Reporting tools for social enterprises: between impact measurement and stakeholder needs

Most people within the third sector and beyond would endorse the view that social economy organisations should report on what they do and how they work for the common good, and we, as a society, should require such reporting. There are several studies and research on the role of reporting for social enterprises hoping to communicate financial information and social impact. However, the gap that emerged from the literature is that the principles of transparency and accountability are defined, but there is a lack of determination of a key element that can put order and respond to the need of stakeholders in the best possible way. The author believes that a good reporting tool that is representative and that above all is understandable even to nonprofessional users only works if it can give an effective group representation if it puts the first place: the need. The author employs the methodology of the case study where data are collected by multiple means through qualitative research techniques such as interviews, and document analysis for acquiring a full understanding. The finding reveals that the focus on the need of stakeholders increase accountability, transparency, and stakeholder engagement. Stakeholders would be able to better understand the strong values of good governance, leadership, performance, and social impact that the company possesses. Through the research project conducted so far has been possible to demonstrate that in social enterprises to have an effective measurement of impact must use all possible tools to know and describe the company and the ecosystem that surrounds it and this is possible through timely reporting that it returns clear information for all.