Позитивные изменения. Том 2, № 3 (2022). Positive changes. Volume 2, Issue 3 (2022)

Working on a theory of change helps understand what problem the project is solving and, therefore, what its team intends to change. Usually at this stage the team makes a problem tree and highlights the big goal. The next step is to identify the assumptions, or conditions necessary to achieve these goals. Then comes the process of reverse mapping, that is, comparing and combining the results and compiling a list of external conditions and internal processes that are also necessary to achieve the goal. The process is completed with the identification of success indicators and activities, “interventions” that will help achieve the intermediate objectives and ultimately the goals.

First of all, the theory of change is necessary when planning activities. However, this tool is also worth “checking up” with at the growth stage, and possibly even after the closure of business — this will help to understand how the current state of affairs corresponds to the declared objectives, and what went wrong in the case of project closure.

The next step is to determine the indicators of social impact. It is worth noting here that Russia does not have a single standard or mandatory set of metrics to be assessed. Everything depends on the specifics of the social enterprise, its business model and development stage. For some social businesses, collecting and assessing 3 or 4 metrics is sufficient, while for others, with a more complex structure, 20 or even 30 quantitative and qualitative indicators may not be enough.

Russia doesn’t have a single standard or mandatory set of metrics to be assessed. Everything depends on the specifics of the enterprise, its business model and development stage.

The decision to conduct a social impact assessment for the first time and the desire to make this process a regular one are strongly influenced by the challenges in collecting data for analysis. Often organizations simply do not have sufficient time, money and human resources to interview beneficiaries and clients, systematize and analyze the information gathered. In this case, it may be advisable not to try to fit the entire evaluation process into a limited period of time, but to make it a daily or at least weekly part of the normal work process. Doing small things on a regular basis, such as compiling and analyzing questionnaires, will enable conducting impact assessment without major shocks to the team and budget.

The final stage is the publication and use of the data. Not all of the assessment results can be presented publicly — some of the indicators may remain for internal use. But as a rule, if an organization has done such work, it will want to share the results.

Whether or not to post the report in public domain is a matter for the project team to decide. But what you definitely shouldn’t do is create a report just for the sake of a report. This practice is unproductive. The report data can help answer many questions and should not be neglected. The work you’ve done will help you look at the organization from above and see what could have been done more efficiently, with fewer resources, and with greater benefit to clients and beneficiaries.

Another important question is whether you should compare your report with other reports? Once again, this is something to be decided individually, but it is worth remembering that social business is not homogeneous and works with very different problems and target audiences. Social entrepreneurs have different resources and are also territorially specific. If you decided a comparison is needed, it is better to analyze the reports of a particular organization in different periods of time and observe the activity in dynamics, to assess the changes that have occurred with it over time.

If you decided a comparison is needed, it is better to analyze the reports of a particular organization in different periods of time and observe the activity in dynamics.

The reasonable frequency of assessment depends on the resources available for such work and the maturity of the organization.

WHO TO LOOK UP TO

Social impact assessment can take a project to the next level and become a competitive advantage. So far few social entrepreneurs have taken this approach, but we already have someone to look up to.

A good example of an estimate is shown in Everland’s 2021 report. It is unique in that it presents not only the achieved results, but also the goals for the next year. The company indicates that in 2022 it plans to employ more than 500 people with disabilities and provide more than 800 new registrations on the platform[17].