extra fields.
Query Performance Under Load
Given 100 concurrent GET requests to /api/sentiment for distinct cell IDs, then at least 95% of responses complete within 200ms and all return HTTP 200.
Data Freshness Verification
Given a new pulse survey response submitted for a cell, when the client queries that cell’s sentiment after 5 minutes, then the returned "sentimentScore" reflects the updated data aggregating the new response.
Sentiment Meter UI Component
"As a frontend developer, I want a modular UI component for the sentiment meter so that I can easily integrate it within heatmap cells and maintain consistent styling."
Description

Develop a reusable UI component that renders the sentiment meter overlay, including a colored bar or gauge and numeric percentage. The component must adapt to various cell sizes, support theming consistent with the application’s style guide, and handle dynamic data binding from the sentiment API.

Acceptance Criteria
Heatmap Cell Hover Displays Sentiment Meter
Given a heatmap cell rendering sentiment data, when the user hovers over the cell, then a sentiment meter overlay with a colored gauge and numeric percentage must appear within the cell.
Sentiment Meter Adapts to Cell Size Variations
Given heatmap cells of varying widths and heights, when the sentiment meter component renders, then its gauge and numeric percentage must scale proportionally and remain fully visible without overflow or distortion.
Sentiment Meter Applies Active Theme Styles
Given the application switches between light and dark themes, when the theme is applied, then the sentiment meter’s colors, fonts, and borders must update according to the style guide for each theme.
Real-Time Data Binding Updates Sentiment Meter
Given new sentiment data received from the API for a specific cell, when the data arrives, then the sentiment meter overlay must update its gauge and numeric percentage within 200ms without requiring a page reload.
Sentiment Meter Handles API Errors Gracefully
Given the sentiment API returns an error or null data for a cell, when attempting to bind the data, then the sentiment meter overlay must display a default gray gauge and 'N/A' text without breaking the layout.
Overlay Performance Optimization
"As an HR manager, I want the sentiment overlay to appear instantly and smoothly so that my workflow remains uninterrupted when analyzing multiple cells quickly."
Description

Optimize the rendering of sentiment overlays to ensure minimal latency and prevent UI jank. Implement techniques such as data caching, debounced hover events, and lazy loading to deliver a smooth user experience even with large datasets and frequent interactions.

Acceptance Criteria
Hover Over Cell Loads Sentiment Overlay Within 100ms
Given the user hovers over any heatmap cell, when the sentiment overlay data is available, then the overlay must render within 100 milliseconds without causing any dropped frames or UI jank.
Navigate Heatmap with Multiple Cells in Quick Succession
Given the user moves the cursor across ten different cells within five seconds, when debounced hover events are applied, then only one data fetch occurs per 200 milliseconds and each overlay renders within 100 milliseconds.
View Heatmap on Slow Network Conditions
Given simulated network latency up to 500 milliseconds, when the user hovers over a cell, then a placeholder loader appears within 50 milliseconds and the sentiment overlay renders within 200 milliseconds using cached or async-fallback data.
Initialize Heatmap with Pre-Cached Sentiment Data
Given the heatmap is visible on screen, when the map first loads, then sentiment scores for all visible cells are pre-fetched and cached so that the first hover overlay renders within 50 milliseconds.
Pause and Resume Hover Events Handling
Given the user quickly moves the cursor off a hovered cell before the overlay renders, when the next hover occurs on any cell, then the previous request is canceled, no redundant fetch occurs, and the new overlay request follows debounce rules.
Accessibility and Keyboard Navigation
"As an HR manager who relies on keyboard navigation, I want to access sentiment overlays without a mouse so that I can use the tool more effectively."
Description

Ensure the sentiment overlay is accessible via keyboard navigation and screen readers. Define focus states for heatmap cells, enable keyboard-triggered overlays, and provide ARIA labels for sentiment values, complying with WCAG 2.1 AA standards.

Acceptance Criteria
Heatmap Cell Keyboard Focus
Given a user navigates through heatmap cells using Tab, each cell receives a visible focus indicator with a 2px solid outline when focused
Overlay Activation via Keyboard
Given focus is on a heatmap cell, when the user presses Enter or Spacebar, then the sentiment overlay appears within 100ms and displays correct sentiment score
Screen Reader Sentiment Announcement
Given screen reader mode is active, when a user navigates to a heatmap cell, then the screen reader announces the cell coordinates followed by 'Sentiment score: X out of 5' describing positivity level
ARIA Label Correctness
Each heatmap cell includes an aria-label attribute formatted as 'Cell [row],[column]: Sentiment [positive/neutral/negative]' matching the actual sentiment value
Focus State Contrast Compliance
The focus indicator on heatmap cells must have a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 against adjacent colors, verified via an automated contrast tool
Automated Overlay Testing
"As a QA engineer, I want automated tests for the sentiment overlay to verify its functionality and reliability during continuous integration."
Description

Create automated tests for the sentiment overlay feature, including unit tests for data handling and integration tests for UI behavior during hover, focus, and data updates. Ensure tests cover edge cases such as missing data or API failures.

Acceptance Criteria
Sentiment Data Retrieval Validation
Given the API returns a valid sentiment payload, when the unit test parses the data, then the sentiment score must match the expected numerical value and data structure.
Sentiment Overlay Display on Hover
Given a heatmap cell with sentiment data available, when a user hovers over the cell, then the sentiment overlay must appear within 200ms displaying the correct positivity or negativity meter.
Sentiment Overlay Accessibility Focus Behavior
Given keyboard navigation is used, when the cell gains focus via tabbing, then the sentiment overlay must appear and be accessible via screen reader with ARIA labels matching the sentiment value.
Sentiment Overlay Missing Data Handling
Given the API returns null or missing sentiment data for a cell, when the overlay is triggered, then a placeholder message “Data unavailable” must be displayed and no errors should occur.
Real-Time Sentiment Update Reflects New Data
Given new sentiment data arrives via WebSocket, when the heatmap refreshes, then the overlay’s meter value must update within 500ms to reflect the latest sentiment score without requiring a page reload.

FilterFocus Toolbar

Introduce dynamic filtering controls above the heatmap for date ranges, teams, and sentiment types. Combined with hover snippets, users can drill down to specific periods or groups, revealing targeted insights effortlessly.

Requirements

Date Range Selector
"As an HR manager, I want to filter pulse survey results by custom date ranges so that I can focus on sentiment trends within specific periods and inform targeted interventions."
Description

Implement a dynamic date range selector above the heatmap that enables users to define custom start and end dates or choose from common intervals (e.g., last week, last month, quarter). The control integrates seamlessly with the heatmap component, triggering real-time updates to reflect sentiment data within the specified period. This empowers HR managers to analyze temporal trends, identify fluctuations in employee sentiment over time, and compare different intervals without manual data extraction.

Acceptance Criteria
Custom Date Range Entry
Given the user inputs a valid start date and end date, when they apply the selection, then the heatmap updates to display sentiment data exclusively within that custom date range.
Preset Quick Interval Selection
Given the user selects a common interval option (last week, last month, quarter), when they confirm their choice, then the heatmap refreshes to show data corresponding to that preset interval.
Invalid Date Range Handling
Given the user inputs an end date that precedes the start date, when they attempt to apply the range, then the system displays a clear validation error and prevents the heatmap update.
Real-Time Heatmap Update
Given any valid date range selection (custom or preset), when the range is applied, then the heatmap reloads and visualizes updated data within 2 seconds.
URL State Preservation
Given a date range is applied, when the page URL is inspected or the page is reloaded, then the selected date range persists in the URL parameters and the heatmap reflects the same date range on load.
Team Filter Dropdown
"As an HR manager, I want to filter survey data by specific teams so that I can compare morale across different departments and address areas with lower engagement."
Description

Introduce a multi-select team filter dropdown above the heatmap that lists all organizational units and allows users to include or exclude specific teams. Each selection dynamically refreshes the heatmap to display data only for the chosen groups. The control supports rapid filtering across nested team hierarchies, enabling HR managers to zero in on department-level or cross-functional team insights without clutter.

Acceptance Criteria
Multiple Team Selection
Given the Team Filter Dropdown is visible, When the user selects multiple teams from the list, Then the heatmap dynamically refreshes to display data exclusively for those selected teams.
Exclude Teams Using Deselect
Given one or more teams are selected, When the user deselects one or more teams, Then the heatmap updates immediately to remove data related to the deselected teams.
Nested Team Hierarchy Filtering
Given a parent team with nested sub-teams exists, When the user selects the parent team, Then all nested sub-teams are automatically included and the heatmap displays combined data for the entire hierarchy.
Reset Filter
Given a set of selected teams in the filter, When the user clicks the reset filter control, Then all selections are cleared and the heatmap returns to showing data for the entire organization.
Performance Under Large Team Sets
Given the organization has a large number of teams (e.g., 1000+), When the user makes selection changes, Then the heatmap refresh completes within one second to ensure a responsive user experience.
Sentiment Type Toggle
"As an HR manager, I want to toggle visibility of positive, neutral, and negative sentiments so that I can focus on specific emotional trends and respond appropriately."
Description

Develop sentiment type toggle buttons (e.g., Positive, Neutral, Negative) positioned above the heatmap that let users toggle visibility of each sentiment category. The UI updates in real time, adjusting color intensities and heatmap distribution to highlight the selected sentiment streams. This facilitates granular analysis of employee emotions and helps managers pinpoint areas of concern or celebrate positive trends.

Acceptance Criteria
Toggle Single Sentiment On
Given the heatmap displays all sentiment categories, When the user clicks the ‘Positive’ toggle button, Then only positive sentiment cells remain colored on the heatmap, and neutral and negative cells are hidden, And the heatmap color intensities adjust to reflect only positive data.
Toggle Multiple Sentiments On and Off
Given the heatmap has ‘Positive’ and ‘Negative’ toggles selected, When the user deselects the ‘Negative’ toggle, Then only positive sentiment cells remain visible, And when the user subsequently selects the ‘Neutral’ toggle, Then both positive and neutral cells appear on the heatmap.
Real-Time Heatmap Update
Given any sentiment toggle state is changed, When the user toggles a sentiment button, Then the heatmap updates within one second to display the current sentiment distribution, And the color intensities update dynamically without page reload.
State Persistence on Page Refresh
Given the user has adjusted sentiment toggles, When the user refreshes the browser or navigates away and returns, Then the previously selected toggle states are preserved, And the heatmap reflects those preserved states on load.
Accessibility and Keyboard Navigation
Given focus is on the sentiment toggle toolbar, When the user navigates with Tab and activates toggles with Enter or Space, Then toggles respond to keyboard input, And appropriate ARIA roles and states are updated to reflect selection.
Interactive Heatmap Tooltip
"As an HR manager, I want to hover over heatmap cells to view detailed sentiment info and sample comments so that I can quickly understand the context behind the data points."
Description

Implement interactive hover tooltips for heatmap cells that reveal detailed snippets including date, team name, sentiment score, and sample survey comments. The tooltip appears instantly on hover, formatted for readability, and can be clicked to expand for deeper context. This feature enriches data exploration by providing context without navigating away from the dashboard.

