Social Impact Measurement for a Sustainable Future

2022 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Impact ◽  
Impact Measurement ◽  
Sustainable Future

Challenges to measuring social value creation through social impact assessments: the case of RVA Works

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Balashankar Mulloth ◽  
Stefano Rumi
Keyword(s):  
Value Creation ◽  
Real World ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Social Value ◽  
Impact Measurement ◽  
Social Entrepreneurs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Value Creation

PurposeDespite the prevalence of academic literature debating and proposing competing conceptions of social value creation through socially driven enterprises, there is a lack of empirical studies on established impact measurement methodologies in the context of real-world ventures. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate a structured process of conducting social impact assessments (SIAs) through the real-world case of Richmond, Virginia Works Enterprise Support (RVA Works), a social enterprise in Richmond, Virginia, that provides educational programming on small business ownership to minorities and lower-income individuals.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative research study incorporates an in-depth case study methodology. Evidence was collected through interpretive/qualitative interviews and direct observations by the researchers.FindingsUsing the example of RVA Works, the authors show that there is a lack of standardization and guidance for social entrepreneurs in choosing methods to assess their organizational performance, and that leading conceptions of social impact continue to face key weaknesses in their methodologies.Practical implicationsBy incorporating a qualitative case study approach, the authors present a real-world study of a social enterprise – specifically a microenterprise development organization – that may serve as a valuable example to social entrepreneurs and not-for-profit leaders facing similar challenges of social value creation and impact measurement.Originality/valueIn studying the experience of conducting SIAs by social enterprises, the authors illustrate the real-world challenges faced by entrepreneurs in applying theoretical conceptions of social value to the outcomes of their ventures, thus illustrating a need for additional clarity and discussion around a more comprehensive, standardized and broadly applicable measurement approach.

Social Impact Measurement Maturity

2017 ◽  
pp. 180-192
Author(s):  
Marc J. Epstein ◽  
Kristi Yuthas
Keyword(s):  
Social Impact ◽  
Impact Measurement

Performance Measurement in Social Enterprises

2019 ◽  
pp. 205-231
Author(s):  
Ayla Zehra Öncer
Keyword(s):  
Performance Management ◽  
Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Impact Measurement ◽  
Expected Return ◽  
Benefit Cost Ratio ◽  
Benefit Cost

This chapter begins with the notion of performance management and then focuses on the concept of social impact in order to deeply examine the measurement of performance in social enterprises. The chapter argues the importance of measuring social impact which is the crucial process in social investment and discusses which measurement method to choose. It then introduces the classification of methods in various forms based on the related literature. The chapter continues by explaining the most frequently used social impact measurement methods including cost effectiveness and cost benefit analyses, social accounting and auditing, SROI, balanced scorecard, SIMPLE, benefit-cost ratio, BACO ratio, expected return metric, cost per impact, and blended value. Finally, the conclusion focuses on the overall perspective of the subject, critical areas to pay attention to, and limitations.

The Impact of Social Innovation

2019 ◽  
pp. 389-416
Author(s):  
Alex Nicholls ◽  
Nadia von Jacobi ◽  
Enrica Chiappero-Martinetti ◽  
Georg Mildenberger
Keyword(s):  
Social Impact ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Impact Measurement ◽  
Human Capabilities ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
The Social ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Evaluative Space ◽  
Normative Models ◽  
The Impact

This chapter addresses key questions in terms of the evaluation of the impact of social innovation processes. After reviewing the existing approaches to capturing impact, the chapter presents a new Critical Issues Framework for social impact measurement to inform the development of the most appropriate and accurate evaluative space for data collection and analysis. As such it advocates standardization in the process of developing social impact indicators and methodologies, rather than in the metrics and units of analysis themselves. This framework is related to the three elements of the Social Grid in so far as they shape normative models of social impact measurement that entrench marginalization and limit stakeholder voice. Moreover, particular attention is paid to issues around capturing changes in human capabilities and how this relates to beneficiary empowerment and voice. The chapter, thus, offers a framework for optimizing impact measurement processes and systems.

scholarly journals Capturing the Invisible Wealth in Nonprofits to Overcome Myopic Perceptions

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
Iluminada Fuertes-Fuertes ◽  
J. David Cabedo ◽  
Inmaculada Jimeno-García
Keyword(s):  
Addiction Treatment ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Impact Measurement ◽  
Resource Managers ◽  
The Social ◽  
Treatment Centre ◽  
Social Wealth ◽  
The Invisible

Since nonprofits use third-party funds for their activities, they are often perceived as resource managers or spending units, instead of being considered as social wealth generating entities. The aim of this study is to help to overcome this myopic perception by showing how the invisible wealth generated by these organizations can be made visible. We use the SROI methodology to do so, by identifying stakeholders, outcomes (tangible, intangible) and social impacts in a drug addiction treatment centre. The results show that social impact in monetary terms exceeds that of the inputs used, confirming the idea that addiction-based nonprofits are social wealth generating units. The conclusion drawn is that social impact measurement should be widely used as a management tool and a mechanism for reinforcing the social image of nonprofits.

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