How ERG Programs Can Use Data

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<p>"We don't have the data" is the most common reason ERG programs cite for not measuring anything. It's almost always wrong. In this ERG Q&A, we walk through the data ERG programs already have, the data they can collect in a week, and how to use both without overengineering it.</p> <h2>The three layers of ERG data</h2> <h3>1. Data you already have</h3> <ul> <li>Membership lists and growth over time</li> <li>Event attendance and registration</li> <li>Slack/Teams channel activity</li> <li>Budget spend and category</li> <li>Leader tenure and turnover</li> </ul> <p>None of this requires a survey. All of it tells a story.</p> <h3>2. Data you can collect this quarter</h3> <ul> <li>Post-event pulse surveys (3 questions max)</li> <li>Annual ERG experience survey</li> <li>Leader satisfaction check-ins</li> </ul> <p>See <a href="/blog/how-to-5x-erg-survey-responses">how to 5x your ERG survey response rates</a> if response rates are your blocker.</p> <h3>3. Data that ties to business outcomes</h3> <p>Retention deltas for ERG members vs non-members. Promotion rates. Engagement scores. This requires partnership with People Analytics, but it's the data that secures the budget.</p> <h2>Where to start</h2> <p>Pick one decision you need to make this quarter. Identify the smallest dataset that would inform it. Build from there. Read <a href="/blog/leverage-the-data-you-have-in-ergs">Leverage the Data You Have Over the Data You Don't</a> for the full framework.</p> <h2>Related reading</h2> <ul> <li><a href="/blog/creating-data-centric-ergs-basics">Creating Data Centric Employee Resource Groups</a></li> <li><a href="/blog/how-to-visualize-erg-data-for-free">How to Visualize ERG Data for Free</a></li> </ul>