Acceptance Criteria
Instant Tooltip Display
Given a user hovers over any heatmap cell, When hover duration reaches 100ms, Then an interactive tooltip appears immediately above the cell without flicker or delay.
Accurate Tooltip Content
Given a specific heatmap cell representing a team on a date, When the tooltip is displayed, Then it must show the correct date, team name, sentiment score, and a sample survey comment that matches the underlying cell data.
Readable Tooltip Formatting
Given the tooltip is visible, When rendering text and layout, Then font sizes, line spacing, and colors must match design specifications ensuring no text is truncated and all content is easily readable.
Tooltip Expansion Interaction
Given the tooltip is visible, When the user clicks on it, Then it expands inline to show full survey comments and additional context details, and provides a close icon to collapse back.
Tooltip Dismissal Behavior
Given the tooltip is visible, When the user moves the cursor away from the heatmap cell or clicks outside the tooltip, Then the tooltip disappears within 200ms without residual artifacts.
Persistent Filter State
"As an HR manager, I want my filter settings to be saved between sessions so that I can pick up my analysis where I left off without reconfiguring controls."
Description

Create a mechanism to save and restore the current filter configuration in user profiles so that when users revisit the dashboard, their last-used date ranges, team selections, and sentiment toggles are automatically reapplied. This persistence improves usability by reducing repetitive setup and ensures continuity of analysis sessions.

Acceptance Criteria
Returning User Sees Last-Used Filters Applied
Given the user has previously configured date ranges, team selections, and sentiment toggles; When the user revisits the PulseSync dashboard; Then the system automatically reapplies the last-used date range, teams, and sentiment filters before rendering the heatmap.
User Logs in from Different Browser Sees Consistent Filters
Given the user’s filter state is stored in their profile; When the user logs in on a different device or browser; Then the dashboard loads with the identical date range, team selection, and sentiment filters that were last saved.
User Clears Filters and State Persists
Given the user manually resets all filters to default; When the user navigates away or refreshes the page; Then the dashboard displays the default filter configuration and the saved user profile reflects the cleared state.
User Updates Filters and Navigates Away
Given the user modifies one or more filter settings; When the user leaves the dashboard and returns later in the same session; Then the dashboard restores the updated filter configuration without requiring manual reapplication.
First-Time User Sees Default Filter Configuration
Given a user has no prior filter state saved; When the user accesses the dashboard for the first time; Then the system displays the predefined default date range, all teams selected, and all sentiment types enabled.

Snapshot Card Export

Allow users to capture hovered snippets as shareable, branded snapshot cards. HR managers can quickly export context-rich visuals to Slack or email, fostering transparent communication and action plans.

Requirements

Snapshot Capture Functionality
"As an HR manager, I want to capture specific survey insights as branded snapshot cards so that I can quickly share context-rich visuals with my team for prompt action."
Description

Enable users to capture specific on-screen survey data snippets as snapshot cards by hovering over data points and clicking a capture button. The feature should automatically include relevant context such as survey question, response metrics, timestamp, and user annotations. This seamless integration within the PulseSync UI ensures HR managers can preserve and reference precise insights without navigating away from the dashboard. The expected outcome is rapid, context-rich data capture that facilitates clearer communication and informed decision-making.

Acceptance Criteria
Hover and Snapshot Initiation
Given a user hovers over a data point on the dashboard and clicks the snapshot capture button, when the button is clicked, then a snapshot card preview appears without navigating away from the dashboard.
Automatic Context Inclusion
Given a snapshot card is generated, then it automatically includes the survey question text, response metrics, timestamp of capture, and any user annotations present at the time of capture.
Branded Export to Slack
Given the user has configured a Slack integration, when the user clicks ‘Export to Slack’ on a snapshot card and selects a channel, then the snapshot is posted to the chosen Slack channel with company branding and metadata attached.
Branded Export via Email
Given the user clicks ‘Email Snapshot’ on a snapshot card and enters a valid recipient address, when the email is sent, then the snapshot is delivered as an embedded image with company logo and context details in the email body.
Annotation Persistence
Given the user adds or edits annotations on a saved snapshot card, when the user reopens the snapshot, then all annotations are persisted, visible, and can be further edited.
Branded Template Customization
"As an HR manager, I want to apply my company's branding to snapshot cards so that they align with our corporate identity in all shared visuals."
Description

Provide a template editor that allows administrators to customize snapshot cards with company logos, color schemes, typography, and footer text, ensuring consistency with corporate branding guidelines. This feature should integrate with global brand settings in PulseSync and support real-time preview of applied styles. The outcome is that every exported snapshot card aligns with organizational identity, reinforcing brand integrity in external communications.

Acceptance Criteria
Template Editor Initialization
Given an administrator navigates to the branded template customization page When the template editor loads Then it pre-populates with the company’s global brand settings and displays a real-time preview reflecting current logo, colors, typography, and footer text.
Logo Upload and Placement
Given an administrator uploads a company logo file in supported format and size When the upload completes Then the logo appears in the preview at the correct location and scale without distortion or cropping.
Color Scheme Customization
Given an administrator selects primary and secondary colors from the brand palette When colors are applied Then the preview updates in real-time to reflect those colors in all relevant template elements (header, background, text, accents).
Typography Settings Application
Given an administrator chooses brand-approved fonts and adjusts font sizes When changes are saved Then the preview immediately displays text using the selected typography and persists those settings for exports.
Footer Text Configuration
Given an administrator enters custom footer text up to 250 characters When the text is entered Then the preview shows it in the designated footer area with correct styling and line wrapping.
Snapshot Card Export Verification
Given that the branded template is customized and previewed When a snapshot card is exported Then the exported file contains the correct logo, colors, typography, and footer text consistent with the preview and branding guidelines.
Slack Integration
"As an HR manager, I want to send snapshot cards directly to Slack so that my team can immediately view and discuss key survey findings in our communication channels."
Description

Integrate PulseSync with Slack using OAuth to enable one-click sharing of snapshot cards directly into designated channels or direct messages. The integration should allow users to select a channel from a list, compose an optional message, and preview the card before sending. Slack messages must include the snapshot card image and metadata link back to the source in PulseSync. The expected outcome is streamlined collaboration and faster team responses.

Acceptance Criteria
OAuth Authentication with Slack
Given the user is logged into PulseSync and navigates to Integrations settings When the user clicks 'Connect to Slack' Then the system initiates the Slack OAuth flow and, upon successful authentication, stores a valid access token and displays a confirmation message
Channel Selection for Snapshot Sharing
Given a valid Slack integration exists When the user selects 'Share to Slack' on a snapshot card Then a dropdown menu displays all available Slack channels and direct messages associated with the connected workspace
Message Composition with Snapshot Card
Given the user has selected a Slack channel or direct message When the user enters text in the optional message input Then the input accepts up to 2000 characters and updates a character counter in real time
Preview of Snapshot Card
Given the user has selected a channel and composed an optional message When the user clicks 'Preview' Then a preview modal displays the snapshot card image, the composed message, and a 'Send' button
Successful Delivery of Snapshot Card to Slack
Given the user confirms the preview and clicks 'Send' When the system calls the Slack API Then the snapshot card and message appear in the specified Slack channel or direct message with a metadata link back to PulseSync
Email Export
"As an HR manager, I want to email snapshot cards to stakeholders so that I can distribute key morale insights to department heads who rely on email for updates."
Description

Allow users to export snapshot cards via email by generating image attachments or inline images with customizable subject lines and message bodies. The feature should support popular email clients and utilize SMTP or integrated email API for reliable delivery. Include options to schedule emails or send to predefined distribution lists. The outcome is flexible and accessible sharing of insights with stakeholders who prefer email communication.

Acceptance Criteria
Email Attachment Generation
Given a user has created a snapshot card, when they select 'Export via Email' with attachment option and provide a valid recipient address, then the system generates a correctly rendered PNG image of the snapshot, attaches it to the email, and delivers it to the recipient within two minutes.
Inline Image Email Delivery
Given a user chooses the inline email export option, when they send the snapshot, then the email body embeds the snapshot image inline and displays it correctly in major email clients (Outlook, Gmail, Apple Mail) without requiring external downloads.
Customizable Email Content
Given a user customizes the email subject line and message body (including supported placeholders like {{snapshot_date}}), when they send the snapshot, then the sent email uses the specified subject and body text with all placeholders correctly replaced.
Scheduling Email Delivery
Given a user schedules an email export for a specified future date and time, when the scheduled time arrives, then the system automatically sends the email with the snapshot attachment, records a send event in the audit log, and notifies the sender of successful delivery.
Distribution List Management
Given a user selects a predefined distribution list, when they send the snapshot email, then the system delivers the email to all valid addresses in the list and returns a report of any invalid or undeliverable addresses to the sender.
Email Client Compatibility
Given the email is sent via SMTP or integrated email API, when a recipient opens the email in supported clients, then the snapshot image displays correctly, and the subject and body text appear as configured without rendering issues across Outlook, Gmail, and Apple Mail.
Snapshot Card Library
"As an HR manager, I want to access previously generated snapshot cards so that I can reuse, track, and reference past insights easily when making decisions or reporting to leadership."
Description

Implement a centralized library within PulseSync where all captured snapshot cards are stored with metadata such as capture date, creator, related survey, and recipient history. Provide filtering, search, and sorting capabilities, as well as options to preview, download, or resend cards. This feature ensures users can manage and track past communications efficiently, enabling auditability and reuse of insights.

Acceptance Criteria
Centralized Storage of Snapshot Cards
Given an HR manager captures a snapshot card, When the capture is completed, Then the card is stored in the snapshot card library with metadata including capture date, creator, related survey, and recipient history.
Filtering and Searching Snapshot Cards
Given the library contains multiple cards, When the HR manager uses the filter or search function, Then only cards matching the filter criteria or search terms are displayed correctly.
Sorting Snapshot Cards
Given the library contains multiple cards, When the HR manager selects a sort option (e.g., date, creator), Then the cards are ordered accordingly and persist upon page refresh.
Previewing and Downloading Snapshot Cards
Given the library displays cards, When the HR manager clicks preview or download on a card, Then the system shows a full-size preview or downloads a branded image file in the correct format.
Resending Snapshot Cards
Given a card has a recipient history, When the HR manager selects to resend a card, Then the system sends the card to selected recipients and logs the new send action in the recipient history metadata.
Preview and Annotation Editor
"As an HR manager, I want to annotate and preview snapshot cards before exporting so that I can highlight critical information and ensure clarity for my audience."
Description

Offer an inline preview and annotation editor for snapshot cards that allows users to add, remove, or modify text annotations, highlights, arrows, and shapes before export. The editor should support undo/redo, zoom, and drag-and-drop positioning of elements. This ensures accuracy and clarity of visuals, enabling HR managers to emphasize key data points prior to sharing.

