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A General Theory of Social Impact Accounting: Materiality, Uncertainty and Empowerment

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  • Alex Nicholls

Abstract

This paper argues that social impact accounting is different from financial accounting practice in terms of two key materiality issues: the uncertain nature of its material data; the empowering processes by which materiality is established. Drawing upon some detailed empirical analysis, this paper develops a new general theory of social impact accounting to suggest that successful social impact accounting processes both give voice to service users and produce more accurate performance data. The paper advances research in both social impact accounting and in critical approaches to accounting more generally.

Suggested Citation

  • Alex Nicholls, 2018. "A General Theory of Social Impact Accounting: Materiality, Uncertainty and Empowerment," Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(2), pages 132-153, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jsocen:v:9:y:2018:i:2:p:132-153
    DOI: 10.1080/19420676.2018.1452785
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    Cited by:

    1. George Denny-Smith & Riza Yosia Sunindijo & Martin Loosemore & Megan Williams & Leanne Piggott, 2021. "How Construction Employment Can Create Social Value and Assist Recovery from COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-20, January.
    2. Othmar Manfred Lehner & Alex Nicholls & Sarah Beatrice Kapplmüller, 2022. "Arenas of Contestation: A Senian Social Justice Perspective on the Nature of Materiality in Impact Measurement," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(4), pages 971-989, September.
    3. Laura Berardi & Laurie Mook, 2023. "New digital technologies for social impact assessment: Considerations for Italian social economy organizations," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2023(2 Suppl.), pages 109-132.
    4. Driss El Kadiri Boutchich, 2023. "Model for Promoting Corporate Social Performance Measurement and Social Change: Elaboration from Causal Analysis Between the Both," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 169(1), pages 209-234, September.
    5. Maurizio Cisi & Francesca Alice Centrone, 2021. "The Human Capital for Value Creation and Social Impact: The Interpretation of the IR’s HC Definition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1, June.
    6. Irina Sinziana OPINCARU, 2021. "A Journey of Evaluation and Impact Measurement – Accounts of Setting up a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework in a Romanian Social Economy Organisation," CIRIEC Working Papers 2105, CIRIEC - Université de Liège.
    7. Antonio Minguzzi & Michele Modina & Carmen Gallucci, 2019. "Foundations of Banking Origin and Social Rating Philosophy—A New Proposal for an Evaluation System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-16, June.
    8. Marie J. Bouchard & Damien Rousselière, 2022. "Recent advances on impact measurement for the social and solidarity economy: Empirical and methodological challenges," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 93(2), pages 253-266, June.
    9. Lall, Saurabh Ajay, 2019. "From Legitimacy to Learning – How Impact Measurement Perceptions and Practices Evolve in Social Enterprise – Social Finance Organization Relationships," SocArXiv 7z8nc, Center for Open Science.
    10. Adel M. Qatawneh, 2023. "The Role of Employee Empowerment in Supporting Accounting Information Systems Outcomes: A Mediated Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-16, April.
    11. Kirsten Andersen & Rebecca Tekula, 2022. "Value, Values, and Valuation: The Marketization of Charitable Foundation Impact Investing," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(4), pages 1033-1052, September.
    12. Julien Kleszczowski & Nathalie Raulet‐Croset, 2022. "Evaluating social impact in practice: Constructing a response to institutional demand in a French nonprofit organization," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 93(2), pages 357-380, June.
    13. Leah Feor & Amelia Clarke & Ilona Dougherty, 2023. "Social Impact Measurement: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Directions," World, MDPI, vol. 4(4), pages 1-22, December.

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