Analysis of good practices of social impact measurement: the social balance sheet developed by the Spanish network of the social and solidarity economy

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to analyse the good practices developed by the Spanish Social and Solidarity Network (one of the leading networks in the country) regarding its social balance sheet, created under the perspective of social and solidarity principles. This social balance sheet is implemented by its members for their self-evaluation.

Design/methodology/approach

By using a qualitative methodology based on triangulation, which includes a semi-structured interview with the manager of the social audit commission, the main good practices associated with this initiative of social impact measurement are attained. Moreover, two organisations implementing the social balance sheet have been analysed to obtain a complete perspective of the tool and the process developed by the network.

Findings

The main findings include: the social balance sheet dimensions are based on the social and solidarity principles, which enable companies to analyse the compliance of their activity with their philosophy; cooperation is crucial for the success of the tool; the efforts made by the network involve a range of different behaviours, all shared and published on social networks and the internet for free to diffuse the good practices of social impact measurement.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the literature on social entrepreneurship and social impact measurement by analysing the good practices regarding a social balance sheet, designed under the social and solidarity philosophy, whose procedure can serve as a reference for any other representative institutions or practitioners. From this view, this initiative can be considered a social innovation itself since it constitutes a step towards transforming society through the quantification of business activity from a more social perspective and through a process of participative governance by all the stakeholders involved.

Citation

Guzmán, C., Correa, I. and Valiente, L. (2024), "Analysis of good practices of social impact measurement: the social balance sheet developed by the Spanish network of the social and solidarity economy", Social Enterprise Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/SEJ-03-2024-0056