Redeemable vs Accumulative Points: Rethinking Motivation in SME Teams

Aug 7, 2025

Why POISUM Chose Long-Term Culture Over Short-Term Perks

Most reward systems follow a familiar pattern:
“Earn points. Redeem for cash, vouchers, or prizes.”

It works — for a while.

But in many SMEs, leaders begin to notice something:
• Enthusiasm fades quickly after redemption.
• Staff “game the system” for rewards.
• Behavior doesn’t improve sustainably.
• Culture becomes transactional — not aligned.

That’s why POISUM chose a different path:
Accumulative, non-redeemable points designed to shape long-term behavior and culture.

Let’s explore the difference — and why it matters for your team.

The Problem with Traditional Redeemable Systems

Redeemable points = short-term dopamine, long-term disengagement.

Here’s what usually happens:

Phase	What Happens
🚀 Launch	Staff are excited to earn points and claim rewards.
📉 Fatigue	Over time, focus shifts to maximizing points — not adding value.
😐 Entitlement	Employees expect rewards for basic tasks.
❌ Disconnect	The reward system becomes separate from company values or strategy.

The outcome?
• A costly program that creates spikes of motivation, but no sustained culture change.
• Rewards that feel like entitlements, not recognition.
• No long-term retention or alignment impact.

POISUM’s Alternative: Accumulative Points

POISUM is designed to reward value-aligned behavior, not just output. That’s why it uses:
• Non-redeemable points
• Accumulative logic
• Campaign-based rewards (optional)
• Visibility-based motivation

Here’s how it works:

Points are earned through missions tagged with company values (e.g., Ownership, Innovation).
Points accumulate in the employee’s profile — visible to them and leaders.
Recognition comes through leaderboards, campaigns, and long-term cultural multipliers (e.g., bonus boost, internal visibility).
Points are not spent or reset — they show long-term contribution and alignment.

Why This Works Better for SMEs

Traditional Points	POISUM Points
Redeemable	Non-redeemable
Spent after reward	Accumulate over time
Individual-driven	Culture-driven
Reward-centric	Behavior-centric
Short-term focus	Long-term alignment
Easily gamed	Requires real engagement

POISUM’s system:
• Promotes intrinsic motivation (I want to contribute)
• Builds ownership culture (I shape the team)
• Encourages long-term retention (my history matters here)

Recognition Without Costly Perks

With POISUM, you can run reward campaigns — but on your terms.

Example campaigns:
• Top 10 point earners (Customer Focus) → CEO lunch
• Most improved in Innovation points → Book voucher
• Annual cultural contributor → Bonus multiplier

Points earned in June could count for both Campaign A (Jun–Aug) and Campaign B (Mar–Sep) — increasing engagement without increasing cost.

More importantly, even without rewards, people care because:
• Points reflect their values.
• Their contribution is seen.
• Their effort is recognized long-term.

Final Thought: Build Legacy, Not Just Loyalty

POISUM’s point system is designed to shape who your team becomes, not just how they act today.

It’s not just a motivational gimmick —
It’s a culture engine that builds retention, alignment, and pride.

If you want your team to stay, grow, and own the vision —
Reward behavior, not transactions.

Motivation Model Comparison: Redeemable vs Accumulative Points

Criteria	Traditional Redeemable Points	POISUM Accumulative Points
Point Usage	Redeemed (spent for items/rewards)	Accumulated (not spent, retained as contribution record)
Motivation Type	Extrinsic (what I get)	Intrinsic (what I build, how I’m seen)
Behavior Focus	Reward-centric	Value-centric
Visibility	Limited to transaction	Visible profile, dashboards, and culture scores
Duration of Impact	Short bursts of excitement	Sustained reinforcement and engagement
Cost to Company	High (redemption budget required)	Flexible (optional campaigns, no redemption obligation)
Cultural Alignment	Weak (often gamed)	Strong (every action linked to core value)
Retention Impact	Low (once reward is redeemed)	High (long-term point history = recognition & pride)
Example	“10 points = RM10 voucher”	“+10 points for Discipline: visible in 2 campaigns + bonus boost”