Publications archive
More than making money
Published: 2006
Measuring the difference your company makes to society
Companies use a wide variety of techniques and approaches to assess the difference they make to society. This research project looks at the ‘why and the how’ of measuring impact on society. Key findings were that good measurement is proportionate to the goals of the activity being measured and should lead to better management; no single methodology exists to assess the difference companies make to society.
The study was aimed at anyone wondering how to approach measuring the difference their company makes to society. It provides an introduction to the methodologies and tools that other companies are using and developing. The project’s final report includes
- a set of principles – to apply whatever you are trying to measure;
- a map of the different ways companies make a difference to society; and
- a toolkit of measurement techniques illustrated by real-life case study examples.
Separately available are a library of additional case studies and a digest of standards, guidelines and principles relevant to corporate impacts.
The project was initiated by Serco Group and Business in the Community. It was managed jointly by The Corporate Citizenship Company and Business in the Community, and involved eight corporate partners – BT, Diageo, John Lewis Partnership, KPMG, RWEnpower, Serco Group, Severn Trent and Vodafone.