Impact Management
Understand organisational effect to optimise positive impact
All organisations, whether private, public or non-profit, have positive and negative effects on people and the planet — resulting from both what they do (e.g. their products and services) and how they do it. Impact management helps them to better understand these results, so that they can address the negative effects and maximise their positive contribution to our society and the planet.
An impact management cycle includes 3 key elements:
1. Impact strategy: Articulate what the organisation intends to achieve and for whom
Identify target beneficiaries and audiences
Understand and articulate the positive and negative impacts of key organisation’s activities
Setting objectives and targets to drive improvement over time
To help inform an impact strategy, there are important first steps, including theory of change and logic model development, market and trends analysis, issue ecosystem mapping, and needs analyses.
2. Impact measurement and analysis: Develop the indicators and tools and process to measure and monitor impact
Define indicators and metrics to measure outcome and impact progress
Develop and implement the tools and processes to access the right information at the right time
Analyse data and develop useful insight
3. Impact reporting and communication: Highlight key insights and disseminate findings
Identify target internal and external stakeholders
Confirm needs and insight requirements for different target audiences
Develop and design impact dashboards, impact reports, a case for support etc.
Identify opportunities for improvement and actions, including iterating impact strategies
The insights and learnings captured are used to continuously improve an organisation’s impact — constantly challenging the organisation to invest its time and resources into activities that deliver the greatest impact for the audiences that matter to them.
Why impact management is important
A comprehensive impact management framework can help your organisation mitigate risks, improve profitability, and actively support the achievement of the sustainable development goals.
By managing impact, organisations can:
Monitor progress towards and be held accountable for their intended impact, theory of change and key strategic objectives
Ensure programmes or initiatives are implemented as designed
Identify and understand what actions, policies and processes work and why they work
Learn about ways to achieve even better results by analysing insights
Communicate progress internally and externally to staff, beneficiaries, funders, partners, and the broader movement – reinforcing accountability, transparency and momentum
Impact management support
Aleron has been supporting organisations in designing and implementing robust impact management frameworks for more than 10 years, across a wide range of sectors in the private, public and non-profit sectors. Working collaboratively with our clients, we leverage our experience and lessons learned from other organisations. Our robust and tailored process ensures that you identify what matters most to you and your stakeholders and develop an impact management framework that helps you achieve your ambitions.