Main Difference Between Award and Reward

Award and Reward are very confusing terminologies that cannot be used interchangeably as both verbs have different characteristics. Though they seem very identical in pronunciation and meaning but have massive differences. They both give a sense of satisfaction to the person who receives them. They are the symbol of some positive action completed but the demarcation line between them is very blurred to separate them. 

Award vs Reward

The main difference between Award and Reward is that Award is given through a systematic process to a person or an organization and a Reward is not provided by selecting a person through a systematic approach. An award is more impressive as it is given publicly like Oskar whereas Reward is less impressive as it is provided in private. 

The term Award refers to the trophy, Medal, or certificate given publicly to a person or an organization for doing something best. Word Award in English grammar is a noun as well as a verb. It is usually given to the person selected out of a group of people if comparatively, that person accomplishes something in the best way. 

The term Reward refers to a contingent advantage for an action performed by an Individual. It is also a noun and a verb in English grammar. The reward has nothing to do with any achievement, it is more about a task done or the exchange of good gestures in financial or non-financial terms. 

The terms “award” and “reward” are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. An award is generally given as recognition for achievement or excellence in a particular field or activity, whereas a reward is typically given as an incentive or compensation for a particular action or behavior.

Here’s an example to illustrate the difference:

Let’s say a company holds an annual employee appreciation event to recognize outstanding performance. During the event, the company presents awards to employees who have excelled in their respective roles over the past year. These awards could include things like “Employee of the Year,” “Salesperson of the Year,” or “Best Team Player.” The awards are given as recognition for the employee’s hard work, dedication, and exceptional performance.

On the other hand, the company may also have a reward program in place to encourage employees to meet specific goals or milestones. For example, the company may offer a monetary bonus or additional paid time off for employees who reach certain sales targets, complete a project ahead of schedule, or consistently achieve high levels of customer satisfaction. In this case, the rewards are given as an incentive for the employees to continue performing at a high level or to meet specific targets or objectives.

So, in summary, for the Difference Between Award and reward, awards are given as recognition for excellence or achievement, while rewards are given as incentives or compensation for specific actions or behaviours.

Comparison Table Between Award and Reward

What is Award?

The Award is a token of recognition given to a person or organization when they have accomplished something great by doing an extraordinary performance. It could be in the form of Cash, Car, Medal, Certificate, etc. When a person breaks a record in a specified area like dance, singing, sports, acting, studies, and more, in those cases Award is given to the awardee. They are generally given in front of many people. The award ceremony is organized in some instances to deliver the Award.

For Better understanding, When a student scores the highest marks in the class, he receives an award certificate or medal for outstanding performance in a class by studying well. This award is given to motivate other students as well in the school for doing great. In the same manner dance competition, sports competition activities held and the best one chosen as per performance to give Award. 

The awardee is selected through the decision of the expert panel. Before the decision-making process in Award, the nominations are there who will receive the Award and who’s performance was best in the action completed. Filmfare, Grammy, Oscar are a few examples of Award Ceremony. An Award is a very grandiose thing. 

What is Reward?

The term Reward is recognition for non-stop efforts made by an individual in their work, service, loyalty, honesty, and hard work. It could be given just by a simple word of praise or in monetary terms in exchange for something great. The procedure to select a person for receiving a reward is not formal. Even no selection process is held to choose an Individual for Reward. It is usually given privately not conferred on a public platform. 

The Reward giving process is less impressive since it can be exchanged between two people only without putting any impact on others. For a better understanding of the term, If a person planted 500 plants in a month to support nature then a Reward can be announced for him to praise his efforts for the environment. The most common Reward is given in case of a Missing person finding. Everyone must have seen those posters announcing rewards. 

A reward is a token of gratitude when employees in big companies are recognized for their efforts. It is in the form of incentives in some cases or maybe food coupons etc. This is done for employee motivation. The reward is also given in the case of meeting sales targets. 

Main Difference Between Award and Reward

1. Demonstration: In Awards, the demonstration is done Publicly whereas in the case of Reward the demonstration is done privately to hand over the Reward.
2. Reason: Award is mainly associated with some good reason on the contrary the Reward may or may not be for the good reason.
3. Example: For Award-The CM awarded the child for excellent dance performance and For Reward- Mary gives cookies to John for helping her in their studies. 
4. Output: Award is the output of some accomplishment conversely Reward is the output of some recognition.
5. Process: The Award is a formal process to praise a person or an organization whereas Reward is an informal process of recognition to an individual. 

Similarities in Award vs Reward

Although there are differences between award and reward, there are also some similarities between the two. Here are a few:

1. Both are forms of recognition: Awards and rewards are both ways of recognizing someone for their accomplishments, contributions, or behaviors.
2. Both can be motivating: Awards and rewards can both be motivating for the recipient, whether it’s because they want to be recognized for their achievements or because they are incentivized by the possibility of a reward.
3. Both can have positive effects on morale: Receiving an award or reward can boost morale, whether it’s for an individual or a group. It can make people feel valued and appreciated, and it can encourage them to continue working hard or behaving in a certain way.
4. Both can be used to reinforce desired behaviours: Awards and rewards can both be used to reinforce behaviours that are aligned with a company’s or organization’s values or goals. For example, an award for teamwork can encourage employees to work together more effectively, while a reward for meeting a sales target can motivate employees to sell more effectively.

Overall, while there are difference between award and reward, they are both useful tools for recognizing and motivating individuals or groups.

Conclusion of Difference Between Award and Reward

Keeping Apart the aforementioned differences, Both Rewards and Awards give value and respect to a person who receives them. They admire motivation in the life of people. In legal judgments, an Award is a compensation bestowed. In Award and Reward their formality level varies as Award is a formal recognition when given to someone and it cannot be love or blessings etc. 

A small cookie can be considered as a gesture of Reward but not an Award as the same is not given by selecting among many people. To be bodily free from health complications is one of the rewards of exercise and the gym. Anyone who receives Award or Reward sets a benchmark for others to encourage them regarding the extraordinary task.

References for Difference Between Award and Reward

1. https://www.ncertbooks.guru/difference-between-award-and-reward/