Social impact taxonomy: A definitional framework

The ways in which social impact is conceptualized, assessed, and communicated are essential to supporting communities and fostering a civil society. However, despite the frequent use of the term ‘social impact’ in academia and practice, its definition remains ambiguous. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to help both scholars and practitioners be clearer on their conceptualization of social impact. To do this, this study conducted a bounded systematic literature review of 701 papers, identifying 135 papers that provided 185 definitions of social impact. Thematic analysis led to the empirical development of a taxonomy for social impact. Theoretically, this study identifies the key attributes of social impact definitions and proposes a definitional framework and taxonomy for clearer articulation of social impact across various contexts. The study provides an empirical starting point for organizations, and in particular, public relations - given it operates at the intersection of organizational activities and their social implications - to be clear on what is meant by social impact, which in turn, should aid in engaging around, measuring, and communicating about their social impact.