CDP Employee Resource Groups 3 ā Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following BEST describes the concept of 'intersectionality' as it applies to ERG membership?
- Employees can only join one ERG at a time
- An employee's multiple social identities can overlap and create unique experiences of advantage or disadvantage (Correct answer)
- ERGs should only address a single identity dimension
- Intersectionality refers to ERGs sharing meeting spaces
Correct answer: An employee's multiple social identities can overlap and create unique experiences of advantage or disadvantage
Intersectionality, coined by KimberlƩ Crenshaw, recognizes that individuals hold multiple identities that intersect to shape their distinct experiences in the workplace.
Question 2: A company's ERG structure requires all ERGs to report outcomes to a central Diversity Council. This structure primarily ensures:
- ERGs remain independent from corporate strategy
- Alignment between ERG activities and organizational DEI goals (Correct answer)
- ERG budgets are kept confidential
- Members are not required to track attendance
Correct answer: Alignment between ERG activities and organizational DEI goals
Reporting to a Diversity Council creates accountability and ensures ERG efforts are coordinated with broader organizational DEI strategy.
Question 3: ERG leaders are encouraged to develop 'business cases' for their initiatives primarily because:
- It replaces the need for an executive sponsor
- It demonstrates ERG value in terms leadership understands and funds (Correct answer)
- It satisfies legal compliance requirements
- It limits ERG activities to profit-generating events
Correct answer: It demonstrates ERG value in terms leadership understands and funds
Business cases translate ERG impact into organizational languageāretention, engagement, innovationāmaking it easier to secure resources and leadership buy-in.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of an ERG contributing to product development?
- Hosting a cultural food festival
- Providing market insight review for a product targeting Latino consumers (Correct answer)
- Organizing a company charity walk
- Publishing an internal newsletter
Correct answer: Providing market insight review for a product targeting Latino consumers
ERGs representing specific demographics can provide authentic consumer insights that improve product relevance and market reach.
Question 5: A newly formed ERG lacks senior leadership visibility. The MOST effective immediate step is to:
- Increase social media postings
- Recruit an executive sponsor from the C-suite (Correct answer)
- Hire an external DEI consultant
- Merge with a more established ERG
Correct answer: Recruit an executive sponsor from the C-suite
An executive sponsor provides immediate credibility, resources, and a direct link between the ERG and organizational leadership.
Question 6: Under what circumstance should an ERG's membership criteria potentially be reviewed?
- When membership reaches 50 people
- When the criteria inadvertently exclude employees with overlapping intersectional identities (Correct answer)
- When the ERG has been active for five years
- When the executive sponsor changes
Correct answer: When the criteria inadvertently exclude employees with overlapping intersectional identities
Membership criteria should be periodically reviewed to ensure they remain inclusive and do not unintentionally marginalize employees with complex intersecting identities.
Question 7: Which of the following BEST represents a strategic ERG action, as opposed to a social one?
- Hosting a potluck for cultural awareness month
- Partnering with HR to redesign the onboarding process for neurodiverse employees (Correct answer)
- Organizing a group outing to a sporting event
- Decorating the office for a holiday
Correct answer: Partnering with HR to redesign the onboarding process for neurodiverse employees
Strategic ERG actions directly influence organizational systems and processes, such as redesigning onboarding, rather than focusing solely on social or celebratory activities.
CDP Employee Resource Groups 3
Which of the following BEST describes the concept of 'intersectionality' as it applies to ERG membership?