Social Impact Evaluation in Culture-led Regeneration Processes: Reflections on the “Social Return On Investment” Perspective

This study aims to examine the social impact of a community-based enterprise model in Surabaya City. The analysis focuses on grass-root communities and highlights some technical challenges in order to develop a meta-theory with the intention of examining the underlying assumptions of the social return on investment. The social impact analysis is based on a social return on investment (SROI) approach, which involves community participation through focus group discussions. To avoid complexity, this study focuses on one year’s activities, which attributed monetary values to the social impact. It is argued in this study that the green and clean activities provide a return of 1.23 on the investment. This result demonstrates how the community-based social enterprise is feasible in achieving appropriate support. First, this study focuses on the community perspective during the observed time. The communities may experience different levels of capability and resources that contribute to the achievement of the programme. Secondly, there is a lack of literature that could provide financial analysis and there is no common accepted method for measuring the value of the social benefits. Beyond the SROI computation, this study highlights some technical challenges and misconceptions involved in measuring the social return on investment (SROI). Although there is considerable information available about the conceptual framework of SROI, there is great variability in how SROI is applied across interventions. This makes robust and consistent comparisons across social ventures difficult, while rendering the validity of SROI measures vulnerable to being contested.

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Accounting for social return on investment (SROI)

Social Enterprise Journal ◽

10.1108/sej-05-2018-0044 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 46-75 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Marco Bellucci ◽

Carmela Nitti ◽

Serena Franchi ◽

Enrico Testi ◽

Luca Bagnoli

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Return On Investment ◽

Social Impact ◽

Social Enterprises ◽

Content Type ◽

Non Profit ◽

Social Return On Investment ◽

The Social ◽

Definition Of

PurposeThis study aims to assess the effectiveness of social return on investment (SROI) as a measure of the social impact produced by non-profit organisations and social enterprises that support family-centred care, an approach that focuses on the pivotal role of families in paediatric health care.Design/methodology/approachThe study offers an analytical evaluation of the SROI created by the Italian branch of the Ronald McDonald House Charities and highlights (a) the participatory analysis of stakeholders and outcomes; (b) the measurement of inputs; (c) the definition of outputs and proxies for the measurement of outcomes; (d) the calculation of the SROI ratio; and (e) the results of a sensitivity analysis.FindingsThis study discusses the advantages and shortcomings of SROI analyses, the practical implications of this research on governance and management and the role of engagement in managing the expectations of stakeholders. The value of SROI measurements in shaping strategic and management decisions – with special emphasis on stakeholder relations – is also discussed.Originality/valueNon-profit organisations and social enterprises often require tools that assess the outcomes of their activities. The present research can provide new guidance to SROI analysts, while drawing attention to the most suitable proxies and indicators for evaluating the SROI of organisations operating in the health care sector.

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AN EVALUATION METHODOLOGY FOR MEASURING THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF FAMILY STRENGTHENING AND ALTERNATIVE CHILD CARE SERVICES: THE CASE OF SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES

International Journal of Child Youth and Family Studies ◽

10.18357/ijcyfs114202019936 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 7-28

Author(s):

Rosalind Willi ◽

Douglas Reed ◽

Germain Houedenou

Keyword(s):

Impact Evaluation ◽

Social Impact ◽

Systematic Approach ◽

Evaluation Methodology ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Care Services ◽

Social Return On Investment ◽

The Social ◽

Long Term Impact

Until recently, SOS Children’s Villages International, like many organisations in the social sector, lacked a rigorous and systematic approach to gauging the long-term impact of their services. With this in mind, SOS Children’s Villages International developed a social impact evaluation methodology in 2014 to measure the long-term effects of its services on children and their families and communities, as well as the social return on investment. This evaluation methodology has been tested and applied to similar service types across 15 low-, middle-, and high-income countries worldwide. The findings are regularly consolidated, in order to derive trends and learnings for the global organisation and to inform strategy and policy. The present article will discuss the evaluation methodology and the related limitations. Conclusions regarding the validity of the methodology will be offered in terms of the measurement of social service impact and the way forward.