Acceptance Criteria
Annotation Creation and Placement
Given the user hovers over a chart snippet, when they select the text annotation tool and click on the preview, then a text box appears at the click location and accepts input, and the user can reposition it by dragging.
Undo and Redo Operations
Given the user has made at least one annotation change, when they click undo, then the last change is reverted; and when they click redo, then the reverted change is reapplied in sequence.
Zoom and Pan Controls
Given the user previews a snapshot, when they use zoom controls or pinch gesture, then the viewport scales smoothly between 50% and 200%, and dragging the canvas pans without losing element fidelity.
Drag-and-Drop Element Positioning
Given the user adds a shape or arrow, when they drag the element within the preview area, then the element follows the cursor, snaps into place, and remains selected for further edits.
Inline Preview Rendering Accuracy
Given multiple annotations and shapes are added, when the user toggles between draft and preview modes, then the inline preview accurately reflects all edits with correct positioning, colors, and sizes.

Multi-Language Lens

Automatically detect and translate snippet text upon hover for global teams. Users view key feedback in their preferred language, ensuring no nuance or insight is lost across diverse workforces.

Requirements

Automated Language Detection Engine
"As a global team member, I want snippet text to be automatically detected for language so that I receive accurate translations without manual selection."
Description

Implement an automated language detection engine that analyzes snippet text in real-time, identifying the source language without user input. This module integrates with the existing PulseSync survey data pipeline, ensuring every feedback snippet is tagged with its original language before translation. By leveraging a robust detection API and customizable language models, the engine improves detection accuracy, reduces manual configuration, and lays the foundation for seamless multi-language support across global teams.

Acceptance Criteria
High Accuracy Language Identification
Given a set of labeled feedback snippets in supported languages When processed by the detection engine Then the detected language code must match the true language for at least 95% of snippets
Seamless Integration with Data Pipeline
Given incoming survey data in PulseSync’s ingestion pipeline When the detection engine runs Then each feedback snippet is automatically tagged with a valid ISO language code and forwarded to the translation module without manual intervention
Graceful Handling of Unsupported or Ambiguous Text
Given a snippet in an unsupported language or containing ambiguous characters When processed by the detection engine Then the snippet is tagged as “undetermined” and an alert is logged, while allowing downstream processing to continue
Real-Time Processing under Load
Given 1000 concurrent feedback submissions When processed by the detection engine Then each snippet must be tagged with a language code within 200ms on average, maintaining overall pipeline throughput
Configurable Language Model Updates
Given a new or updated language detection model deployment When validated against the existing test corpus Then detection accuracy must remain ≥95% and rollback must be executable within the predefined maintenance window
Translation Accuracy Assurance
"As an HR manager, I want translations that preserve sentiment and terminology so that I can trust the insights from global feedback."
Description

Integrate a translation quality assurance layer that applies context-aware translation models and domain-specific glossaries to maintain the nuance of HR feedback. This component interfaces with third-party translation services, validates translations against corporate terminology, and flags low-confidence outputs for review. It ensures critical sentiment and cultural subtleties are preserved, reducing misinterpretations and fostering trust among diverse workforces.

Acceptance Criteria
Hover-Triggered Translation Display
Given a user hovers over a feedback snippet in a foreign language, When the system processes the snippet, Then the translated text in the user's preferred language appears within 1 second without loss of original meaning or context.
Glossary-Based Term Consistency
Given the system retrieves a translation containing domain-specific terms, When corporate glossary entries exist, Then each term is replaced by the approved glossary term exactly, without deviation.
Flagging Low-Confidence Outputs
Given the translation service returns a confidence score below 0.85, When a snippet is translated, Then the system flags the translation for manual review and visually highlights the snippet in the interface.
Translation Service Integration
Given the third-party translation API is unavailable or returns an error, When a translation request is initiated, Then the system retries the request up to two times and, upon continued failure, displays a fallback notification and logs the error details.
Sentiment Nuance Preservation
Given a feedback contains identifiable sentiment markers, When the snippet is translated, Then the system preserves the original sentiment polarity and intensity, with sentiment analysis classification variance not exceeding ±5%.
Hover-Triggered Translation Tooltip
"As a user, I want to see translations on hover so that I can quickly understand foreign-language feedback without navigating away from the report."
Description

Design and implement a hover-triggered tooltip interface that displays translated snippets when users hover over survey feedback. The tooltip should appear within 200ms of hover, support rich text formatting, and include a clear link to view the original text. It must be responsive across desktop and mobile layouts, adhere to accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1), and integrate with PulseSync’s existing UI framework for a consistent user experience.

Acceptance Criteria
Display Tooltip on Hover Delay
Given a user hovers over a feedback snippet on desktop or mobile, the translated tooltip appears within 200ms of hover initiation; the tooltip disappears within 200ms after hover ends.
Rich Text Formatting Support
The tooltip preserves original text formatting including bold, italics, hyperlinks, and lists; text wrapping, line breaks, and embedded media render identically to the source snippet.
Original Text Link Accessibility
The tooltip includes a visible link labeled 'View Original'; the link is keyboard-navigable and screen-reader announced; activating the link displays the original text in a modal or inline expansion.
Responsive Layout Adaptation
On viewport widths from 320px to 1920px, the tooltip positions itself to avoid overflow; on small screens (≤480px), the tooltip displays as a full-width bottom sheet with scrollable content.
WCAG 2.1 Accessibility Compliance
Tooltip text meets a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1; keyboard-only users can open on focus and close with Escape key; tooltip implements aria-describedby and role='tooltip'.
Integration with UI Framework
Tooltip styling (colors, fonts, shadows) and behavior use existing PulseSync UI components; code passes framework-specific linting and integrates without visual regressions.
User Preferred Language Settings
"As a user, I want to set my preferred language so that all translated snippets appear in a language I understand best."
Description

Develop a user preferences module that allows each user to select a default display language for translations. Preferences should be saved at the profile level, synchronized across devices, and override organization-wide defaults. The settings page must provide a dropdown of supported languages, display current selection, and include tooltips explaining how language preferences affect snippet translations.

Acceptance Criteria
Selecting Default Language from Dropdown
Given the user opens the language settings page, When they click the default language dropdown, Then they see all supported languages listed alphabetically with the current selection highlighted; Given they select a new language and click Save, Then the settings page displays the new language as the default and shows a confirmation message indicating the change was saved successfully.
Language Preference Persists Across Sessions and Devices
Given the user selects a default language on one device and saves the preference, When the user logs in on a different device or browser, Then the previously selected default language is preselected in the settings page and applied to all UI elements and snippet translations.
Language Preferences Override Organization Default
Given the organization-wide default language is set, When a user has a personal default language different from the organization default, Then all system UI and snippet translations display in the user’s personal default language instead of the organization default.
Display and Functionality of Language Tooltips
Given the user hovers over the tooltip icon next to the language dropdown, When the tooltip appears, Then it clearly explains that selecting a default language will apply to snippet translations and override organization defaults, and the tooltip text matches the approved content specification.
UI Reflects Current Language Selection Upon Load
Given the user has a saved default language preference, When they log in and navigate to any page with snippet translations, Then all UI elements and snippet translations immediately render in the user’s selected language without requiring a page refresh.
Translation Performance Optimization
"As a global user, I want translations to load instantly so that my workflow remains uninterrupted and efficient."
Description

Optimize translation retrieval and rendering by implementing client-side caching, server-side batching, and CDN-based asset delivery. Aim for sub-100ms response times for cached translations and ensure translation requests to external services are aggregated to reduce API calls. Monitor performance metrics, set alerts for latency spikes, and provide fallback strategies for network failures to maintain seamless user experience.

Acceptance Criteria
Cached Translation Retrieval Under Normal Conditions
Given a translation request for text that has been previously translated and cached, when the user hovers over the text, then the translation is rendered in under 100ms without calling the external translation API.
Batch Translation Request Aggregation
Given multiple untranslated snippets on page load, when the page initializes, then the client batches the requests into a single API call, reducing external API calls by at least 80%.
CDN Delivery of Translation Assets
Given static translation assets are requested for the first time, when a user hovers over translated text, then the assets are served from the CDN with a response time under 50ms.
Fallback Strategy on Network Failure
Given a network failure during a translation request, when caching and batch strategies are unavailable, then the application displays “Translation unavailable” and logs the error for automatic retry within one minute.
Performance Monitoring and Alerting
Given translation response times exceed 200ms, when monitoring detects a latency spike, then an alert is sent to the operations team within one minute and metrics are logged for analysis.

Collaborative Annotations

Enable teams to add private notes or action tags to hovered snippets. Stakeholders collaborate in real time, assigning follow-up tasks and documenting responses directly within the heatmap view.

Requirements

Annotation Creation and Editing
"As an HR manager, I want to create and edit private annotations on heatmap segments so that I can record observations and refine insights collaboratively."
Description

Allow users to add, modify, and delete private notes directly on hovered heatmap snippets, enabling detailed contextual feedback and collaborative commentary without leaving the heatmap view.

Acceptance Criteria
Adding a New Annotation on a Heatmap Snippet
Given a user hovers over an active heatmap snippet When the user clicks the 'Add Annotation' icon Then a text input field appears, the user can enter a private note, and upon clicking 'Save', the annotation marker is displayed on the snippet with the correct content
Editing an Existing Annotation
Given a user views a snippet with an existing annotation When the user clicks the annotation marker and selects 'Edit' Then an editable text field opens pre-populated with the original note, and upon saving, the updated text replaces the old note in real time
Deleting an Annotation from a Heatmap Snippet
Given a user views a snippet with an existing annotation When the user clicks the annotation marker and selects 'Delete' Then a confirmation prompt appears, and upon confirmation, the annotation is removed from the snippet view
Persisting Annotations After Page Refresh
Given a user has added or modified annotations When the user refreshes the heatmap view Then all annotations remain displayed on their respective snippets without loss of content or position
Annotation Character Limit Enforcement
Given a user enters text into the annotation input field When the text exceeds 250 characters Then the input field prevents additional characters and displays a warning message indicating the character limit
Real-Time Synchronization
"As a team member, I want annotations to appear in real time for all collaborators so that we can discuss and act on feedback together without delays."
Description

Ensure that annotations and action tags are synchronized instantly across all users viewing the heatmap, providing a live collaborative environment where updates are reflected without manual refresh.

