scholarly journals Measuring the Social Returns of Nonprofits and Social Enterprises: The Promise and Perils of the SROI

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 367-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Cooney ◽  
Kristen Lynch-Cerullo

AbstractSocial Return on Investment (SROI) metrics are a new tool available to nonprofit and social enterprise organizations to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of their programs. After a short overview of three dominant methods for calculating the SROI, a case examining the implementation of an SROI study at a nationally recognized Boston-based nonprofit operating workforce development programs is presented to illuminate the methodological dilemmas across the arc of an SROI study. The case analysis centers on four key decision points in the implementation of the SROI study: identification of stakeholders, development of a method for estimating social value creation, determination of the time horizons, and selection of the discount rates. Next, to highlight the challenges in making comparisons across organizations, the second source of data is presented—a set of Yale SOM MBA student assignments conducting an SROI on a written case study found in the literature on workforce development. The student project results showcase how even when conducting SROI assessments on the same focal organization, the SROI calculation can vary widely depending on the outcome of the four decision points delineated above. The paper consequently offers two levels of analysis. First, it provides a detailed methodological overview of the reigning approaches to conducting an SROI. Second, it provides an assessment of the challenges to using SROI as a performance metric at this stage of the field’s development. Implications for use of the SROI are discussed from both the perspective of funders and the perspective of nonprofit organizations.

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 363
Author(s):  
Liang Xiao ◽  
Kunhui Ye ◽  
Junhong Zhou ◽  
Xiaoting Ye ◽  
Ramadhani Said Tekka

Collusive bidding has been an insidious issue in the construction industry. Bidders initiate collusive networks of various sizes to win market shares. The popularity of collusive bidding networks affects market fairness and erodes the interests of market players. Although considerable research efforts were made to diagnose collusive bidding networks, there remains a gap in knowledge regarding the relationships bid riggers use to engage in the networks. Therefore, this study used the social network method, where two hundred sixteen collusion cases were collected from China to test these relationships. The results show that collusive bidding networks were characterized by sparseness, a small scale, a high concentration, and strong randomness. Three types of collusive bidding networks were also detected: contractual, spontaneous, and shadow. Furthermore, these collusive bidding networks had discrepancies regarding participants’ identities, forms of collusive bids, and the determination of bid winners. It was found that the proposed social network model of deliberating bid riggers’ relationships lays a solid foundation for the detection of collusive bidding in the construction sector.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-70
Author(s):  
Laurie Mook ◽  
Jack Quarter

Abstract Canada is a federal parliamentary democracy, officially bilingual (English and French), and one of the most multicultural countries in the world. Indeed, more than one-fifth of Canada’s population consists of first-generation immigrants, and a similar percentage classify themselves as visible minorities. According to the 2016 census there are more than 250 distinct ethnic origins, often with distinct languages (Statistics Canada, 2016, 2017a). A confederation of ten provinces and three territories, Canada has a current population of over 36 million people who live across an expansive geographic area that constitutes the second largest country in the world. Most of its population live in urban settings (83%), with the largest cities being Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver (Statistics Canada, 2017b). Toronto is classified as the third-most cosmopolitan city in the world following Dubai and Brussels (World Atlas, 2018). In this multifaceted context, the social economy of Canada plays an important role in bridging the public and private sectors to form a strong social infrastructure (Quarter, Mook, & Armstrong, 2018). It constitutes a vast range of organizations guided by social objectives including nonprofit organizations such as charities, foundations, and social enterprises; and cooperatives both non-financial, in fields such as housing, childcare, healthcare, and farm marketing, and financial such as credit unions and caisses populaires. There are distinct traditions of the social economy in anglophone and francophone parts of Canada. There are also traditions specific to particular populations, such as the Black social economy (Hossein, 2013); and the Indigenous social economy (Restoule, Gruner, & Metatawabin, 2012; Sengupta, Vieta, & McMurtry, 2015; Wuttunee, 2010). In this review, we look at the anglophone research on the social economy, noting that there are also French-language research institutions and educational programs focusing on the social economy; however, a review of these is beyond the scope of this paper. After providing an overview of the concept of the social economy in Canada, we go on to summarize research on its scope and size in the Canadian context. Using a Venn diagram, we highlight the interactions between the different sectors in society and emphasize that the social economy is an integral part of a mixed economy that serves in many ways as its social infrastructure. We find four different types of social economy organizations: social economy businesses, community economic development organizations, public sector nonprofits, and civil society organizations. From there, we focus on voluntaristic behaviors of giving, volunteering (formal and informal), and participating. Our focus shifts to describing the infrastructure supporting research of the sector, including key academic and umbrella associations and networks, as well as formal and informal education programs. Finally, we describe key funders of social economy research including government and foundations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Antonietta Cosentino