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Analysis of Social Return On Investment (SROI) To Measure The Social, Environment, And Economics Impact On The National Fattening Sheep Program (Studi At Pesantren Al-Ittifaq)

Jurnal Ilmu Sosial Politik dan Humaniora ◽

10.36624/jisora.v2i2.44 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 33-42

Author(s):

Khairunnisa Khairunnisa ◽

Ayu Bianti Pribadi ◽

Fajar Sidiq Adi Prabowo

Keyword(s):

Return On Investment ◽

Social Impact ◽

Social Innovation ◽

Social Problem Solving ◽

Social Entrepreneur ◽

Social Return On Investment ◽

The Social ◽

Management Guidance ◽

Small Medium Enterprises ◽

Medium Enterprises

PT Sarana Jabar Venture (SJV) is the first regional venture capital company in Indonesia, which was established with the aim to foster small entrepreneurs through financing and management guidance. The financing of cooperation implemented on the basis of the principle of mutual strengthening, mutual need and mutual benefit. In addition to financing for small medium enterprises, SJV currently is running a program that is carried by the Medco Foundation IE is a Program of the national Sheep Fattening (Prodombas) and empower the Pesantren to carry the people's economy, one of which is Pesantren Al-Ittifaq. PT Sarana Jabar Ventura viewed from its objective, may be classified as Social Entrepreneur that describes all the economic program that serves the social and mission or mission environment and invested most of the anniversary surplusnya in support of its mission, provide social innovation how to solve social problems by creating breakthrough social problem solving with the advent of Prodombas. So, produce an effect known as social impact as the effects of what organizations are doing or action against social welfare organization. One of the tools for measuring the social impact is by using Social Return on Investment (SROI) the New Economics Foundation (NEF, 2008). This research has the end result of the ratio between the number of comparisons with a benefit that is formed with a given amount of investment, with the result that means 1.05:1 each Rp. 1 invested, yielding the value of social benefits in the form of Rp. 1.05 felt by program participants in Pesantren Al-ittifaq. Because the ratio of 1:1 which is the conditions exceeds successful SROI, then PT Sarana Jabar Ventura as an investor has successfully acted as agents of social reformers because it has given the social impact that bring benefit for participants in Pesantren Al-Ittifaq.

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Utilising the Social Return on Investment (SROI) Framework to Gauge Social Value in the Fast Forward Program

Education Sciences ◽

10.3390/educsci9040290 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 290 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ravulo ◽

Said ◽

Micsko ◽

Purchase

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

High School Students ◽

Return On Investment ◽

Social Impact ◽

School Students ◽

Social Barriers ◽

Knowledge Based ◽

Social Return On Investment ◽

Knowledge Based Economy ◽

The Social

A market paradigm shift towards a ‘knowledge-based economy’ means Australia is moving towards a major skills crisis whereby the workface will lack skills attainable from higher education. Moreover, those from low socio-economic backgrounds, and who are confronted with disadvantage, still face challenges in gaining entry to university. The Fast Forward Program (FFP) aims to increase attainment of higher education for X high school students in years 9–12, with a focus on dismantling the social barriers preventing attainment. To achieve this aim, the program hosts a range of student and parent in-school workshops and on-campus visits. To capture the social impact of the program for all participants, the social return on investment (SROI) methodology was implemented. The SROI ratio is represented as a return in dollar value for every dollar invested; due to the success of the program, the investment represented $5.73 for every $1 spent. The key findings indicated that students and parents gained a deeper familiarity and understanding of university which, in turn, created a deeper confidence and motivation for students to enter higher education. Additionally, participants reported being able to better use their time to cater for study, and were more comfortable about going onto a university campus.

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The social impact of advice during disability welfare reform: from social return on investment to evidencing public value through realism and complexity

Public Management Review ◽

10.1080/14719037.2018.1473474 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 238-263 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Michelle Farr ◽

Peter Cressey

Keyword(s):

Welfare Reform ◽

Return On Investment ◽

Social Impact ◽

Public Value ◽

Social Return On Investment ◽

The Social

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SOCIAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT (SROI) PROGRAM “SENTRA INDUSTRI BUKIT ASAM” (SIBA) DUSUN BATIK KUJUR TANJUNG ENIM

AdBispreneur ◽

10.24198/adbispreneur.v5i1.26069 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 15

Author(s):

Meilanny Budiarti Santoso ◽

Santoso Tri Raharjo ◽

Sahadi Humaedi ◽

Hendri Mulyono

Keyword(s):

