Some time back in past…
Early in my software development career, I attended a hackathon. One speaker discussed a challenge: achieving 100% timesheet submission. Their proposed solution involved automating timesheets based on calendars and events.
As a brand new developer, I hadn’t even submitted my first timesheet! I mistakenly thought it was a complex and time-consuming process. Luckily, within hours, I was onboarded — the process was actually quite straightforward (trust me!). When I asked my team why some people struggle with timesheets, they smiled and simply replied, “You’ll understand when you tackle this problem at a future hackathon!”
Now, after some years have passed and I think about the same problem statement and ways to solve it and thought of sharing my learnings to wider audience and that is the reason for this blog
Present…
When we ask openAI platforms What can I do to ensure timely timesheet submission by my team. Suggestions are listed below
- Clear Communication and Policy
- Make the Process Easy and Efficient
- Reminders and Incentives
- Address communication or Workload management Issues
- Leverage Automation (Optional)
In my case, our project manager and leadership have clearly communicated the policy and its benefits. The process itself is simple, and there are plenty of reminders. So, why might some people still miss deadlines? I believe it’s not because they’re intentionally avoiding it or waiting for the last reminder. More likely, it’s simply getting lost in the workflow and forgetting.
This is where my “hackathon project” comes in, with the help of one of my colleague, we implemented a same solution which was already implemented in our regional chat groups. Which is nothing but The Universal Language: MEMES!
Yes, we send timesheet memes (Like the one above) to our chat channels along with the link to the timesheet submission page attached to the image. We have seen many people react to the memes and submit the timesheet. This strategy acknowledges the challenge some face while fostering a positive and engaging environment.
By taking the MEME based lighthearted approach, we aimed to raise awareness and encourage timely submissions. Solution wise, this is just a simple code which runs to send memes to the configured chat group on a configured time.
Future…
In the meantime, please continue submitting your timesheets on time. Thanks for reading! This blog post is just one example, and the perfect solution may vary depending on your team. We hope it has sparked some creative thinking about how to address the timesheet challenge in a way that works best for you and your team!
