Measuring social impact draft 3
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Measuring Social Impact Scott Hargrove CEO, Fraser Valley Regional Library
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Transcript of Measuring social impact draft 3
Measuring Social ImpactScott HargroveCEO, Fraser Valley Regional Library
Overview• Metrics vs. Analytics vs. Big Data• Transaction vs. Interaction vs. Social
Impact• The Social Impact Creation Cycle• Challenges to Measuring Social
Impact• Recommendation: Comprehensive
Approach
Metrics vs. Analytics• Metrics = Measurement
through data collection• For example, an FVRL
library circulates 12000items in January 2015,representing a drop of10% over the previous year
Metrics vs. Analytics• Analytics = Evidence based
analysis of collected data• Following the same example,
the FVRL library in questionexperienced the drop in circulation due to weather and renovation related closures totalling three days
What about Big Data?• Big Data = large scale metrics,
made possible by computers,which may provide moresupportable analytics due toscale of data collection
• May be less useful in measuring local social impact
Transaction• Primarily metrics-based• Example: Number of books
FVRL circulated in a year
Interaction• Primarily based on
social satisfactionwith services
• Example: Percentage of customers who, when surveyed while leaving the library, report that FVRL staff met their information needs.
Social Impact• Concerned with whether
FVRL’s services are creatingdesirable societal change
• Example: Children who complete FVRL’s literacy program “1000 Stories Before Kindergarten” demonstrate 20% improvement in reading comprehension by Grade One compared to control group.
Why assess social impact?• Investors
(funders/donors/supporters) are increasingly looking for evidence that their funds are being well used
• Focus of any organization should be on how to increase their social impact
The Social Impact Creation Cycle
What will you invest?
What problem will you address?
What steps will you take?
How will you measure success?
How can you increase impact?
Epstein and Yuthas, “Measuring and Improving Social Impacts”, 2014
Challenges to Measuring Social Impact• Expensive• Expertise• Long-term planning and commitment• Clear identification of goals
The Social Impact Creation Cycle
What will you invest?
What problem will you address?
What steps will you take?
How will you measure success?
How can you increase impact?
Epstein and Yuthas, “Measuring and Improving Social Impacts”, 2014
The Comprehensive Approach
Use of metrics, analytics and strategic planning to help identify clear goals for projects and services
The Comprehensive Approach
Social impact assessment for high-value, strategic initiatives
The Comprehensive Approach
Activity data and customer satisfaction with services still important, but only part of the assessment
The Comprehensive Approach
Big data may be less useful in assessing local social impact, but can provide a baseline for comparison, and broad social direction
The Comprehensive Approach• Goals-based – identify key impacts
• Balanced mix of metrics, analytics and social impact measurement for assessment
• Increasing impact should be the ultimate goal
Thank you!Scott [email protected]
