2.1         INTRODUCTION AND LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Social impact projects aim to improve wellbeing by pursuing social, environmental, and economic goals.
To verify empirically how well these goals are met, social impact measurement is required. Such a
measurement can take many different forms. It can encompass the social impact generated by an entire
organisation or focus on just one specific aspect of its work.

There are also several ways to conduct social impact measurement. We can do the analysis in-house or
by engaging external experts. Social impact measurement can be evaluative, conducted retrospectively
and based on actual outcomes that have already taken place, or forecasted, which predicts how much
social impact will be created if the activities meet their intended outcomes. There are more levels of such
an analysis, from a light to an integrated one.

In Module 2, we first introduce the methodological framework to measure social impact. This framework
includes several steps. We start with the impact model, a theoretical and graphical representation of a
project’s expected effects. This is followed by the empirical identification of impacts based on qualitative
research approaches. Next, the measuring and monetizing of effects identified based on quantitative
methods is carried out. We also explain how to decide what should be included in the analysis.

2.2         CONTENT

1. Overview

2. Purpose of the Impact Analysis

3. Steps of an Impact Analysis/ Measurement

3.1. Step 1: Identification of Stakeholder

3.2. Step 2: Hypothetical Impact Model

3.3. Step 3: Identification & Specification of impact

3.4. Steps 4 & 5: Measurement of the width & intensity of impact

3.5. Step 6: Assessment/Monetization of Impact

3.6. Step 7: Presentation & Aggregation of Impact

4. Communication of Impact

5. Strategy (re)formulation based on impacts

6. Controlling based on impacts

7. Advantages and challenges of measuring social impact

2.3         LEARNING OUTCOMES

After completing this module, the participants are able to:

–      define the steps in social impact measurement;

–      explain the purpose of each step in the methodological framework;

–      explain the advantages and challenges of impact measurement;

–      explain how to decide what should be included in the social impact analysis.

2.4         TEACHING METHODS

Lectures, demonstration through case-study analysis, discussion, group or individual practical work on
case studies, presentations. 

Possibility of blended learning and flipped classroom: lectures and demonstration of case studies online;
discussions, practical work, and presentations offline.

2.5         ASSESSMENT

Assessment and feedback is based on the case-study work and presentation by participants.

2.6         STUDY MATERIALS

–      Lecture slides

–      Case studies

–      Then et al. (2017). Social Return on Investment Analysis. Measuring the Impact of Social
Investment. Chapter 2, Chapters 4 – 8.

–       The Guide to Social Return to investment (2012), The SROI Network. Introduction