Too much of a good thing

Our Nudge starts exactly where overtime has become the tacit normality. The aim is to critically question the widespread tolerance...

  1. Manager

  2. occupational health and saftey

  3. Overtime

  4. Work culture

Together against hate

Part 1 – Pop-up in the comment section:
Notice above the comment section: “Help to stop hate! – 6...

  1. Digital platforms

  2. Hate comments

  3. Online hate

  4. Social media

Burnout costs - nudging protects

Information nudge for burnout prevention in companies through regular calendar impulses for managers. A short, gentle reminder in Outlook is...

  1. Burnout

  2. Mental load

  3. occupational health and safety

  4. Work load

  5. Work place

Fake or fact

Our nudge is a digital tool - embedded in social media platforms or browser extensions. It allows users to report...

  1. Digital platforms

  2. Fact check

  3. Fake News

  4. Media competence

  5. Politics

  6. Social media

CultureSTRONG

Our Nudge is an annual plaque awarded to cultural institutions for their active commitment to combating the abuse of power....

  1. Abuse of power

  2. badge

  3. Creative industry

  4. Cultural sector

  5. Digital platforms

  6. Social media

Integrity in Every Entry

Our nudge takes a stand against the silent tolerance of billing fraud in the healthcare sector. We rely on a...

  1. Billing fraud

  2. Healthcare

  3. Incorrect treatment

  4. pharmaceutical industry

blue mirror

We are pleased to present our idea “blue mirror”, an interactive app that aims to encourage participants to regularly self-reflect...

  1. Group cohesion

  2. Military forces

  3. Police

  4. Racism

  5. Security forces

  6. Sexism

TruePrice

Our data-based information nudge creates transparency in the ordering process with the help of an internal dashboard of a comparison...

  1. Offer

  2. Price decision

  3. Procurement

  4. White-collar crime

Better Reviews. Better Science

Our nudge is a three-part system of incentives and reminders designed to subtly encourage peer reviewers to adopt more careful...

  1. Peer Review

  2. Research

  3. Science

Break-Buddy

Our Nudge is an Outlook add-in that provides managers with an automatic feedback report on their team's break culture. The...

  1. Break culture

  2. Development

  3. occupational health and safety

  4. Recreation

  5. Work life

Comrade Code

Our nudge aims to raise awareness about the fine line between traditional camaraderie and borderline rituals (hazing) within the military....

  1. Bullying

  2. Comradeship

  3. Hazing

  4. Military

  5. safety forces

GenderGuard

Our nudge is a "gender bias check" with supervisor notification. This means: An AI-based tool automatically checks every new job...

  1. Gender Bias

  2. Gender discrimination

  3. Job advertisement

  4. Managers

  5. occupational health safety

Diligence Duty

Small decisions, big impact!
In finance, every click, every review, every checkbox matters. With Duty Diligence, we target precisely...

  1. banking

  2. finance

  3. Peer Review

  4. Research

  5. Review process

  6. Science

The Laughing Gas Nudge

The Laughing Gas Nudge is designed to reduce society’s passive acceptance and toleration of launching gas use among adolescents and...

  1. Abuse

  2. Consumption

  3. Health

  4. Healthcare

  5. Intoxicant

  6. Laughing gas

  7. pharmaceutical industry

No playing with time

Our hourglass nudge effectively highlights the relevance of time-wasting in football to support compliance with the new regulation coming into...

  1. doping

  2. Referee

  3. Soccer

  4. Sport

  5. Time game

Diligence Duty

Diligence Duty

Small decisions, big impact!
In finance, every click, every review, every checkbox matters. With Duty Diligence, we target precisely these moments. Our nudge reaches auditors exactly where it counts most: directly in their workflow.
An awareness banner before particularly sensitive checks uses social references to remind staff of collective responsibility. A feedback banner reinforces the idea that thorough work truly makes a difference in the fight against financial crime. A compact, process-related AML questionnaire promotes self-reflection and attention. All this comes without any extra effort – but with real impact.
Duty Diligence is not just another control tool. It is a smart prompt for greater awareness in dealing with financial crime. Subtle. Direct. Effective.

What does the topic mean?

Anti Money Laundering (AML) includes measures to prevent money laundering and financial crime – such as transaction monitoring, internal controls, and reporting suspicious activities. AML officers work under great pressure and often carry out only superficial reviews. This causes two key issues: Many suspicious activity reports are unnecessary and overload the already stretched FIU (Financial Intelligence Unit). In 2023, around 320,000 reports were submitted, but only about 80,000 were followed up on (FIU Germany, 2023). Avoidable costs arise for banks. Reportable cases may be overlooked, leading to sanctions from BaFin (Federal Financial Supervisory Authority) and damage to reputation. A strong AML department is essential – to avoid unnecessary reports, use resources efficiently, and comply with legal obligations.

