Social impact measurement and management. How to establish a theory of change within organizations (under construction)

Learning objectives and brief outline

Abstract

This learning module provides students with the strategic frameworks and methodological tools necessary to implement in companies and organizations a system of measurement, analysis and management of the social impact generated by them, to respond to the growing demands by legal regulators, investors and consumers on how to evidence, based on data, the triple performance (financial, social and environmental) of them when making decisions. Thus, the essential components and elements of this system are studied, such as the development of metrics and indicators of social impact most appropriate to each need and their integration into management systems. Likewise, the design and implementation of the so-called "Theory of Change" and due diligence processes are worked on. The measurement and management of social impact is an increasingly necessary activity in companies and not-for-profit to align their purpose with Sustainable Development Goals and other global sustainability benchmarks.

Learning objectives

Course participants who study the learning module will be able to

  • The student knows how to calculate the social value provided by a specific project/program/organization.
  • The student distinguishes between the different frameworks of reference and methodologies for measuring social impact and is able to explain the different international standards and initiatives.
  • The student knows the fundamentals of the Theory of Change and is able to elaborate it. This includes the ability to construct social impact measurement indicators, verify them, identify proxies where appropriate, and establish their reliability.

Contributor

Carlos Ballesteros, Universidad Pontificia Comillas, ballesteros@comillas.edu
Field of expertise: Social Impact, Social Economy, Service Learning