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Return On Investment ◽

Social Impact ◽

Social Investment ◽

Business Values ◽

Social Return On Investment ◽

The Social ◽

Long Time ◽

Corporate Social

The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities carried out by companies should ideally be a social investment for them. The activities should not necessarily be aimed to meet their responsibilities since it would only bring a short-term good reputation and even potentially be a threat for them in the future. Indeed, as a social investment, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities that are run for a long time will provide them with a business ‘change’ or ‘return’ in the form of profit for the company. The method used to measure the social impact of the CSR activities was Social Return on Investment (SROI) which not only could calculate the value of profits in the form of money, but included a broader concept covering social, economic and environmental values. The results of this study reveal that Sentra Industri Bukit Asam (SIBA) Batik Kujur Program that was initiated based on culture (history) has produced economic and business values for service users in the society. This resulted in a social investment impact value in the form of SROI Ratio of 5.39, which means that for every investment made by PTBA with Rp. 1,- they will get impact or benefit worth Rp. 5.39,-. Therefore, it can be seen from the social and economic values that the Sentra Industri Bukit Asam (SIBA) Batik Kujur Program is feasible and successful. Kegiatan corporate social responsibility (CSR) yang dilakukan perusahaan idealnya dilaksanakan sebagai sebuah investasi sosial, bukan sekedar kegiatan yang bersifat sementara untuk menunjukkan tanggung jawab saja, karena hal demikian hanya akan mendatangkan citra baik sesaat dan akan menjadi ancaman bagi perusahaan di kemudian hari. Sebagai sebuah investasi sosial, pelaksanaan kegiatan CSR dalam jangka panjang akan mendatangkan “kembalian” (return) bisnis berupa profit bagi perusahaan. Metode yang digunakan untuk mengukur dampak sosial dari kegitan CSR adalah dengan menggunakan social return on investment (SROI) yang tidak hanya menghitung nilai keuntungan berupa uang saja, melainkan mencakup konsep yang lebih luas yaitu meliputi nilai sosial, ekonomi dan juga lingkungan. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahwa Program Sentra Industri Bukit Asam (SIBA) Batik Kujur yang diinisiasi dengan berbasis pada budaya (sejarah) telah menghasilkan nilai ekonomi dan bisnis bagi masyarakat penerima program, yaitu menghasilkan nilai dampak investasi sosial berupa SROI Rasio sebesar 5,39 artinya bahwa setiap investasi yang dilakukan oleh PTBA sebesar Rp. 1,- memperoleh dampak atau manfaat senilai Rp. 5,39,-. Bila ditinjau dari sisi sosial dan ekonomi, maka program Sentra Industri Bukit Asam (SIBA) Batik Kujur dapat dikatakan layak dan berhasil.

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Social return on investment: a women’s cooperative critique

Social Enterprise Journal ◽

10.1108/sej-12-2018-0084 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 320-338

Author(s):

Kai Roland Green

Keyword(s):

Return On Investment ◽

Social Enterprise ◽

Social Impact ◽

Immigrant Women ◽

Social Sustainability ◽

Content Type ◽

Feminist Economics ◽

Social Return On Investment ◽

The Social

Purpose Mechanisms that measure the social impact of work integration social enterprises (WISEs) activate a dialogue between the language and principles of economics and the lived-reality of marginalised groups. This paper aims to critically strengthen social impact measurement as a process by ascertaining epistemic gaps in the methodology of a dominant measure, based on an exploratory case study of a social enterprise supporting immigrant women in Sweden. Design/methodology/approach The author undertook participant observation and informal interviews with managers at Yalla Trappan – a women’s cooperative social enterprise in Malmö, Sweden – for the integration of long-term unemployed, immigrant women into the labour market. Through an interpretivist framework, themes of “social sustainability” and “feminist economics” formed a theoretical inquiry for data collection within the organisation and resulting in a critical discussion of the social return on investment (SROI) method. Findings The case study of women’s cooperative social enterprise is seen to challenge some systemic assumptions made by the SROI metric through its validation of knowledges and economic principles which are congruent with feminist epistemologies. The relationship between social and work life is re-configured by the organisation for the specific features of its beneficiary group (in which gender is a determining factor), with implications for intergenerational cohesion, past trauma resolution and positive postpartum practices that present challenges to a SROI measurement process. Originality/value This study applies a distinctive disciplinary understanding of feminist economics and epistemologies onto the relatively new field of social sustainability and innovation, illustrating its critique through the impact on practical steps that may be taken in the process of a dominant social impact measure (SROI).

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