Acceptance Criteria
Simultaneous Annotation Creation
Given User A and User B are viewing the same heatmap When User A adds a new annotation at a specific snippet Then User B sees the annotation appear within 1 second without requiring a manual refresh
Annotation Update Propagation
Given an existing annotation is visible on multiple clients When the author edits the annotation text or action tag Then all clients reflect the updated text and tag within 1 second
Annotation Deletion Synchronization
Given an annotation exists on multiple clients When a user deletes the annotation Then the annotation is removed from all clients within 1 second
Conflict Resolution Handling
Given two users edit the same annotation simultaneously When their edits are submitted within a 5-second window Then the system merges non-conflicting fields automatically and prompts users to resolve conflicting changes
Offline and Reconnection Sync
Given a user creates or updates annotations while offline When the user reconnects to the network Then all pending changes sync to the server and propagate to other clients without duplication
Performance Under Load
Given 50 concurrent users annotate the same heatmap continuously When annotations are submitted Then synchronization latency remains under 2 seconds and no data loss occurs
Permission and Access Control
"As an administrator, I want to restrict annotation capabilities based on user roles so that sensitive comments remain accessible only to authorized team members."
Description

Implement granular permission settings to control which roles can view, create, edit, or delete annotations, ensuring data privacy and appropriate access for different stakeholder groups.

Acceptance Criteria
View Annotations Permission Check
Given a user with Viewer role When the user opens the heatmap Then the user can see existing annotations but no create, edit, or delete controls are displayed
Create Annotations Permission Enforcement
Given a user with Annotator role When the user hovers over a heatmap snippet Then the user can add a private note or action tag and receive a confirmation message upon saving
Edit Annotations Ownership Enforcement
Given a user who created an annotation When the user selects the annotation then chooses Edit Then the user can modify the note and save changes successfully, but other users cannot edit it
Delete Annotations Permission Enforcement
Given a user with Deleter role When the user selects an annotation and chooses Delete Then the annotation is removed after user confirmation and is no longer displayed for any role
Admin Bulk Permission Management
Given an Admin user When the user updates role permissions for annotations Then the new settings apply immediately to all existing users and appropriate controls appear or disappear based on updated roles
Action Tagging and Assignment
"As a team lead, I want to tag annotations with actionable items and assign them to colleagues so that follow-up tasks are clear and tracked within our existing task system."
Description

Allow users to attach predefined action tags (e.g., ‘Follow-Up’, ‘Urgent’, ‘Discuss’) to annotations and assign tasks to specific team members, integrating with the task-tracking system for seamless workflow management.

Acceptance Criteria
Assigning an 'Urgent' Tag and Task to a Team Member
Given the user hovers over a heatmap snippet and opens the annotation menu When the user selects the 'Urgent' action tag and assigns it to 'Alice' Then the annotation displays the 'Urgent' tag and 'Alice' as the assignee And a corresponding task is created in the task-tracking system with the correct tag, snippet reference, and assignee And the user sees a confirmation message
Applying Multiple Tags to a Single Annotation
Given the user selects a heatmap snippet and opens the annotation menu When the user applies 'Follow-Up' and then 'Discuss' tags to the same annotation Then both 'Follow-Up' and 'Discuss' tags appear clearly on the annotation And the user can assign separate tasks for each tag to different team members
Editing Action Tags and Reassigning Tasks
Given an annotation already has a 'Follow-Up' tag assigned to 'Bob' When the user changes the tag to 'Discuss' and reassigns the task to 'Carol' Then the annotation updates to show the 'Discuss' tag and 'Carol' as the new assignee And the existing task in the task-tracking system is updated to reflect the new tag and assignee
Handling Integration Failures with Task-Tracking System
Given the task-tracking integration is temporarily unavailable When the user assigns a new action tag and assignee to an annotation Then the system queues the assignment locally and displays a warning about delayed sync And once the integration is restored, the queued tasks are automatically sent to the task-tracking system without further user action
Viewing Task Status Within Heatmap
Given an annotation has an associated task in the task-tracking system When the task status is updated externally to 'In Progress' or 'Completed' Then the annotation’s status icon or badge on the heatmap view updates in real time without requiring a page refresh
Annotation History and Audit Trail
"As a compliance officer, I want to review the history of annotations so that I can audit changes and ensure accountability in our feedback process."
Description

Maintain a versioned history of all annotations, including creation time, edits, and deletions, providing an audit trail for accountability and the ability to revert to previous commentary states.

Acceptance Criteria
Annotation Creation Tracking
Given a user adds a new annotation on a heatmap snippet, when the annotation is saved, then the system must record the annotation content, creator’s user ID, exact timestamp, and assign a unique version identifier.
Annotation Edit Versioning
Given an existing annotation is modified, when edits are saved, then a new version entry must be created in history capturing the updated content, editor’s user ID, edit timestamp, and link to the previous version.
Annotation Deletion Audit
Given a user deletes an annotation, when the deletion is confirmed, then the system must mark the annotation as deleted in the version history with deleter’s user ID and deletion timestamp without permanently removing historical records.
Revert to Previous Annotation Version
Given multiple versions of an annotation exist, when a user selects a previous version to revert, then the system must restore the selected version as the current annotation content and log the revert action with user ID and timestamp.
Audit Trail Access Control
Given a user requests to view annotation history, when accessing the audit trail view, then the system must display a chronological list of all annotation versions, including creator/editor/deleter IDs and timestamps, respecting the user’s role-based permissions.
Notification and Alert System
"As a product stakeholder, I want to receive alerts when I’m tagged in an annotation so that I can address feedback promptly."
Description

Send configurable notifications to users when they are assigned to or mentioned in an annotation, ensuring timely awareness and response to critical comments or tasks.

Acceptance Criteria
Assigned Annotation Notification
Given a user is assigned to an annotation, When the assignment occurs, Then the user receives an email and in-app notification within 2 minutes containing the snippet context, the assigner’s name, and a direct link to the annotation.
Mention Notification
Given a user is mentioned in an annotation comment using '@username', When the comment is posted, Then the mentioned user receives an email and in-app notification within 2 minutes including the comment excerpt, the mentioner’s name, and a direct link.
Notification Preferences Configuration
Given a user accesses notification settings, When the user toggles assignment or mention notifications on or off, Then the change is saved immediately and reflected in subsequent notification delivery.
Failed Notification Retry
Given a notification delivery attempt fails, When the system detects the failure, Then it retries sending up to 3 times at 5-minute intervals and logs each attempt; if all retries fail, an in-app delivery-failed alert is shown to the recipient.
Bulk Assignment Notification
Given multiple users are assigned to a single annotation, When the assignment is saved, Then each user receives an individual notification within 5 minutes and no user receives duplicate notifications.

Badge Leaderboard

A dynamic leaderboard showcasing top recognition givers and receivers within teams. By highlighting active contributors and appreciated employees, this feature fosters friendly competition, elevates engagement, and makes peer recognition visible and celebrated across the organization.

Requirements

Leaderboard Display
"As an HR manager, I want to view a real-time leaderboard of top recognition givers and receivers so that I can encourage peer recognition and foster friendly competition."
Description

Implement a dynamic UI component that showcases top recognition givers and receivers, including avatars, names, and point totals. The leaderboard should update in real time, support responsive design across devices, and highlight weekly top performers to increase visibility and engagement.

Acceptance Criteria
Weekly Top Performers Highlight
Given the end of a weekly cycle when a manager views the leaderboard, then the top three recognition givers and top three recognition receivers are visually highlighted with distinct badges; and their point totals are displayed prominently at the top of the list.
Real-Time Leaderboard Refresh
Given any user is viewing the leaderboard when a new recognition action is recorded, then the leaderboard updates within 5 seconds without page reload; and the updated rankings, avatars, names, and point totals reflect the latest data.
Responsive Display on Mobile Devices
Given a user accesses the leaderboard on a mobile device when rotating screen orientation or resizing the viewport, then the leaderboard layout adjusts to a single-column view; and all avatars, names, and point totals remain legible and properly aligned.
Avatar and Name Rendering
Given a user views any entry in the leaderboard when the user’s profile has an uploaded avatar, then the avatar image displays at 40x40 pixels with a circular mask; and the full user name appears next to the avatar in a 14px font.
Points Sorting and Visibility
Given the leaderboard data is loaded when a user toggles between givers and receivers tabs, then the list sorts entries in descending order by point totals; and each entry’s point total is visible to one decimal place if fractional points exist.
Recognition Filtering
"As a team lead, I want to filter the leaderboard by my department and timeframe so that I can assess recognition trends within my team."
Description

Provide filtering controls to narrow the leaderboard by team, department, or timeframe (e.g., last week, month, quarter). Filters should integrate with existing UI, send correct query parameters to the API, and update the leaderboard instantly to enhance relevance for managers and users.

Acceptance Criteria
Department Filter Application
Given a manager is on the Badge Leaderboard and selects a department filter, When the selection is confirmed, Then only entries from that department are displayed and the API request includes department=<selected_value>.
Team Filter Application
Given a manager is on the Badge Leaderboard and selects a team filter, When the selection is confirmed, Then only entries from that team are displayed and the API request includes team=<selected_value>.
Timeframe Filter Application
Given a manager is on the Badge Leaderboard and selects a timeframe filter (e.g., last week, month, quarter), When the filter is applied, Then the displayed entries correspond to the selected timeframe and the API request includes timeframe=<selected_value>.
Combined Filters Effect
Given a manager applies multiple filters simultaneously, When the filters are confirmed, Then the leaderboard displays entries matching all selected filters and the API request includes all selected filter parameters.
Instant UI Update on Filter Change
Given a filter change event occurs, When the manager adjusts any filter control, Then the leaderboard updates displayed entries within 500ms without a full page reload.
Dynamic Sorting
"As an employee, I want to sort the leaderboard by the number of recognitions I’ve given so I can track my engagement."
Description

Enable sortable columns on the leaderboard (e.g., number of recognitions given, number received, user name). Users should be able to click column headers to toggle ascending/descending order, improving data exploration and usability.

Acceptance Criteria
Sort by Recognitions Given
Given the leaderboard is displayed, When the user clicks on the 'Recognitions Given' column header, Then the rows are sorted in ascending order by the number of recognitions given.
Sort by Recognitions Given Descending
Given the leaderboard is currently sorted in ascending order by recognitions given, When the user clicks the 'Recognitions Given' column header again, Then the rows are sorted in descending order by the number of recognitions given.
Sort by Recognitions Received
Given the leaderboard is displayed, When the user clicks on the 'Recognitions Received' column header, Then the rows are sorted in ascending order by the number of recognitions received.
Sort by User Name Alphabetically
Given the leaderboard is displayed, When the user clicks on the 'User Name' column header, Then the rows are sorted in ascending alphabetical order by user name.
Toggle Column Sorting to New Column
Given the leaderboard is sorted on any column, When the user clicks a different column header, Then the sort indicator moves to the newly clicked column and the rows are sorted in ascending order by that column.
User Profile Integration
"As an HR manager, I want to click on a user in the leaderboard to view their recognition history so that I can gain insights into their engagement levels."
Description

Link each entry on the leaderboard to the user’s PulseSync profile. Clicking a user should open a modal or navigate to a profile page displaying detailed recognition history, performance trends, and peer feedback, leveraging the user service API for seamless integration.

