2. A brief overview of EmployeeA brief overview of Employee
Network GroupsNetwork Groups
http://mba.vanderbilt.edu/vanderbilt/data/research/339full.pdf
3. Companies that use EmployeeCompanies that use Employee
Network GroupsNetwork Groups
4. Network Groups in MicrosoftNetwork Groups in Microsoft
At Microsoft, we believe that our continued successAt Microsoft, we believe that our continued success
depends on the diverse skills, experiences, anddepends on the diverse skills, experiences, and
backgrounds that our employees bring to the company. Tobackgrounds that our employees bring to the company. To
help foster diversity and inclusion, Microsoft has a richhelp foster diversity and inclusion, Microsoft has a rich
community of Employee Resource Groups (ERG) andcommunity of Employee Resource Groups (ERG) and
Employee Networks (EN). These organizations provideEmployee Networks (EN). These organizations provide
career development, support, networking opportunities,career development, support, networking opportunities,
mentoring, community participation, product input, andmentoring, community participation, product input, and
assistance in activities that promote cultural awareness.assistance in activities that promote cultural awareness.
Their programs include speaker series, scholarshipTheir programs include speaker series, scholarship
programs, community service, development conferences,programs, community service, development conferences,
and heritage celebrations.and heritage celebrations.
5. Network Groups in Morgan StanleyNetwork Groups in Morgan Stanley
The firm recognizes the importance of employee networksThe firm recognizes the importance of employee networks
and the rich resources that can be reaped for bothand the rich resources that can be reaped for both
employees and the organization through the exchange ofemployees and the organization through the exchange of
ideas and relationship-building. Employee Networkingideas and relationship-building. Employee Networking
Groups are firm-sponsored organizations that areGroups are firm-sponsored organizations that are
designed to enhance employee engagement, deliverdesigned to enhance employee engagement, deliver
substantive content, create a framework for cross-substantive content, create a framework for cross-
business unit connectivity and idea-sharing, and advancebusiness unit connectivity and idea-sharing, and advance
the firm's overall culture of inclusion.the firm's overall culture of inclusion.
6. Network Groups in Freddie MacNetwork Groups in Freddie Mac
Sharing our differences and building on ourSharing our differences and building on our
similarities helps us collaborate effectively, thinksimilarities helps us collaborate effectively, think
creatively, build professional relationships andcreatively, build professional relationships and
take pride in our accomplishments and ourselves.take pride in our accomplishments and ourselves.
Our sevenOur seven Employee Network GroupsEmployee Network Groups play aplay a
major role by providing opportunities formajor role by providing opportunities for
professional development, networking, outreachprofessional development, networking, outreach
and cultural enrichment.and cultural enrichment.
7. How can these groups benefit anHow can these groups benefit an
organization?organization?
• Talent Attraction and Recruitment:Talent Attraction and Recruitment: Members ofMembers of
these groups can serve as recruiters for an organizationthese groups can serve as recruiters for an organization
by attending conferences and job fairs, offeringby attending conferences and job fairs, offering
testimonials on the company website and hostingtestimonials on the company website and hosting
networking events. Members of these groups are morenetworking events. Members of these groups are more
likely to associate with people within their affinity grouplikely to associate with people within their affinity group
outside of work who may be potential employees; theyoutside of work who may be potential employees; they
can serve as the voice of the organization. Sometimescan serve as the voice of the organization. Sometimes
these groups can be used for targeted recruitment. Forthese groups can be used for targeted recruitment. For
example, if an organization is looking to hire more militaryexample, if an organization is looking to hire more military
veterans, a employee group focused on veterans may beveterans, a employee group focused on veterans may be
assigned the task to recruit a certain number of veteranassigned the task to recruit a certain number of veteran
employees.employees.
8. Benefits of networking groupsBenefits of networking groups
(con’t)(con’t)
• Talent Engagement, Development andTalent Engagement, Development and
Retention:Retention: Employees involved in network Employees involved in network
groups may have developmental opportunitiesgroups may have developmental opportunities
available that they would not otherwise. Foravailable that they would not otherwise. For
instance, non-management employees ofteninstance, non-management employees often
develop leadership skills by participating indevelop leadership skills by participating in
network groups. This helps employees feelnetwork groups. This helps employees feel
more engaged, which leads to retention.more engaged, which leads to retention.
