SXSW Eco: 10 Minutes on Impact Thinking

I recently had the pleasure of attending the 2015 SXSW Eco conference. It was my first Eco (as some of the more frequent attendees called it), and it was my first time in Austin, TX. I enjoyed both, primarily because of the fascinating people I met.

One of the sessions allowed attendees to sit down with chosen mentors for 10 minutes, speed dating style. I sat down with Nic Lauten and Adam Thomson of Krochet Kids Int’l to discuss the topic of measuring impact. Nic is Director of Community Involvement, and Adam is the Vice President of Impact. Here is a recap of our conversation:

Me: How important is it for an organization to be able to measure its impact?

KKI: Hugely important. Keeping in mind that the extent an organization measures its impact depends on the organization’s goals and audiences. We are a consumer product that’s in retail stores. A lot of brands in our space talk about the good they do, but they don’t talk about the impact. We must ask more critical questions: Is it working? Is it what the community needs? Out of these questions will come clear ways to measure and evaluate impact. It shows what changes need to be made. You don’t know if you don’t measure.

Me: How difficult has the process been for you all to be able to measure your impact?

KKI: It’s been a challenge in some ways, but we are lucky that we can measure easier because of our industry. We have social workers doing their work and reporting back. It takes time. It’s very in depth. It starts with one key question: How do we know whether change is happening? We ask our local staff and they give us answers, but it’s constantly evolving and adding indicators. It’s been a long process, but it can be very simple.

Me: Where does the mission statement come into play in this process?

KKI: It is the most important part of the process! It also isn’t something that is stagnant. It constantly changes as we realize what is most important. The mission statement is primary.

That’s all my 10 minutes would allow, unfortunately. I was glad to be able to sit down with Adam and Nic, so I went out on a second date with them by attending their hour breakout session, which was even more in-depth and informative. For additional information on the topic, download their E-Book: A Simple Guide To Measuring Social Impact.