Acceptance Criteria
Accessing User Profile from Leaderboard
Given a user is on the Badge Leaderboard, When they click a user’s name or avatar, Then a profile modal opens populated with that user’s recognition history, performance trends, and peer feedback within 2 seconds.
Navigation to Dedicated Profile Page
Given a user is viewing a user’s modal, When they select “View Full Profile,” Then the system navigates to the dedicated profile page showing detailed analytics fetched via the user service API without page load errors.
Data Accuracy in Profile Modal
Given the modal is open, When the content loads, Then the recognition history, performance trends, and peer feedback displayed match the data retrieved from the user service API and display timestamps of the last update.
API Failure Handling in Profile Retrieval
Given the user service API returns an error or timeout, When attempting to open a profile, Then the modal displays a user-friendly error message and a retry option, and logs the error for debugging.
Performance under High Load
Given 100 concurrent users click on leaderboard entries, When profiles are fetched, Then each modal opens within 3 seconds and the system maintains response time under 500ms per API call.
Export & Sharing
"As an HR manager, I want to export the leaderboard data to CSV so that I can present recognition trends in leadership meetings."
Description

Provide options to export leaderboard data to CSV or PDF and share via email or Slack. This enables stakeholders to review recognition statistics outside the app and share insights across channels, requiring integration with export libraries and communication APIs.

Acceptance Criteria
CSV Export of Leaderboard Data
Given the HR manager is on the Badge Leaderboard page When they click the 'Export to CSV' button Then the system generates a CSV file containing column headers 'Rank', 'Employee Name', 'Recognition Count', 'Date' And the file is downloaded to the user's device within 5 seconds
PDF Export of Leaderboard Data
Given the HR manager is on the Badge Leaderboard page When they select 'Export to PDF' Then the system generates a paginated PDF report including a table of leaderboard data and a heatmap image And the PDF file is downloadable and not corrupted
Email Sharing of Exported Data
Given the HR manager has exported the leaderboard data When they choose to share via email and enter at least one valid recipient address Then the system attaches the CSV or PDF file to an email draft with a default subject 'Badge Leaderboard Report' And sends the email successfully And displays a confirmation message
Slack Sharing of Exported Data
Given the HR manager has exported the leaderboard data When they choose to share via Slack and authorize their workspace And select a valid channel or user Then the system uploads the exported file and posts a message with the file link in the selected channel or direct message And displays a success notification
Error Handling during Export
Given the HR manager initiates an export or share action When the export fails due to network or system error Then the system displays an error message 'Export failed. Please try again.' And logs the error code for diagnostics And allows the user to retry the action

Appreciation Stream

A real-time feed displaying recent peer-to-peer badges and comments. Users can instantly see who’s acknowledging whom, creating a continuous positive feedback loop that reinforces a culture of gratitude and keeps morale vibrant.

Requirements

Real-time Feed Streaming
"As an employee, I want to see peer recognitions in real time so that I can stay informed and participate promptly."
Description

Deliver peer-to-peer badges and comments to the Appreciation Stream with sub-second latency using WebSockets or long polling. Automatically update the feed when new recognitions occur without requiring page refresh. This real-time capability enhances engagement by ensuring users see acknowledgments as they happen, fostering an immediate positive feedback loop.

Acceptance Criteria
Immediate Single Recognition Update
Given a user is viewing the Appreciation Stream When another user sends a badge or comment Then the new recognition appears in the viewer’s feed within 1 second without requiring a page refresh
Simultaneous Multiple Recognitions
Given multiple peers send badges or comments at nearly the same time When these recognitions are published Then all recognitions appear in correct chronological order within 2 seconds and no duplicates are shown
Connection Loss and Recovery
Given a user’s WebSocket connection is temporarily lost When the connection is reestablished Then any missed recognitions during the disconnection are fetched and displayed immediately in the feed
New User Joining Mid-Stream
Given a user opens the Appreciation Stream after others have been posting When the user loads the stream Then the feed shows the last 50 recognitions and continues to receive new ones in real time
High Volume Load Performance
Given 100+ recognitions are posted within a minute When the stream receives these messages Then the feed remains responsive, updates sub-second, and maintains smooth scrolling without UI lag
Badge & Comment Rendering
"As an employee, I want each recognition to include the sender’s avatar, badge icon, and comment so that I can clearly understand who gave the acknowledgment and why."
Description

Visually present each recognition with the sender’s avatar, recipient’s name, badge icon, and any attached comment following PulseSync UI and accessibility guidelines. Support hover states for additional context and basic text formatting for comments to ensure readability and consistency.

Acceptance Criteria
Badge and Comment Inline Rendering
Given the Appreciation Stream loads with new recognition entries When each entry is rendered Then the sender’s avatar, recipient’s name, badge icon, and comment text appear in alignment with PulseSync UI guidelines
Accessibility Compliance for Badges and Comments
Given a user with a screen reader navigates the Appreciation Stream When focus moves to a recognition entry Then avatar images have alt text, badge icons have appropriate aria-labels, and comments are announced correctly
Hover State for Detailed Context
Given a user hovers over a recognition entry When the mouse stays over the entry for more than 200ms Then a tooltip appears showing timestamp, badge description, and full comment and hides on mouse out
Text Formatting Support in Comments
Given a comment contains markdown-style formatting When the comment is rendered in the stream Then bold, italics, and bullet lists display correctly and unsupported tags are sanitized
Responsive Layout Across Devices
Given the Appreciation Stream is viewed on mobile, tablet, and desktop When the viewport size changes Then recognition entries adjust fluidly without overlap or truncation, ensuring readability
Timeline Filtering & Search
"As an HR manager, I want to filter recognitions by date, user, and badge type so that I can analyze team morale trends and find specific acknowledgments."
Description

Allow users to filter the Appreciation Stream by sender, recipient, date range, and badge type, with a keyword search bar for comments. Ensure filters can be combined and applied instantly to refine the feed. This helps users locate specific recognitions and analyze patterns across teams or timeframes.

Acceptance Criteria
Filter Feed by Sender
Given the user is on the Appreciation Stream page When the user selects a sender from the sender filter dropdown Then the stream displays only badges and comments sent by the selected user
Filter Feed by Recipient
Given the user is viewing the Appreciation Stream When the user selects a recipient from the recipient filter dropdown Then the stream lists only badges and comments addressed to the chosen recipient
Filter Feed by Date Range
Given the user accesses the Appreciation Stream When the user sets a start and end date in the date range picker Then the stream shows only entries created within the specified date range
Filter Feed by Badge Type
Given the user is on the Appreciation Stream When the user selects one or more badge types from the badge type filter Then the stream filters to display only those badges and comments matching the selected types
Keyword Search in Comments
Given the user is in the Appreciation Stream When the user enters a keyword into the comment search bar and presses enter Then the stream displays only entries containing the keyword in their comment text
Combine Multiple Filters
Given the user has applied two or more filters (sender, recipient, date range, badge type) When the filters are set simultaneously Then the stream instantly updates to display entries that meet all applied filter conditions
Real-time Notifications
"As an employee, I want to receive notifications when someone recognizes me so that I can feel appreciated and respond promptly."
Description

Implement configurable push notifications via in-app banners, email, or Slack whenever a user receives a new badge or comment. Provide user-level settings for channels and frequency. This ensures employees are promptly informed of recognitions, boosting morale and participation.

Acceptance Criteria
User Configures Notification Preferences
Given the user is on the notification settings page When they select push channels (in-app, email, Slack) and a delivery frequency Then the preferences are saved successfully and displayed as active selections
Real-Time Badge Notification via In-App Banner
Given a user is online in the app When they receive a new badge Then an in-app banner appears within 5 seconds showing sender, badge type, and custom message
Email Notification Delivery
Given a user has enabled email notifications When they receive a new peer comment Then an email is sent within 2 minutes containing the comment text, sender name, and a link back to the Appreciation Stream
Slack Notification Integration
Given a user has connected their Slack workspace and chosen a channel When they receive a new badge or comment Then a message is posted to the specified Slack channel with badge/comment details and sender info
Notification Frequency Throttling
Given a user has set a custom frequency of notifications When multiple badges or comments arrive within that interval Then notifications are aggregated into a single summary notification at the configured time
Infinite Scroll & Historical Loading
"As a user, I want to scroll through past recognitions without manual pagination so that I can easily browse the full historical feed."
Description

Support infinite scrolling to dynamically load older recognitions as users scroll down. Use efficient pagination and caching strategies to minimize server load and maintain smooth performance. Display a loader indicator during fetch operations to inform users.

Acceptance Criteria
Load More Recognition Items on Scroll
Given a user is viewing the Appreciation Stream and scrolls to within 200 pixels of the bottom, when the scroll threshold is reached, then the application requests and appends the next batch of older recognitions (e.g., 20 items) to the feed within 500ms.
Display Loader Indicator During Fetch
When the application initiates a fetch for older recognition items, then a visible loader indicator appears at the bottom of the stream, and when the fetch completes or fails, the loader indicator disappears within 200ms.
Handle End of Stream Gracefully
Given the user has scrolled through all available historical recognitions and the server returns an empty list, then the application displays a 'No more items' message at the end of the stream and stops making further fetch requests.
Maintain Scroll Position on New Load
When new recognition items are loaded and appended to the stream, then the user’s current viewport remains stable (no jump or shift) and the first newly loaded item appears immediately below the previous viewport.
Ensure Efficient Caching and Pagination
Given the user scrolls back and forth through already loaded pages, when the same page of recognition items is needed again, then the application retrieves the items from local cache rather than issuing a new server request.
Privacy & Visibility Controls
"As an employee, I want to choose who can see the badges I send so that I can control my privacy preferences."
Description

Enable users to set visibility levels for their recognitions—organization-wide, team-only, or private. Provide HR admins with override controls for compliance auditing. Enforce these settings in both the UI and API to guarantee data privacy and access restrictions at all times.

Acceptance Criteria
User selects organization-wide visibility
Given a user creates a recognition and selects 'Organization-wide' visibility, When the recognition is submitted, Then it appears in the Appreciation Stream UI for every user across all teams and is returned in API responses for all authenticated users.
User selects team-only visibility
Given a user creates a recognition and selects 'Team-only' visibility, When the recognition is submitted, Then it appears only in the Appreciation Stream UI for members of the sender’s and recipient’s teams and is omitted from API responses for users outside those teams.
User selects private visibility
Given a user creates a recognition and selects 'Private' visibility, When the recognition is submitted, Then it is visible only to the sender and recipient in the UI and API, and no other users can retrieve it via any endpoint.
HR admin overrides visibility for audit
Given an HR admin enables override mode in the admin console, When they view or query recognitions marked as 'Private' or 'Team-only', Then the admin can access and view full details of those recognitions in both UI and API for compliance auditing.
API enforces user visibility restrictions
Given any authenticated API client requests the list of recognitions, When the API filters responses, Then it returns only recognitions that the requesting user is authorized to see based on their role, team membership, and visibility settings.

