The foundations of impact management

We take you through the Future Fit Management Model that we developed: a practical framework that shows how, as an organisation, you can steer on impact while simultaneously working on your future readiness (in other words, your future fitness). The model is cyclical in design and supports a continuous learning process: from vision, analysis and strategy, to implementation, measurement, improvement and reporting. Ultimately, it is about what you do with the insights - making better choices and adjusting in a targeted way to increase your positive impact and limit negative impact. The way organisations create impact varies widely in themes, target groups and approaches. From a construction consortium working on liveable neighbourhoods to a foundation committed to healthier nutrition. No context is identical. At the same time, we are convinced that there are tools and fixed steps that are relevant for every organisation and that help organisations to steer their impact more effectively.

The extent to which organisations steer on impact is not determined internally alone. External pressure is also increasing rapidly. From legislation and societal expectations, the emphasis on transparency is growing: organisations are expected to show what impact they achieve. In practice, this often leads to a strong focus on measurement and reporting. Understandable, but also limited. Because when impact management is primarily about accountability, it risks missing its purpose. The real value of managing your impact lies precisely in what you do with the insights. Measuring and reporting are not goals in themselves, but means to steer more effectively, so that you actually increase and strengthen your impact.

The Future Fit Management Model forms the common thread of this whitepaper. Better steering on impact does not happen in a single step, but by repeatedly going through this cycle and learning from what you encounter along the way. You can start anywhere in the model (as every organisation may have a different starting point). At the same time, we challenge you not to stop at just one element of our model, but to continue through the cycle and complete the circle. With concrete tools, tips and inspiration, this whitepaper helps you to take that next step.