9. Benefits of networking groupsBenefits of networking groups
(con’t)(con’t)
• Customer Attraction and MarketCustomer Attraction and Market
Outreach: Outreach: Networking groups can assistNetworking groups can assist
organizations in reaching customers inorganizations in reaching customers in
otherwise saturated markets and help them tapotherwise saturated markets and help them tap
into underserved markets. Additionally, groupsinto underserved markets. Additionally, groups
can be instrumental in developing newcan be instrumental in developing new
products. At Frito-Lay, the company’s Hispanicproducts. At Frito-Lay, the company’s Hispanic
resource group was responsible for coming upresource group was responsible for coming up
with the idea for the guacamole flavored chip.with the idea for the guacamole flavored chip.
10. Risks of employee networkingRisks of employee networking
groups.groups.
We will talk about two types of disadvantagesWe will talk about two types of disadvantages
with networking groups. The disadvantages itwith networking groups. The disadvantages it
has on the employees, and on the organization.has on the employees, and on the organization.
11. Disadvantages on the employees.Disadvantages on the employees.
There are multiple disadvantages to employees in networkingThere are multiple disadvantages to employees in networking
groups. Sometimes other employees resist the changing culture ofgroups. Sometimes other employees resist the changing culture of
the American workforce and the diversity that networking groupsthe American workforce and the diversity that networking groups
promote. People with these views are often opposed to change andpromote. People with these views are often opposed to change and
the uncertainty that follows. This discrepancy between the ideals ofthe uncertainty that follows. This discrepancy between the ideals of
the networking group and the ideals of other employees has thethe networking group and the ideals of other employees has the
potential to cause rifts. Additionally, our society is currentlypotential to cause rifts. Additionally, our society is currently
emphasizing that an employer should meet all of an employee'semphasizing that an employer should meet all of an employee's
needs, and networking groups are said to further this notion. Someneeds, and networking groups are said to further this notion. Some
believe that this thinking is dangerous if taken too far because itbelieve that this thinking is dangerous if taken too far because it
could make an employee too dependant on their employer. Ifcould make an employee too dependant on their employer. If
networking groups are leading activists to make their lives revolvenetworking groups are leading activists to make their lives revolve
even more around work, such negative implications could arise.even more around work, such negative implications could arise.
12. Disadvantages on the employeesDisadvantages on the employees
(con’t)(con’t)
Some also believe that it is also dangerous for an networking groupSome also believe that it is also dangerous for an networking group
member to be strongly invested in the possibility of change providedmember to be strongly invested in the possibility of change provided
by their networking group. By becoming so invested in an networkingby their networking group. By becoming so invested in an networking
group, there is a greater probability that that member may lose sightgroup, there is a greater probability that that member may lose sight
of the larger change that they want to see in society by insteadof the larger change that they want to see in society by instead
focusing too much on the prospect of change in their specificfocusing too much on the prospect of change in their specific
company. Along the same lines, others believe that radical memberscompany. Along the same lines, others believe that radical members
of networking groups have to find a careful balance betweenof networking groups have to find a careful balance between
supporting their cause and supporting their workplace. Since radicalsupporting their cause and supporting their workplace. Since radical
advocates for a cause tend to feel deeply about the issues, they canadvocates for a cause tend to feel deeply about the issues, they can
feel pressure from their advocacy groups to yield more influence infeel pressure from their advocacy groups to yield more influence in
their networking group, while their networking group needs them totheir networking group, while their networking group needs them to
adopt a more conservative approach in order to contribute to andadopt a more conservative approach in order to contribute to and
deal with the business.deal with the business.
13. Disadvanges to the organizationDisadvanges to the organization
Networking groups have the potential to create strainedNetworking groups have the potential to create strained
relationships between members of the group and upperrelationships between members of the group and upper
management. Because of the fact that thesemanagement. Because of the fact that these
management personnel have the ability to affectmanagement personnel have the ability to affect
promised jobs and bonuses, there are situations thatpromised jobs and bonuses, there are situations that
have the potential to arise in which networking grouphave the potential to arise in which networking group
participation leads to discrimination. To combat thisparticipation leads to discrimination. To combat this
potential disadvantage to networking groups somepotential disadvantage to networking groups some
believe it is necessary for them to focus on gaining trust,believe it is necessary for them to focus on gaining trust,
joint learning with management, and forming alliances injoint learning with management, and forming alliances in
order to promote change.order to promote change.
