Business Resource Groups (BRGs) are stategically aligned with the businesses priorities and goals. In a BRG, the group's leadership liaises with the company's leadership and participates in national organizations. Members of the BRG directly impact marketing, product innovation and recruitment. A BRG, as distinguished from an ERG, has clear and measurable business goals, and is understood to be a tool for developing leadership capabilities.

D. Chip Newton, Deloitte Consulting LLP

Receive regular updates on ERGs/BRGs.

First Name *

Last Name *

Company *

Job Title *

Phone *

Your Email *

Using the definition to the left, what type of employee groups does your firm have?

ERG
BRG
Some of both

How many employees in the overall organization *

Maturing Employee Resource Groups and Mentoring

A Mature Employee Resource Group (or a Business Resource Group, BRG) is a powerful tool for meeting strategic goals. BRGs have been used in brand building, product innovation, maintaining corporate cultures during mergers or restructurings. From the Talent Development perspective, BRGs are training and testing grounds for Emerging and High Potential Leaders.

Most large organizations have inward-looking ERGs and would like to migrate or mature them into more influential outward-looking BRGs. A well-executed, formal mentoring program can help the Human Resource group or Talent Development professional manage and encourage this migration.

Sign up for notification of blogs, webinars, white papers and other news on ERGs/BRGs and mentoring.

What is the difference between an Employee Resource Group and a Business Resource Group?

An Employee Resource Group (ERG) is a formal organization that is monitored by Diversity Leadership or Human Resources. ERGs usually have minimal funding and encourage volunteerism and networking. ERG's activities are built around increasing awareness of the protected class within the organization, helping members network and mentor programs are generally peer-to-peer for stress reduction and building loyalty, engagement and improving retention. More forward thinking organizations may include pod or group mentoring, where a senior leader meets with a group of 6 to 10 emerging leaders on a monthly basis. Some ERGs are used in recruiting new employees.

A Business Resource Group (BRG) is still a formal organization, and works with Diversity and HR. In addition, it has clear goals that tie directly to Business Objectives and Strategic Goals. BRGs are funded annually by a combination of sources, often including the organization's diversity program, marketing and local branches or SBUs. Their activities include participation in major conferences. BRGs have recruiting and retention goals and usually include on-boarding mentoring for new hires. BRGs are actively used by the talent development progrogram as a training and testing ground for emerging leaders and high potential employees.

BRGs are active in organizing and developing learning events, and members work together on strategic projects including product innovation, brand development for niche markets or new geographies. Mentoring programs are used actively: Pod mentoring across BRGs, on-boarding of new hires and skill-transfer/social cohension during periods of rapid change or mergers.