Nudge

Behavioural ‘experts’ quietly shaped robodebt's most devilish details – and their work in government continues

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 25, 2023

One of the things still worrying me about robodebt was the attention to detail. By that, I am not referring to the crude system by which hundreds of thousands of Australians on benefits received letters between 2016 and 2019, wrongly demanding they repay Centrelink money they did not owe. I am referring to the care with which the robodebt letters were designed – and the so-called science behind those devastating design decisions. ‘Nudging’ people to pay at all costsThe robodebt royal commission heard that details as specific as the colours of the letters were decided on after receiving advice from “experts in behavioural science”.

Key Points: 


One of the things still worrying me about robodebt was the attention to detail. By that, I am not referring to the crude system by which hundreds of thousands of Australians on benefits received letters between 2016 and 2019, wrongly demanding they repay Centrelink money they did not owe. I am referring to the care with which the robodebt letters were designed – and the so-called science behind those devastating design decisions.

‘Nudging’ people to pay at all costs

    • The robodebt royal commission heard that details as specific as the colours of the letters were decided on after receiving advice from “experts in behavioural science”.
    • So it made what Royal Commissioner Catherine Holmes found was a “conscious decision” not to include a phone number recipients could use to find out more.
    • That’s right, the letter didn’t include a phone number – a decision Holmes found was made “with the intention of forcing recipients to respond online”.

The human toll of powerlessness

    • People left with nowhere to turn and without ready access to, or familiarity with, using the internet felt powerless.
    • Witnesses told Holmes they wanted to end their lives.

‘Choice architects’ shaping policy

    • A year before robodebt began, the then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull set up what he called a Behavioural Economics Team Australia (BETA) unit in his department.
    • It was modelled on the so-called “nudge units” set up by former US president Barack Obama and former UK prime minister David Cameron.
    • Cass Sunstein helped invent both those terms, coauthored the book Nudge, and headed Obama’s Nudge Unit.

Hollow science

    • A real science examines not only cause and effect, but also develops a theory of the mechanism by which that effect takes place.
    • That’s another way of saying a real science examines more than correlations.
    • Psychology is one such real science; economics is (usually) another.

Blind to empathy

    • And now, under the Albanese government, there’s another unit.
    • But if it only does that, without examining how it works, it risks being as blind to the potential costs on real people as the “behavioural insights” that shaped the robodebt letters.

ODAIA Adds Demonstrated Industry Talent Following Successful Series B

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Rebecca Skvorc joined ODAIA as Chief Financial Officer, while Jim Diefenbach was named SVP of Sales and Mike Goulart as Sr. Director, Business Acceleration.

Key Points: 
  • Rebecca Skvorc joined ODAIA as Chief Financial Officer, while Jim Diefenbach was named SVP of Sales and Mike Goulart as Sr. Director, Business Acceleration.
  • Her responsibilities at ODAIA will include strategically positioning the company for its next phase of growth following its capital raise and a more than 646% increase in year-over-year annual recurring revenue (ARR) in 2022.
  • Previously, Diefenbach spent nearly a decade at Veeva Systems, the global leader in cloud software for the life sciences industry.
  • “We are extremely fortunate to be able to add successful industry veterans like Rebecca, Jim, and Mike to the ODAIA team during such an exciting time for our company.

Nudge Security emerges from stealth to address security's hardest problem: people.

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 13, 2022

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nudge Security emerged from stealth today with the first-ever SaaS security solution to discover shadow IT and curb SaaS sprawl across any device or location. Nudge Security does what previous enterprise security solutions have failed to do: make employees core to the solution.

Key Points: 
  • AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nudge Security emerged from stealth today with the first-ever SaaS security solution to discover shadow IT and curb SaaS sprawl across any device or location.
  • Nudge Security does what previous enterprise security solutions have failed to do: make employees core to the solution.
  • Nudge Security aims to help security teams to reclaim control over their SaaS security postures by working with employees, not against them.
  • "Nudge Security is the only company able to address SaaS security at scale across any application by tapping into the very source of SaaS adoption: employees."

New Research Reveals Deep-rooted Gaps In the Frontline Employee Experience Are Finally Reaching a Breaking Point

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 11, 2022

TORONTO, Oct. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Axonify and Nudge, top-rated software solutions for frontline learning, communications, and execution — today released The Deskless Report 2022 which uncovers new and alarming disconnects between corporate leaders and their frontline workers and managers that could lead to increased turnover in industries already struggling to keep employees.

Key Points: 
  • The full report provides strategic insights to guide operational excellence and a better employee experience in key industries reliant on frontline workers.
  • The most alarming finding is that 42% of frontline workers are considering quitting their job, up from 36% last year.
  • Considering that 80% of frontline workers rely on their manager for information, the data suggest these industries are nearing a breaking point.
  • And 75% of corporate leaders believe their organization invests in new technologies for frontline workers, yet only 39% of frontline workers agree.

Axonify Acquires Nudge to Bring Digital Employee Experience to the Next Level

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 22, 2022

WATERLOO, Ont., June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Axonify, a leader in frontline employee training and communications, today announced the acquisition of Nudge, the top-rated employee communication and execution platform. This strategic union will simplify frontline team enablement and offer best-in-class tools for frontline-devoted organizations.