Morale Milestone Badges

Automatically awards special badges when teams or individuals hit predefined morale score thresholds. Celebrating these milestones motivates continued positive behavior, recognizes collective achievements, and aligns team efforts with organizational wellbeing goals.

Requirements

Configurable Morale Thresholds
"As an HR manager, I want to set custom morale score thresholds for badge awards so that recognition aligns with our company’s engagement objectives."
Description

Provide an interface for HR managers to define and adjust morale score thresholds that trigger badge awards. This requirement ensures teams and individuals can be recognized when reaching custom morale milestones aligned with company goals. It integrates with the pulse survey engine to fetch real-time scores, stores threshold configurations securely, and validates inputs to prevent conflicts. Expected outcomes include enhanced customization, increased relevance of badges, and stronger alignment of recognition with organizational culture initiatives.

Acceptance Criteria
Configuring New Morale Thresholds
Given the HR manager is on the Threshold Configuration page When the HR manager enters a threshold name "High Morale" with a score value between 0 and 100 and clicks Save Then the system validates the input, stores the new threshold configuration, and displays a confirmation message.
Preventing Overlapping Thresholds
Given existing thresholds are defined without overlapping score ranges When the HR manager attempts to create or adjust a threshold that overlaps an existing range Then the system rejects the change and displays an error message indicating the conflict.
Retrieving Real-time Scores for Threshold Evaluation
Given a pulse survey completes and real-time scores are updated When the system evaluates the current morale scores against configured thresholds Then it accurately identifies and flags scores that meet or exceed each threshold within 5 seconds.
Ensuring Secure Storage of Threshold Configurations
Given a threshold configuration is created or updated When the data is stored Then it must be encrypted at rest and accessible only to users with HR manager roles via role-based access control.
Triggering Badge Awards Upon Threshold Crossing
Given an individual's morale score crosses a configured threshold When the threshold is met Then the system automatically awards the corresponding morale badge and logs the event in the audit trail within 1 minute.
Automated Badge Awarding Engine
"As a team member, I want to receive a badge immediately when my team hits a morale milestone so that I feel recognized right away."
Description

Implement a background service that continuously monitors survey data against defined thresholds and automatically issues badges when milestones are met. The engine processes incoming pulse results in real time, enqueues badge assignments, logs award events, and ensures idempotent operations to prevent duplicate awards. Benefits include timely recognition, reduced manual workload, and seamless integration with notification and dashboard systems.

Acceptance Criteria
Automatic Badge Award on Individual Milestone
Given an individual's pulse survey score reaches the predefined threshold, When the background service processes the result, Then the badge is assigned to the individual within 5 seconds.
Automatic Badge Award on Team Milestone
Given the average team morale score exceeds the defined team threshold, When the engine evaluates the latest survey batch, Then a team badge is awarded and reflected in the team profile.
Idempotent Badge Processing
Given an individual's survey result repeatedly crosses the same threshold, When the engine processes duplicate inputs, Then no additional badges are issued beyond the first award.
Badge Award Event Logging
Given a badge award event occurs, When the service logs the event, Then the log entry includes timestamp, user or team ID, badge type, and milestone threshold.
Integration with Notification System
Given a badge is awarded, When the engine emits a notification event, Then the notification is sent to the user or team channel within 2 seconds.
Dashboard Display Update
Given a badge issuance, When the dashboard data is refreshed, Then the new badge appears on the individual's and team's dashboard without manual refresh.
Badge Display on Dashboard
"As an employee, I want to see my earned morale badges on my dashboard so that I can track and celebrate my achievements visually."
Description

Design and develop UI components to display earned morale badges on individual and team dashboards. This includes badge icons, names, descriptions, and date awarded. The display should be responsive, visually consistent with PulseSync’s style guide, and support filtering by time period or badge type. Integration points include user profiles, team overview pages, and mobile views for cross-platform accessibility.

Acceptance Criteria
Badge Rendering on Desktop Dashboard
Given a user with earned badges When they navigate to their desktop dashboard Then each badge icon, name, description, and award date is displayed accurately and in accordance with the style guide
Badge Rendering on Mobile View
Given a user using a mobile device When they view their dashboard Then badge elements resize responsively, maintain readability, and follow mobile style specifications
Filtering Badges by Time Period
Given a user has badges from multiple months When they apply a time period filter (e.g., last 7 days, last 30 days) Then only badges awarded within the selected period are displayed
Filtering Badges by Badge Type
Given multiple badge categories exist When a user selects a badge type filter Then only badges matching the selected type are shown and others are hidden
Team Dashboard Badge Display
Given a team overview page When a manager views the team dashboard Then all team members’ badges are displayed grouped by member, including badge details and award dates
Badge Notification System
"As a manager, I want to be notified when my team earns a morale badge so that I can acknowledge their success promptly."
Description

Create a notification subsystem that alerts users and managers when badges are awarded. Notifications should be configurable per user preference, delivered via in-app messages and optional email digests. The system must handle batching, throttling to avoid overload, and provide templates for badge-specific content. This enhances engagement by ensuring stakeholders are aware of milestones and can take celebratory action.

Acceptance Criteria
User Configures Notification Preferences
Given a user visits the notification settings page; When the user toggles badge notifications on or off for in-app and email channels; Then the system saves the preferences and displays a confirmation message.
In-App Badge Notification
Given a badge is awarded to a user; When the user is active in the application; Then an in-app notification appears in the notifications center within 30 seconds, displaying the badge name, description, and date awarded.
Email Digest Delivery
Given the user has opted in for daily badge email digests; When at least one badge is awarded in a 24-hour period; Then the system sends a consolidated email to the user between 6 AM and 7 AM local time with each badge’s details.
Notification Throttling
Given multiple badges are awarded to a single user within a 5-minute window; When the second badge notification would be sent; Then the system batches the notifications into a single in-app message listing all badges and sends it after the 5-minute interval.
Badge Template Content
Given a badge type has a predefined email and in-app template; When the system generates a notification for that badge; Then it populates the template placeholders with the recipient’s name, badge title, earned date, and a link to view the badge details.
Badge Management Interface
"As an admin, I want to manage morale badges and their criteria so that our recognition program stays relevant and well-governed."
Description

Develop an administrative interface for creating, editing, and retiring badges. Features include uploading badge icons, setting default descriptions, mapping to threshold criteria, and role-based access control. The UI should provide previews, audit logs of changes, and the ability to activate or deactivate badges. This interface ensures badge lifecycle management aligns with evolving organizational wellbeing initiatives.

Acceptance Criteria
Creating a New Badge
Given an admin on the Badge Management Interface, when they enter a badge name, upload an icon, set a description and threshold, and click Save, then the new badge is listed in active badges with correct details and recorded in the audit log.
Editing an Existing Badge
Given an admin viewing an active badge, when they modify the icon, description, or threshold and confirm changes, then the dashboard updates the badge’s details, shows the new preview, and logs the change with previous and updated values.
Retiring a Badge
Given a manager with badge retirement permission, when they deactivate a badge, then the badge moves to the inactive list, is excluded from awardable badges, and an audit entry is created recording the deactivation.
Enforcing Role-Based Access Control
Given a non-admin user attempts to access the Badge Management Interface or perform create, edit, or retire actions, when they initiate any of these actions, then the system denies access and displays an unauthorized error message.
Previewing Badge Appearance
Given an admin creating or editing a badge, when they upload an icon and input the description and threshold, then the interface generates a real-time preview matching the final user-facing badge style and content.

Ripple Notifications

Personalized in-app and email alerts that notify users when they give or receive recognition. These timely nudges ensure badges aren’t missed, encourage ongoing participation, and remind employees of the positive impact they have on each other’s morale.

Requirements

Real-time In-App Notification Delivery
"As an employee, I want to receive in-app alerts when I give or receive recognition so that I can stay informed and engaged with peer accomplishments."
Description

Deliver notifications within the PulseSync application immediately after a user gives or receives recognition. Notifications should appear as a transient banner alert, update the notification count badge, and be accessible in the central notification center. This ensures users are instantly aware of recognition activities, driving engagement and reinforcing positive behaviors within teams.

Acceptance Criteria
Transient Banner Appearance
Given a user gives or receives recognition, when the recognition is successfully processed, then a transient banner alert appears at the top of the app within 2 seconds and automatically dismisses after 5 seconds.
Notification Badge Update
Given the user’s current notification badge count is displayed, when a new recognition notification arrives, then the badge count increments by 1 immediately.
Central Notification Center Logging
Given that notifications are stored, when the user opens the notification center, then the new recognition notification appears at the top of the list with correct timestamp and sender details.
Multi-Recipient Recognition Notification
Given a recognition event involving multiple recipients, when the event is processed, then each recipient receives an individual transient banner and badge update reflecting their recognition separately.
Offline Reconnection Notification Sync
Given a user is temporarily offline, when the user reconnects to the network, then all missed recognition notifications are delivered as transient banners and the badge count updates accordingly within 10 seconds of reconnection.
Configurable Email Notification Alerts
"As an employee, I want to receive email alerts when I receive recognition so that I don’t miss important morale-boosting accolades."
Description

Send personalized email notifications to users when recognition is given or received. Emails should include badge details, sender/receiver names, custom messages, and company branding. Integrate with the organization’s email service and support template customization to ensure consistency and timely reminders even when users are offline.

Acceptance Criteria
Offline User Recognition Email Notification
Given a user is recognized while offline, When the recognition event is processed, Then the system sends a personalized email notification to the user’s registered email address within 5 minutes, including badge details, sender name, and custom message.
Sender Confirmation Email After Recognition
Given a user sends recognition to a colleague, When the recognition is successfully recorded, Then the sender receives an email confirmation containing the badge details, recipient name, custom message, and company branding.
Custom Email Template Application
Given an administrator customizes the email template, When the next notification is sent, Then the email content reflects the customized header, footer, color palette, and placeholder text as defined in the template settings.
Organization Email Service Integration
Given the organization’s SMTP credentials are configured, When notifications are triggered, Then emails are dispatched through the organization’s email service without errors, and message headers confirm use of the configured server.
Consistent Company Branding in Emails
Given multiple notification types (recognition sent and received), When users receive emails, Then all emails display the correct company logo, color scheme, and footer links consistently across desktop and mobile clients.
User Notification Preferences Management
"As a user, I want to customize which recognition notifications I receive and how often so that I only get alerts that matter to me."
Description

Provide a dedicated settings interface where users can select their preferred notification channels (in-app, email, push), configure digest schedules, set do-not-disturb windows, and opt in or out of specific recognition alerts. Integrate preferences seamlessly with user profiles to minimize notification fatigue and maximize relevance.

