Investigating an applicable typology of Social Impact Measurement

Social Impact measurement has been a bone of contention for practitioners, researchers and other stakeholders involved in social entrepreneurship. Two main points of view exist – one that social impact cannot be measured and compared across program areas, and therefore demand a unique, case-by-case approach of appraisal, and another that argues that social impact must be measured in an objective and comparable manner so as to retain its usefulness as a tool for judgment and introspection. This research examines both these points of views through the lenses of the tools used for measurement, and draws up a suitable typology to help both practitioners and research understand the intricacies of social impact, and how to measure it. This research takes the position that while an overarching framework is required for comparing results of social enterprises, an integrative typology that helps the practitioner select the right mix of tools is the correct approach to comprehending an increasingly confusing and complex social impact measurement landscape. To this end, this research attempts to draw up such a typology, and paves the way for future research into combinations of different tools, and the evolution of currently popular tools in the field.