The challenge of Impact Management

Sommaire:

1. The situation today
1.1 the problem  
1.2 the new objectives

2. The Impact Management Project
2.1 Definition
2.2 Objective

3. Analyze and evaluate impact
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"Change won't come if we wait for another person or another time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change we seek," says Barack Obama.

1. The situation today

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1.1 The problem

For several decades now, the issues of pollution and global degradation have been a recurring theme. In recent years, however, in the wake of the IPCC reports, movements have accelerated and there is a real worldwide recognition of the problem. But despite this, conditions continue to worsen, such as global warming, which is close to reaching an increase of 1.5º Celsius. Another frightening example was the IPCC's remark that if we continue at this rate, rising seas will accelerate, leaving cities like Lagos in Nigeria totally invisible by 2100.

1.2 The goals

With these problems rapidly becoming critical, more and more companies are deciding to track their global contributions to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  These 17 goals define 169 targets to be achieved by 2030, and revolve around three fundamental principles: Poverty, Planet, Prosperity.

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2. The Impact Management Project

2.1 Definition

The Impact Management Project (IMP) was created with the aim of establishing a global consensus on how to measure, manage and report sustainability impacts. Impact management is the process of measuring and managing the creation of social, environmental or even economic impact. The creation of IMP takes place in a context in which the state of the environment is deteriorating ever more rapidly. With the help of an international community, IMP has reached a consensus that impact can be examined and measured across five dimensions. Each of these dimensions will enable companies, individuals or even governments to pay attention to each of their actions.

3. Analyze and evaluate impact

To ensure that an impact has the right consequences, it's very important to quantify its impact afterwards. To do this, you need to determine a framework, or even targets. This analysis must take into account customers, beneficiaries, partners, or any other individuals affected by the activities - whether directly or indirectly. Another way of doing this is to stay in touch with these stakeholders, to ensure that there are no negative feelings during the impact.

There are also many indicators, such as the number of biodegradable materials or the number of power interruptions per hour. Once the data has been collected, it's important to analyze it, evaluate it and, finally, verify it.

Once all this has been done, a report needs to be drawn up and presented to the team, so that they can become aware of their impact (positive or negative) and act accordingly. Even if Management Impact doesn't seem like a necessity today, it soon will be. If it's not in the interests of the planet that you do it, do it to initiate your transition, so that it's up to date with the economic and societal demands of tomorrow's world.