Demonstrating Value Blog

After a certain point, and perhaps dozens and even hundreds of versions of spreadsheets, there comes a time to contemplate whether there is an easier way to track data.   You know that countless hours can be spent finding and making sense of data when it comes time for planning, budgeting, and in even day to day activities like sales.   But it can be hard to understand the full costs involved in acquiring software and how they relate to your ability to save staff time (and put it to other uses), as well as improving your relationships that ultimately relate to you bottom line(s). 

Demonstrating Value has developed and posted...

Earlier this year, I was invited to lecture about impact measurement for a number of different social enterprise-related classes, both as part of academic programs and incubators.   While I mostly stayed fairly practical, 'academic-lite', I thought it would be useful to give an overview of what the field of impact measurement looks like and the options and tools out there.

I've frequently come across the statement that there can be a bewildering array of tools that makes impact measurement challenging to access and apply.  I would agree that it can seem confusing.  At a basic level though, they all identify, collect and use/show data that indicate that social value is created. They just differ in how deeply they go into the mechanics of how social impact occurs and finding evidence of...

In a recent blog, I described some work that Vancity Community Foundation had led to develop a societal cost calculator for work integration social enterprises (WISE) in Vancouver.   Another aspect of the project, was to develop a shared impact map and indicators.  While individual social enterprises within Vancouver differ in the goods and services they produce and the way in which they engage individuals who are marginalized, they are all working towards similar outcomes.   An outcome is a term used in impact maps (logic models/theory of change) that describes the social change that occurs as a result of the strategies and activities of a social enterprise.

Our challenge is to be able to capture these outcomes more formally and in consistent terms across different enterprises and in a way that could help to...

The Social Enterprise Institute was launched last year to offer on-demand eLearning courses relating to different aspects of launching and strengthening social enterprises.  It is geared to make it easier for people to learn about topics that specifically interest them, wherever they may be, and whenever they want. 

The Institute breaks out course offerings in terms of ‘Explore’, ‘Build’ and ‘Thrive.’ ‘Explore’ is populated with courses on a practical range of topics that are essential to planning.  Fourteen courses are currently available including Opportunity Identification, Business Model Canvas, Financial Plan, and Legal Aspects.

This year, courses in ‘Build’ and ‘Thrive’ will be added that provide instruction on topics relevant to social enterprises that have been launched, such as marketing, pricing strategies, and of course, measurement!   To this end, I am currently developing four courses that will be available on the...