Goal of the nudge

The goal of Duty Diligence is to strengthen attention, sense of responsibility, and self-reflection among those reviewing AML cases. Through targeted impulses – such as appreciative hints and consciously placed reminders – the nudge aims to reduce cognitive errors and challenge automated processes. The nudge intervenes right where routine becomes risky: at the moment of review. It helps prevent relevant clues from being overlooked or thoughtlessly flagged as suspicious. In the
long term, this improves the quality of review processes – and enhances the efficiency, legal certainty, and reputation of the bank.

    Needs analysis

    • Context: Germany is considered particularly vulnerable to money laundering within Europe – due to high cash usage, non-transparent ownership structures, and weak controls. According to an analysis by Stripe, Germany was at risk of being placed on the FATF blacklist alongside high-risk countries such as North Korea or Iran (Stripe, 2023). Workplace pressure: Employees in the financial sector face intense pressure to combine efficiency and compliance – especially due to large fines from BaFin. In May 2024, N26 Bank AG paid 9.2 million euros due to delayed reports, and Solaris SE paid 6.5 million euros for similar violations (BaFin, 2024). These penalties increase pressure for quick and often superficial reviews. Overloaded reporting units: Many suspicious activity reports are created out of uncertainty or excessive caution. According to section 43 of the German Anti Money Laundering Act (GwG), banks must report even vague suspicions – with little room for discretion. This leads to a flood of reports, overburdens the FIU, and weakens the fight against money laundering. Lack of awareness and reflection: In stressful or highly routinized workflows, impulses for conscious self-checks are often missing. This increases the risk that important clues are missed. In environments focused on compliance and safeguarding, there is often little space for critical thinking at the moment of decision-making. Lack of behavior-oriented support: There are hardly any tools that promote awareness and a sense of responsibility right at the point of checking. This is exactly where the nudge Duty Diligence comes in.

    Cause analysis

    • Bandwagon Effect

      People tend to adopt others’ behavior without questioning it. In practice,
      this can mean that reviewers adopt existing decisions or common practices even if they are
      not ideal.

    • Groupthink

      In groups, harmony is often prioritized over critical thinking. Dissenting
      opinions or concerns are not voiced to avoid conflict, allowing flawed routines to persist.

    • Herd Behavior

      Individuals align with the behavior of the majority without evaluating the
      situation independently. In practice, this may mean relevant anomalies are ignored or too
      quickly classified as harmless.

    • Loss Aversion

      The fear of missing something and making a mistake often outweighs the
      motivation to carefully select cases. This leads to overly cautious behavior and a flood of
      suspicious reports.

    • Status Quo Bias

      People prefer familiar routines and avoid change – even when alternatives
      are better. This tendency prevents the adoption of more thoughtful and effective review
      practices.

    • Diffusion of Responsibility

      In large organizations or teams, individuals feel less personally
      responsible because responsibility is shared. This reduces motivation for careful review and
      independent decision-making.

Target Group

AML officers and their teams: Individuals directly responsible for reviewing and assessing suspicious activities Compliance and risk management leadership: Those in charge of quality assurance and the strategic direction of anti money laundering efforts.
Other internal stakeholders: Employees and decision-makers involved in the design,
coordination, or support of the AML process

Added value of the nudge

  • Improve review quality

    Duty Diligence encourages more precise and reflective decisions in AML processes. It reduces inaccurate suspicious reports and enhances the real impact of anti money laundering measures.

  • Makes responsibility tangible

    The nudge emphasizes that every individual decision matters. Employees experience how their focus contributes directly to the integrity of the financial system.

  • Positively shapes organizational culture:

    Duty Diligence helps create a work environment where mindfulness, quality, and personal responsibility are promoted – not through control, but through conscious decision-making.

  • Boosts self-worth and motivation

    Through appreciative impulses, staff feel recognized for their role in protecting against financial crime. This strengthens
    motivation, accuracy, and professional engagement in the long term.

CONTACT US

Elias Pühs

elias.puehs@stud.hshl.de

Fabian Silva Fuentes

fabian.silva-fuentes2@stud.hshl.de

Noah Pollmann

noah.pollmann@stud.hshl.de

Tim Lian Brüning

Tim-lian.bruening@stud.hshl.de