The ambitions and challenges of SROI.

Arvidson, Malin, Lyon, Fergus ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6275-4102, McKay, Stephen and Moro, Domenico (2010) The ambitions and challenges of SROI. Working Paper. TSRC, Birmingham. . [Monograph]

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Abstract

With the growing interest in measuring the social impact of third sector activities, there have been a range of approaches developed. One of these, social return on investment (SROI) has received particular attention and is being promoted by third sector organisations, as well as public and private bodies. This paper examines this approach in detail and identifies a series of issues that require further investigation. These include technical and methodological issues related to this adjusted cost-benefit analysis such as quantifying the value of social benefits, and attribution; the judgement involved in setting indicators; whether projects deemed successful based on an SROI analysis can provide the basis for replicability and scaling up; and the ways in which SROI is being used by stakeholders. Through examining these challenges in detail, the approaches to measuring social impact can be strengthened, standardised and made more rigorous. While the issues raised here are essential to developing SROI further, they are also valid for more general discussions regarding the proving and improving of the value added by the UK third sector.

Item Type:	Monograph (Working Paper)
Additional Information:	Working and Briefing Paper: No.49
Research Areas:	A. > Business School
Item ID:	7104
Notes on copyright:	With thanks to University of Birmingham: Third Sector Research Centre for allowing access.
Useful Links:	Organisation Middlesex University Expert Profile
Depositing User:	Mrs Susan Engelbert
Date Deposited:	15 Feb 2011 11:46
Last Modified:	30 Nov 2022 00:58
URI:	https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/id/eprint/7104

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