Introduction
Chronus offers several group configurations to meet your specific user needs. The mentoring tool offers both group and circles mentoring, the former being focused on matching with a specific, preferred mentor and the latter being focused on matching based on theme/area of interest. In addition, our ERG tool for Employee Resource Groups provides functionality specific to offering, managing, reporting and participation in ERGs specifically.
Why it matters: The objectives for these user groups can vary widely. With Chronus, you can choose the tool that meets the specific needs of your audience, enabling the right amount of flexibility or structure to meet your participants' objectives, your organizational goals, and report on successes.
This article provides the differences between Circles, Groups and ERGs as it relates to platform functionality and the definition of each group as follows:
Mentoring Circle
A mentoring circle is comprised of a group of users that meets on a regular basis and is led by circle mentors or leads. The purpose of the circle format is to assist the users with a common interest or goal. With Chronus, circles can be proposed by users or established by admins. Leads can be assigned by admins, or any user can be a circle lead, such as the person proposing the circle based on their area of interest.
Roles within a circle:
Circle Owner: User has proposed the circle but is not the mentor/lead (if applicable).
Mentor/Lead: User(s) responsible for admitting members and facilitating the circle discussions.
Mentee/Member: Participant in the circle
Mentoring Group
A mentoring group is comprised of a mentor and a mentee or group of mentees. Groups can be formed by admins or by mentees requesting a mentorship with a mentor who can also accept other mentee requests. Requesting mentees will not have visibility into other mentees in the group until they their request is accepted. Matching is driven by the mentee's interest in the mentor, as opposed to a circle which my have a specific theme or topic that is the circle's focus, rather than who the mentor is.
Group mentoring has a formal mentoring program setup and follows a predefined connection plan created by the admin for a defined period. The group meets on a regular basis and is led by the mentor.
Roles within a group:
Mentor: User(s) responsible for admitting members and facilitating the circle discussions.
Mentee(s): Participant in the circle.
Employee Resource Group [ERG]
An Employee Resource Group is a community of users brought together by a shared identity, interest or location. The group is a place to build community and find belonging within an organization. Organizations may refer to these groups by different titles such as Business Resource Groups, Affinity Groups, etc.
Roles within an ERG:
Group Owner: Program Administrator
Chapter Lead: Mentor
ERG Lead:
ERG Member:
Platform Functional Differences
* Admin can choose to disable this feature
User Functionality | Circles | Groups | ERGs |
Propose a new circle/group | √ Yes | X No | √ Yes |
Request to join | √ Yes * | √ Yes (mentees request a mentor) | √ Yes * |
Join Automatically | √ Yes * | X No | √ Yes * |
Multiple Mentors/Leads | √ Yes | X No | √ Yes |
Multiple Mentees/Members | √ Yes | √ Yes | √ Yes |
Connection Plans | √ Yes | √ Yes | X No |
Discussion Boards | √ Yes * | √ Yes * | √ Yes |
Goals | √ Yes * | √ Yes * | X No |
Group Messaging | √ Yes * | √ Yes * | √ Yes |
1:1 Messaging | √ Yes | √ Yes | √ Yes |
Events | √ Yes (on program level) | √ Yes (on program level) | √ Yes (on group level) |
Meetings | √ Yes (on circle level) | √ Yes (on group level) | √ Yes (on chapter level) |
Check-In Time Spent | √ Yes * | √ Yes * | X No |
Scheduled Start Date | √ Yes | √ Yes | X No |
Expiration Date | √ Yes | √ Yes | X No |
Roles & Permissions
Permissions | Circles | Groups | ERGs |
Created or Proposed by | Admins, Mentors or Mentees | Admins or Mentors - when a mentor accepts mentee(s) request | Admins, Group Leads and Members |
Started by | Circles start on a specific date specified by admin or owner (either scheduled or started manually). | Groups are automatically started when admin creates a group or when mentor accepts the first mentee request. | ERG Leads (Mentors) and Participants (Mentees) can propose, which requires admin approval. Admins can approve then publish, after which the group becomes active. |
Led by | The user who creates the circle is the owner. There can be multiple owners. | Mentors manage the group. | The user who created the ERG or was assigned as the ERG lead by an admin. |
Member limits set by | Admin and circle owner | Admin and Mentor (can be restricted from changing the limit) | Admin and Owner of ERG |
Add or Remove Members | Owner can add/remove users | Admins only. Mentors can't add/remove members once they join a group. | Yes, ERG Leads and add/review ERG members. |
Matching & Joining
| Circles | Groups | ERGs - Employee Resource Groups |
Matching algorithm | Recommend circles | Recommends mentors to mentees | Recommends ERGs |
Users join by | Auto join, or send request to join a circle.
If not configured for auto-join, the owner is responsible for accepting. | Mentees request a mentor who can accept the request and add them to the group. | Auto join, or send request to join a circle.
If not configured for auto-join, the ERG lead is responsible for accepting. |
Users join when | Admin or owner accepts their request. | Admin enables ability to send requests and mentor accepts them. | Admin or ERG lead accepts their request. |
Membership Notifications
| Circles | Groups | ERGs - Employee Resource Groups |
Notification to mentee when mentee has been added? | Mentee is notified when they have been added to the circle. | Mentee is notified when their request is accepted. |
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Notification to mentor when mentee has been added? | No. Mentor cannot be notified instantly when a user joins the circle. However, the mentor is notified via the digest email that contains the updated list of mentees. | Yes. Mentor is notified when a group is created along with the list of mentees in the group. |
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Notification to mentor when mentee has left the group? | No. Mentor is not notified instantly when a user leaves the circle. The mentor is notified via the digest email that contains the updated list of mentees. | No. Mentor is not notified instantly when a user leaves the group. The mentor is notified via the digest email that contains the updated list of mentees. |
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