Acceptance Criteria
Channel Selection Interface Accessibility
Given a logged-in user navigates to the Notification Preferences page When the page finishes loading Then the user sees toggles for in-app, email, and push notifications reflecting their current settings
Saving Channel Preferences
Given a user modifies one or more notification channel toggles When the user clicks Save Preferences Then the system persists all changes to the user profile and displays a confirmation message
Digest Schedule Configuration
Given a user selects a digest frequency (daily, weekly, monthly) and saves preferences When the next scheduled digest is due Then the system sends a summary notification according to the selected frequency
Do-Not-Disturb Window Enforcement
Given a user sets a do-not-disturb time window When notifications are triggered during the suppressed period Then the system holds all notifications and delivers them immediately after the window ends
Specific Alert Opt-In/Out
Given a user opts in or out of specific recognition alerts When a recognition event occurs Then only the enabled alert types are sent via the configured channels
Notification Content Personalization
"As an employee, I want my recognition notifications to reflect my company’s language and style so that they feel more personal and aligned with our culture."
Description

Dynamically personalize notification content based on user locale, company branding guidelines, and recognition type. Utilize variables for names, badge titles, messages, and localized language strings. This will make notifications feel more relevant and on-brand, improving user engagement and satisfaction.

Acceptance Criteria
Localized French Notification Delivery
Given a user with locale set to fr-FR, when they receive a recognition, then the email and in-app notification content appear in French using the correct language strings and date formats.
Customized Email Notification with Company Branding
Given a company with custom branding, when an email notification is sent, then the email header, footer, and color scheme match the company's branding guidelines and include the correct logo.
Dynamic Variable Replacement in In-App Notification
Given a recognition event occurs, when an in-app notification is generated, then the notification text correctly replaces placeholders {{senderName}}, {{recipientName}}, and {{badgeTitle}} with the actual values.
Locale Fallback for Unsupported Language
Given a user with an unsupported locale, when a notification is sent, then the content defaults to the system's primary locale (en-US) without errors.
Recognition Type-Specific Message Templates
Given different recognition types (e.g., Kudos, High Five), when notifications are created, then each uses its specific template and messaging tone as defined in the template config.
Notification Analytics and Reporting
"As an HR manager, I want to view analytics on recognition notification engagement so that I can assess and optimize my team’s morale-building efforts."
Description

Track notification delivery metrics, open rates, click-through interactions, and failures. Aggregate data into the PulseSync analytics dashboard, providing HR managers with insights on engagement trends. Include configurable reports (daily, weekly) to measure the effectiveness of recognition nudges and inform communication strategies.

Acceptance Criteria
Notification Delivery Tracking
Given that a recognition notification is sent via email or in-app, when the notification delivery attempt is completed, then the system records the delivery status (success or failure) and timestamp in the analytics dashboard within one minute.
Notification Open Rate Analysis
Given that a user receives a notification email or in-app message, when the user opens the notification link or views the in-app alert, then the system accurately captures and aggregates the open event and updates the open-rate metric on the dashboard in real time.
Click-Through Interaction Reporting
Given that a user interacts with a notification by clicking a badge or link, when the click event occurs, then the system logs the interaction, attributes it to the correct notification, and displays standardized click-through rates in the weekly report.
Delivery Failure Handling
Given that a notification fails to deliver due to an invalid address or server error, when the failure is detected, then the system logs the failure reason, triggers a retry policy (up to two attempts), and flags unresolved failures in the daily failure report.
Configurable Report Generation
Given that an HR manager selects a report frequency (daily or weekly) and notification type filters, when the report request is submitted, then the system generates the filtered report in PDF and CSV formats within two minutes and makes it available for download on the dashboard.

Recognition Analytics

An insightful dashboard correlating badge activity with pulse survey morale data. Managers can track trends, identify recognition gaps, and see how peer acknowledgments drive uplifts in team sentiment, empowering data-driven culture strategies.

Requirements

Badge Data Integration
"As an HR manager, I want the system to automatically collect and normalize badge activity data so that I have reliable recognition metrics without manual data entry."
Description

Enable automated ingestion and normalization of badge activity data from the recognition system, ensuring accurate and timely collection of peer acknowledgment metrics that feed into the Recognition Analytics dashboard.

Acceptance Criteria
Initial Badge Data Ingestion
- Given a new badge activity is available in the recognition system - When the scheduled ingestion job runs - Then all new badge records are fetched, stored in the staging database, and have non-null user IDs, badge types, and timestamps.
Data Normalization Accuracy
- Given raw badge activity data from multiple sources - When the normalization process executes - Then badge types map to standard categories, timestamps convert to UTC format, and user IDs align with the PulseSync user directory with 100% match rate.
Error Handling and Alerts
- Given a failure occurs during data ingestion or normalization - When an error is detected - Then the error is logged with a unique error code, and an alert is sent to the DevOps team within 5 minutes with failure details.
Real-Time Dashboard Update
- Given new normalized badge data is available - When data is written to the analytics store - Then the Recognition Analytics dashboard reflects the new data within 5 minutes, with no missing or duplicate records.
Ingestion Performance Metrics
- The ingestion pipeline processes up to 100,000 badge records in under 15 minutes - Average processing time per record does not exceed 50ms - System throughput remains above 100 records per second under peak load.
Correlation Analysis Engine
"As an HR manager, I want the platform to correlate badge activity with morale survey results so that I can understand how peer recognition impacts team sentiment."
Description

Compute statistical correlations between badge activity metrics and pulse survey morale scores, using time-series analysis and smoothing algorithms to identify meaningful relationships and trends.

Acceptance Criteria
Time-Series Correlation Analysis Initialization
Given an HR manager selects a valid date range and badge metric, when they trigger the correlation analysis, then the engine runs time-series analysis, applies smoothing algorithms, and returns correlation coefficients and trend data within 2 seconds in JSON format.
Correlation Result Accuracy Verification
Given historical test data with known correlation, when the analysis engine processes the data, then the computed correlation coefficient deviates no more than 0.01 from the expected value and smoothing retains key trend inflection points within 5% of expected timestamps.
Trend Detection and Smoothing Algorithm Output
Given a badge activity time-series containing seasonal spikes, when smoothing is applied, then the output correctly highlights underlying trends, filters out noise, and identifies at least one significant peak or trough with the correct timestamp.
Handling Insufficient Data Points
Given a badge metric dataset with fewer than five survey responses, when the analysis is attempted, then the engine returns a clear warning indicating insufficient data without crashing.
Real-Time Dashboard Display of Correlation Findings
Given the analysis completes successfully, when results are available, then the dashboard updates in real-time to display correlation metrics and time-series graphs with color-coded indicators for strong (>0.7), moderate (0.3–0.7), and weak (<0.3) correlations.
Real-time Trend Visualization
"As an HR manager, I want to explore the recognition-morale trends visually in real time so that I can quickly spot patterns and address issues."
Description

Provide an interactive dashboard featuring heatmaps, line charts, and filter controls to visualize badge activity and morale correlations in real time, with drill-down capabilities for detailed team or individual analysis.

Acceptance Criteria
Heatmap Display Initialization
Given the dashboard is accessed, When the Real-time Trend Visualization loads, Then a heatmap representing badge activity correlated with morale must be displayed within 2 seconds and color-coded correctly.
Real-time Data Refresh
Given new badge or survey data arrives, When the dashboard’s auto-refresh interval elapses, Then the heatmap and line charts should update without a full page reload, reflecting changes within 5 seconds.
Filter Controls Application
Given the HR manager selects department, time range, or badge type filters, When the filters are applied, Then the heatmap and line charts must update to show only the filtered data and display an updated legend.
Drill-Down to Team Level
Given the manager clicks on a department segment in the heatmap, When the drill-down action is triggered, Then the dashboard must display team-level badge activity and morale line charts for that department.
Drill-Down to Individual Level
Given the manager clicks on a team segment or data point in a line chart, When the drill-down action is performed, Then the dashboard must show individual employee morale scores and badge activity history.
Gap Identification Alerts
"As an HR manager, I want to be alerted when groups or individuals receive insufficient recognition so that I can intervene and boost morale."
Description

Automatically detect and highlight recognition gaps where teams or individuals receive below-threshold peer acknowledgments relative to morale scores, and trigger configurable notifications for HR managers to take corrective action.

Acceptance Criteria
Low Recognition Activity Detected
Given a team’s 7-day acknowledgment count falls below the configured threshold and the team’s average pulse score exceeds the recognition threshold, when the daily batch job runs, then an alert record for a recognition gap must be created and stored.
Team Morale Discrepancy
Given teams with similar average morale scores, when one team’s normalized acknowledgment rate is more than the configured percentage below its peers, then an alert must be generated identifying the team and degree of discrepancy.
Individual Recognition Gap
Given an individual’s acknowledgment count in the last 14 days is below the personal threshold while their morale score exceeds the configured morale threshold, when data is processed, then an individual gap alert must be created for HR review.
Threshold Configuration Change
Given HR updates the recognition count or morale gap thresholds in settings, when the change is saved, then the new thresholds must be applied to all subsequent alert calculations within 24 hours.
Notification Delivery Confirmation
Given a recognition gap alert is created, when notifications are dispatched, then each designated HR manager must receive an email within one hour and the alert must appear in their dashboard unread alerts list.
Exportable Analytics Reports
"As an HR manager, I want to export analytics reports so that I can share insights with stakeholders and support data-driven decision making."
Description

Allow HR managers to export recognition and morale correlation insights as customizable PDF or CSV reports, including summary statistics and visualizations, for offline analysis and executive presentations.

Acceptance Criteria
Custom PDF Report Export by HR Manager
Given an HR manager has configured a PDF report with summary statistics, visualizations, and company branding, when they initiate the export, then the system generates and downloads a correctly formatted PDF file within 30 seconds containing accurate data, charts at the selected resolution, and the applied branding.
CSV Export with Date Range Selection
Given an HR manager selects a specific date range and selects "Export to CSV", when the export completes, then the system downloads a CSV file containing all recognition badge activity and corresponding morale scores for the selected period with proper column headers and no missing entries.
Automated Scheduled Report Generation
Given an HR manager schedules a weekly export job, when the scheduled time arrives, then the system automatically generates the PDF and CSV reports and emails them to the configured recipients with filenames including the date stamp.
Complete Data and Visualization Inclusion
Given an HR manager includes both summary statistics and heatmap visualizations in the export settings, when the export is generated, then the report contains all selected visual elements and numerical summaries matching the on-screen dashboard.
Performance under Large Dataset Export
Given the analytics dataset exceeds 50,000 records, when an HR manager initiates a CSV export, then the system processes and downloads the file within 60 seconds without timeouts or data truncation.
Export Failure Notification and Retry Mechanism
Given the export process fails due to a server error, when the error occurs, then the system displays an error notification describing the issue and offers a "Retry" option that successfully restarts the export without data inconsistency.