The growing interest in the financial, social and environmental sustainability of all organizations as a whole, as well as the growing sentiment for their responsibility towards the community, lead organizations to face the challenge of evaluating and communicating their non-financial performance through the social accounting. The issue assumes a peculiar meaning within social enterprises (SEs) aimed at pursuing the general interest. In these organizations, the disclosure of the value created for both internal and social stakeholder raises to rank of survival condition because the development, reputation and credibility of the SEs are closely linked to the institution's ability to reach and communicate externally the social value created. This work aims to highlight the peculiar resources of the SEs and demonstrate that, in most cases, they allow SEs to achieve financial sustainability. Social and economic value will be assessed and the share of income that cannot be distributed, regardless of the relevant regulatory provisions, will be emphasized. To achieve these goals, a multiple case study is used to measure the value added distributed to internal and external stakeholders by adapting Mook model to SEs. The results show that volunteering and donations contribute not only to the social value generated by SEs but to their economic sustainability as well, being considered as the engine of development of the economic system as a whole. This paper contributes to the literature by focusing on the contribution of liberalities and volunteering to consolidate the financial structure of the SE and to development of the economic system as a whole.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-103
Author(s):  
Ani Solihat ◽  
Mimin Nurjanah ◽  
Rani Rahmayani ◽  
Andry Trijumansyah ◽  
Iis Iskandar

The purpose of this study is to determine the role of brand trust in achieving the competitive advantage of PT Pos Indonesia Bandung freight forwarding services. The method in this study uses quantitative methods. This research uses the Stastical Pakage for the Social Sciences (SPSS) program which aims to measure the effect of brand trust on the competitive advantage of PT Pos Indonesia Bandung freight forwarding services. The sampling technique of this study used purposive sampling and the determination of samples was calculated using the Rao Purba formula with a total sample of 96 people. The respondents of this study were users of freight forwarding services, especially PT Pos Indonesia and other freight forwarding services (TIKI, JNE, JT, etc.). The design of this study uses descriptive and verification to assess the picture and influence between variables. The results of this study indicate that brand trust has a positive and significant effect on the competitive advantage of PT Pos Indonesia Bandung freight forwarding services.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-11
Author(s):  
Daud Abdul Kholik ◽  
Azmi Assidiqi

This study aims to determine the level of development of murabahah margin income and determine the determination of murabahah financing margins at BMT Tamzis Cimahi Branch. In this study the authors conducted research using descriptive qualitative research methods with a case study approach, namely research conducted in depth about aspects of the social environment including humans in it, either individually, in groups, or in the environment around BMT Tamzis Cimahi branch. The conclusion that can be drawn from this study is that the factors in determining the murabahah margin are based on the ceiling value and financing period and are analyzed using th e 5C + 1S analysis principle including character, capacity, capital, condition, collateral, and sharia and the level of income development in BMT. Tamzis Cimahi branch experienced ups and downs from year to year where it can be seen from 2012 to 2016 the average income was Rp.262,183,200 with a total income of Rp.1,310,916,000 with details in 2013 it decreased by Rp.19,026,000 and decreased again. in 2014 with a total decrease of IDR 184,655,000. however, in 2015 the murabahah contract at BMT Tamzis increased again by Rp. 117,193,000 and in 2016 it increased again from the previous year of Rp. 70,409,000. The determination of the murabahah financing margin at BMT Tamzis undergoes several stages including starting with fundraising, deposit contracts, BMT, financing products, goods and then setting margins to generate income for BMT and 'attayya.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnes Meinhard ◽  
Femida Handy ◽  
Itay Greenspan

