What happens when you combine the spirit of World Creativity and Innovation Day with the competitive thrill of a live quiz? At Amdocs India, the result was an electric atmosphere, a surge of collective intelligence, and a powerful reminder of why meaningful engagement matters.
Recently, I was invited to conduct a multi-stage quiz for Amdocs India employees in Pune, and the 3-part journey from the digital quiz to physical quizzes, which brought together employees from different functions to rack their brains and work together as a team.
The Journey to the Final
The event kicked off with a massive online preliminary round, drawing over 200 participants eager to test their wits. From this pool, the top 42 thinkers were shortlisted and grouped into 14 cross-functional teams of three.
The energy shifted from virtual to visceral as we moved offline to the Amdocs Pune office for the knockout rounds. We hosted two intense semifinals featuring seven teams each. With only the top three from each round qualifying, the josh was high. By the time the final six teams took their seats for the Grand Finale, the cafeteria-turned-auditorium was buzzing with anticipation. While three teams ultimately walked away with rewards, the real win was the knowledge and camaraderie shared across the floor.
Witnessing the sheer intensity in that room made it evident that more than being a corporate quiz, it was also an exercise in human connection. It’s why I decided to write this post to encourage any HR professional reading this to think of themselves as a talent leader and move beyond the usual check-box engagement activities. Let this blog post be your nudge to bring the buzzer into your boardroom. I’ll elaborate-
Why Quizzing is a Secret Weapon for HR
Hear me out HR leaders and culture-builders: a quiz is neither just a “fun activity” nor a “too academic exercise”. What it really is in a corporate setting is a tool for meaningful engagement. Here’s why:
- Micro-Learning in Macro Style: Quizzing allows you to introduce complex new concepts, like in Amdocs’ case: emerging technologies or innovation frameworks, in a format that feels more play, less lecture.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: By grouping individuals into teams, I saw engineers, managers, and analysts brainstorming together. It breaks silos and builds multifunction trust.
- Shared Space has higher retention: While digital tools are convenient, the magic of IRL gathering is irreplaceable. The cheers, the quick huddles, and the “aha!” moments create a shared memory that lasts much longer than a standard in-house newsletter. And,
- Gamifying Growth and Recognition: High-energy competitions boost dopamine, making employees more receptive to learning and more connected to the company culture.
A Nudge to Enterprising HR Leaders
If you are looking for a way to break the monotony of routine town halls or standard training sessions, look towards a quiz. Whether it’s celebrating a day like World Creativity and Innovation Day or PSU Day (as we did with a quiz for Powergrid last month) or launching your own internal initiative, a well-structured quiz transforms passive observers into active participants.
The success at Amdocs India proved that when you give employees a platform to showcase their curiosity, they get out of their comfort zone, and they excel. And so, dear leader, if you want to foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation, start by asking the right questions, literally.