Key Points: 
  • Career advancement, skill development and a sense of connectedness are among the top motivators for frontline workers.
  • By joining forces, Axonify + Nudge will be able to deliver an integrated approach to learning, engagement and execution that leverages Axonify's adaptive microlearning methodology with Nudge's two-way communications and task management platform.
  • The combined offering promises centralized learning, guided task execution, engaging communications and real-time feedback in a single digital solution.
  • Since 2012, over 65 million Nudges have been delivered, driving profitability, employee retention, and providing teams with the insights to create memorable customer experiences.

Axonify Acquires Nudge to Bring Digital Employee Experience to the Next Level

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 22, 2022

WATERLOO, Ont., June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Axonify, a leader in frontline employee training and communications, today announced the acquisition of Nudge, the top-rated employee communication and execution platform. This strategic union will simplify frontline team enablement and offer best-in-class tools for frontline-devoted organizations.

Key Points: 
  • Career advancement, skill development and a sense of connectedness are among the top motivators for frontline workers.
  • By joining forces, Axonify + Nudge will be able to deliver an integrated approach to learning, engagement and execution that leverages Axonify's adaptive microlearning methodology with Nudge's two-way communications and task management platform.
  • The combined offering promises centralized learning, guided task execution, engaging communications and real-time feedback in a single digital solution.
  • Since 2012, over 65 million Nudges have been delivered, driving profitability, employee retention, and providing teams with the insights to create memorable customer experiences.

Rising Costs Due to Widespread Turnover Major Concern for Foodservice Industry As New Nudge Report Finds 38% of Foodservice Frontline Workers Want To Quit

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 26, 2022

TORONTO, April 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nudge, the leader in frontline employee communication, has released its latest Foodservice Deskless Report. Finding that 40% of foodservice workers don't feel heard by their organizations and that 38% want to quit their jobs, the report uncovers extensive dissatisfaction amongst frontline staff across the industry. Foodservice operators however are not unaware of this, with 76% stating that they would invest budget into employee experience in 2022 and 25% citing turnover as their main challenge. Additionally, operators indicated knowledge retention and the inability to share real-time information as the biggest challenges contributing to the communication barrier between head offices and frontline workers.

Key Points: 
  • New Foodservice Deskless Report details how foodservice workers want change in how they're managed and communicated with and how foodservice operators are responding.
  • TORONTO, April 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nudge , the leader in frontline employee communication, has released its latest Foodservice Deskless Report.
  • Finding that 40% of foodservice workers don't feel heard by their organizations and that 38% want to quit their jobs, the report uncovers extensive dissatisfaction amongst frontline staff across the industry.
  • The Nudge app enables head offices to share relevant, critical information with their deskless workers across every location in real-time.

Nathan's Famous to Pilot With Let us Nudge in 15 Locations Throughout the U.S.

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 12, 2022

We expect the Let us Nudge technology will enable Nathan's to increase sales through campaign management and targeted coupons at 15 Nathan's Famous locations throughout the country with the Nudge@Home platform.

Key Points: 
  • We expect the Let us Nudge technology will enable Nathan's to increase sales through campaign management and targeted coupons at 15 Nathan's Famous locations throughout the country with the Nudge@Home platform.
  • "We are excited to move forward with the pilot program with Let us Nudge.
  • Let us Nudge, whose current roster of restaurant partners includes large franchise chains, fine-dining and small family-owned restaurants, provides restaurants with two types of technology.
  • Let us Nudge is a patent-pending, emergent technology solution that provides table seating efficiencies during both busy and slow times.

37% of Retail Workers Don't Feel Heard & Want To Quit as New Nudge Report Reveals 63% of Retailers Investing in Employee Experience in 2022.

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 8, 2022

The report reveals the widespread discontent frontline retail workers are experiencing due to a lack of communications, feedback, engagement, and more.

Key Points: 
  • The report reveals the widespread discontent frontline retail workers are experiencing due to a lack of communications, feedback, engagement, and more.
  • It also examines the ways in which retail leaders and retailers are addressing this discontent going forward amid rampant turnover.
  • "Retail can't escape the impact of The Great Resignation and corporate leadership is finally catching on," said Jordan Ekers, Co-founder and COO of Nudge.
  • Disconnect between retail workers and head office - 68% of retail workers said feedback is very or extremely important to them, but 37% of workers don't feel heard by their organization.

FourQ Adds Sales and Shared Services Veteran to Leadership Team

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 14, 2021

An accomplished leader in sales and shared services, he brings nearly 30 years of global experience to his new leadership role.

Key Points: 
  • An accomplished leader in sales and shared services, he brings nearly 30 years of global experience to his new leadership role.
  • At FourQ, Standring will be responsible for designing and implementing the company's go-to-market strategy and scaling the sales organization.
  • "I look forward to delivering industrial strength enterprise sales and support teams that will dominate the IFM market," explained Standring.
  • Steven has also served in numerous shared services and leadership roles at Nudge Ltd, OB10, Works.com, and IBM Tivoli Software.