The term Social Economy has been used for years to describe a segment of the economy that is neither driven by the profit motives of private interests, nor owned by the state to serve public interests. Often referred to as the third sector, (distinct from the private for-profit sector and public sector) it defies clear boundaries (Moulaert & Ailenei, 2005). Thus definitions of the social economy vary. In the US the term social economy is not used at all; there the third sector refers strictly to organizations that adhere to the non-distribution-of-profits rule stipulated by the US Internal Revenue System (Graefe, 2006). In Quebec, the term Social Economy has been in use for several decades, but refers to a partnership between state and third sector organizations and an exercise in stemming the tide of neo-liberal globalization (Graefe, 2001). In Ontario and the rest of Canada, reference to a Social Economy is more recent and the concept is applied in a broader manner, in keeping with some European notions of the Social Economy (Fonatan & Shragge, 1997). This broader conceptualization eschews strict adherence to non-distribution stipulations and includes cooperatives and social enterprises in addition to nonprofit organizations. Keywords: CVSS, Centre for Voluntary Sector Studies, Working Paper Series,TRSM, Ted Rogers School of Management Citation:


Kybernetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
pp. 2190-2216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rossella Canestrino ◽  
Marek Ćwiklicki ◽  
Primiano Di Nauta ◽  
Pierpaolo Magliocca

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the key factors for successful creation of social value using the social business model (SBM) as an explanatory framework. Design/methodology/approach This study follows the Krippendorff and Gioia’s methodology seeking the rigor while examining the selected case study – a social cooperative named La Paranza, in the city of Naples in the south of Italy. In doing so, the SBM canvas is used to present the research’s results in a systematic way. Findings The existence of a strong “identity” with the local context, the “enthusiasm and the wish to change things”, the presence of a “visionary”, acting as an orchestrator and the ability to provide for responses to the local needs were identified as key factors in the successful creation of social value in the examined case. Research limitations/implications The main research limits stem from the single case study methodology approach, which embodies the researchers’ subjectivity. A comparative study based on the collection of multiple successful case studies is therefore suggested to develop a generalization of the key drivers underlying the process of social value creation. Originality/value The study’s originality results from its use of the SBM framework in presenting a successful example of social value creation. The examined empirical evidence is also original in itself, mainly because of its inner uniqueness as a new and innovative formula: this allows an in-depth investigation and the inspiration for new ideas in the ground of SBM and, in a broader sense, in the field of social innovation and social value creation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 1287-1306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunlei Wang ◽  
Zhaowen Duan ◽  
Larry Yu

Purpose This study aims to examine the development of a social enterprise in China’s tourism industry by analyzing the coevolution of the social entrepreneur and the social system. Design/methodology/approach Purposeful sampling was used to select 1kg.org as a single-case study. Semistructured in-depth interviews of three informants were conducted to obtain organization-specific insights. Interview data were analyzed following structuration theory. Secondary data and interviews of other social entrepreneurs and experts were used to support the findings. Research findings were validated using triangulation and member-checking methods. Findings Because of the institutional environment, most nonprofit organizations in China do not have resource independence and clear legal identity. Meanwhile, social enterprise has emerged as a new organizational form with the objective of creating social value through profitable business operations. Practical implications Social enterprise is still in its infancy in China, particularly in the tourism field. This study reveals an innovative and sustainable model for nonprofit organizations in China facing institutional challenges and competitive funding environments. It provides recommendations to policymakers for improving mechanisms to increase social services through social enterprises. Originality/value This study proposes a new conceptual framework for studying social entrepreneurship by adapting structuration theory to address contemporary social and business issues.


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