Product Ideas

Innovative concepts that could enhance this product's value proposition.

Slack Sentiment Beacon

Embed a live Slack widget that tracks channel sentiment via emoji reactions, giving managers instant morale snapshots in chat.

Idea

Anomaly Alert Engine

Use ML to flag sudden morale dips across teams and send automatic alerts to managers within minutes.

Idea

VoiceClip Pulse

Allow employees to record 30-second audio feedback that auto-transcribes and highlights key tones for richer insights.

Idea

Heatmap Hover Lens

Reveal anonymized comment snippets when hovering over heatmap cells, giving instant context to sentiment spikes.

Idea

Recognition Ripple

Enable peer-to-peer recognition badges tied to morale scores, boosting positivity and tracking morale uplift.

Idea

Press Coverage

Imagined press coverage for this groundbreaking product concept.

P

PulseSync Revolutionizes Employee Engagement with Instant Automated Pulse Surveys

Imagined Press Article

New York, NY – 2025-06-16 – PulseSync today announces the official launch of its industry-leading automated pulse survey platform, designed to help mid-sized companies detect emerging morale issues within hours rather than months. By equipping HR managers and team leaders with instant survey deployment and vivid real-time heatmaps, PulseSync transforms traditional annual feedback cycles into continuous engagement loops, enabling interventions that strengthen workplace culture, reduce turnover costs and improve team resilience. As organizations grapple with an increasingly hybrid workforce and rapidly shifting employee expectations, annual surveys risk missing critical sentiment shifts that occur between check-ins. PulseSync fills this gap by allowing HR managers to deploy targeted pulse surveys in under 30 seconds across Slack channels. Automated reminders and anonymous response collection ensure high participation rates, while real-time heatmaps deliver clear sentiment visuals. According to industry research, teams that act on pulse survey data within 48 hours see a 25% reduction in voluntary turnover; PulseSync cuts that window to hours. Key features of PulseSync include Reaction Radar, a dynamic widget that aggregates emoji responses into a live mood gauge; Channel Mood Timeline, an interactive chart visualizing sentiment trends; and Custom Alert Configurator, which lets managers define thresholds for automated notifications. Together, these tools empower HR managers to identify and address issues such as burnout, engagement dips or emerging conflicts before they escalate. “With PulseSync, our team went from reacting to departure notices to proactively retaining top talent,” said Emily Carter, HR manager at BrightWave Technologies. PulseSync also offers advanced modules like Predictive Pulse Insights, which analyzes historical sentiment data to forecast potential morale dips, and Root Cause Analyzer, which correlates anomalies with conversation topics. By providing actionable context through Contextual Peek hover-enabled excerpts, managers can craft targeted responses rather than guess at solutions. The Adaptive Sensitivity engine further refines alert relevance by adjusting detection thresholds based on each team’s normal variation patterns, reducing false positives and minimizing alert fatigue. “Continuous feedback is the cornerstone of modern culture management,” said Jordan Kim, CEO of PulseSync. “We built PulseSync to help leaders move beyond outdated annual cycles and tap into real-time insights that drive engagement, productivity and retention. Today’s employees expect their voices to be heard in the moment, and organizations that deliver on that expectation will see healthier cultures and stronger business outcomes.” Pilot customers report significant improvements in team dynamics and a measurable uplift in overall morale. At Skylark Financial, HR director Maria Alvarez implemented weekly pulse checks using PulseSync and saw a 15% increase in employee satisfaction scores in the first quarter. “The speed and clarity of insights through PulseSync’s heatmaps allowed our leadership to prioritize initiatives that mattered most to our teams,” Alvarez noted. “It’s transformed the way we listen and respond.” PulseSync is available immediately as a subscription-based service for Slack-first organizations. Pricing tiers scale by active user count and include optional add-ons like Insight Digest, which delivers automated summaries of detected anomalies and recommended next steps, and Escalation Workflow, which routes alerts to designated stakeholders if initial notifications go unacknowledged. The platform integrates seamlessly with existing HR information systems, enabling holistic analytics when paired with broader employee data. To learn more or schedule a live demonstration, visit www.pulsesync.com or contact our sales team at sales@pulsesync.com. Detailed technical documentation and best-practice guides are available in our online resource center. Media Contact: Jane Doe Director of Communications, PulseSync jane.doe@pulsesync.com (555) 123-4567

P

PulseSync Launches Predictive Pulse Insights to Anticipate Team Morale Shifts

Imagined Press Article

San Francisco, CA – 2025-06-16 – PulseSync today unveils Predictive Pulse Insights, an AI-driven analytics module that forecasts potential dips in employee sentiment before they occur. By leveraging machine learning algorithms trained on historical pulse survey data, Predictive Pulse Insights empowers managers to proactively engage at-risk teams, deploy targeted morale-boosting activities and combat turnover with scientifically grounded interventions. Traditional morale management relies heavily on past performance and post-mortem analyses, leaving organizations vulnerable to sudden sentiment swings that can disrupt productivity and team cohesion. Predictive Pulse Insights changes the equation by continuously analyzing patterns in emoji reactions, survey responses and conversational cues across Slack channels. The system identifies subtle leading indicators—such as sustained increases in negative reactions or shifts in language tone—that historically precede formal morale dips. Key capabilities of Predictive Pulse Insights include scenario simulation, which allows leaders to model the potential impact of upcoming events—like organizational changes or product launches—on team sentiment. Alerts are delivered via the Custom Alert Configurator when forecasted dips exceed predefined severity thresholds. Additionally, Insight Digest can produce automated forecast summaries, complete with recommended actions and resource guides, keeping busy managers informed without overwhelming them with raw data. “Predictive analytics has become a must-have for forward-thinking HR teams,” said Dr. Priya Narang, Head of Data Science at PulseSync. “We meticulously validated our algorithms against large datasets from pilot customers, achieving forecasting accuracy of over 85% for six-week sentiment trajectories. This level of precision gives leaders the confidence to act early, preventing issues from escalating and preserving team morale.” Early adopters of Predictive Pulse Insights are already reporting tangible business benefits. At Meridian Marketing Group, HR manager Carlos Reyes leveraged forecasts to tap into cross-functional support resources before a major product rollout. By deploying targeted recognition campaigns and manager check-ins at the predicted high-risk period, Meridian saw a 30% reduction in negative sentiment compared to prior launches. “We moved from firefighting to foresight,” Reyes commented. “PulseSync’s predictions allowed us to prepare our teams and maintain momentum.” Predictive Pulse Insights integrates seamlessly with existing PulseSync subscriptions. Upon activation, customers undergo a brief onboarding process in which historical sentiment data is ingested and models are trained. The entire process takes less than one week, and ongoing model refinement occurs automatically as new data pours in. Leaders access forecasts directly within the PulseSync dashboard or via scheduled email digests. “As organizations evolve in complexity, the ability to anticipate people risks becomes just as critical as monitoring performance metrics,” said Jordan Kim, CEO of PulseSync. “Predictive Pulse Insights represents our commitment to delivering unparalleled foresight, enabling teams to sustain engagement and drive business results in an increasingly dynamic environment.” Predictive Pulse Insights is available now as an add-on for all PulseSync Enterprise and Growth plans. For pricing details and a personalized forecasting demonstration, visit www.pulsesync.com/predictive or contact sales@pulsesync.com. Media Contact: Jane Doe Director of Communications, PulseSync jane.doe@pulsesync.com (555) 123-4567

P

PulseSync Extends Multichannel Sentiment Monitoring to Microsoft Teams

Imagined Press Article

Seattle, WA – 2025-06-16 – PulseSync today announces expanded integration with Microsoft Teams, enabling organizations to unify sentiment monitoring across both Slack and Teams environments. With Multi-Channel Pulse for Teams, HR managers and team leads can now deploy instant pulse surveys, view real-time heatmaps and configure alerts across multiple collaboration platforms from a single dashboard. As hybrid work models become the norm, many companies use a mix of collaboration tools to accommodate diverse employee preferences. This fragmentation can create blind spots in morale management when sentiment data resides in silos. PulseSync’s Multi-Channel Pulse for Teams ensures that no voice goes unheard by consolidating responses from Slack channels and Microsoft Teams groups into one intuitive view. The integration supports all core PulseSync features, including Reaction Radar, Channel Mood Timeline and Custom Alert Configurator. Teams users can respond to pulse surveys directly within their native chat interface, while HR managers access consolidated sentiment heatmaps that blend data from all connected channels. Contextual Peek remains available, providing anonymized message excerpts on hover to explain sudden spikes or dips in team mood. “We’ve seen tremendous demand from customers who operate in both Slack and Teams,” said Lara Nguyen, Product Manager at PulseSync. “By extending our coverage to Microsoft Teams, we’re removing barriers to comprehensive culture management. Leaders can now capture a holistic view of their organization’s sentiment, regardless of which tool their employees prefer.” Pilot participants report immediate impact. At Horizon Health Services, Director of People Analytics Roberto Sanchez deployed a cross-platform engagement campaign using PulseSync’s unified dashboard. In the first month, participation rates increased by 40%, and the organization uncovered previously hidden morale issues in teams that primarily used Teams. “For the first time, we had a seamless window into every department’s sentiment,” Sanchez said. “PulseSync for Teams let us identify and resolve issues that had slipped through regular feedback channels.” Multi-Channel Pulse for Teams also supports enhanced analytics such as Sentiment Score Overlay, which displays sentiment meters when hovering over heatmap cells, and FilterFocus Toolbar for drilling down by platform, date range or team. The integration is built on secure APIs and adheres to Microsoft’s stringent privacy and compliance standards, ensuring data remains protected and access is controlled by existing PulseSync authentication policies. “Expanding to Microsoft Teams marks a significant milestone in our mission to make continuous engagement insights universally accessible,” said Jordan Kim, CEO of PulseSync. “Organizations should never have to choose between collaboration platforms and comprehensive morale management. With PulseSync’s multichannel support, we’re delivering a unified solution that scales with the way modern teams work.” Multi-Channel Pulse for Teams is available immediately to all PulseSync customers at no additional cost. Existing users can enable the integration through the PulseSync admin console, while new customers can sign up at www.pulsesync.com/teams. For technical documentation and step-by-step setup guides, visit our support portal. Media Contact: Jane Doe Director of Communications, PulseSync jane.doe@pulsesync.com (555) 123-4567

Want More Amazing Product Ideas?

Subscribe to receive a fresh, AI-generated product idea in your inbox every day. It's completely free, and you might just discover your next big thing!

Product team collaborating

Transform ideas into products

Full.CX effortlessly brings product visions to life.

This product was entirely generated using our AI and advanced algorithms. When you upgrade, you'll gain access to detailed product requirements, user personas, and feature specifications just like what you see below.