How to Rate an Impact Analysis

Rating an Impact Analysis

The impact analyses produced on our platform are written by our diverse community of members, rating these impacts analyses is an integral part of our model.

These ratings feed into our algorithm that produces the company impact score and with this score we hold companies accountable for their impact on the planet. It is an indicator, that lets you and others recognise whether a company is positively or negatively impacting the sustainability of the world.


If you'd like to learn more about rating, join for the next Free Certified Impact Rater webinar and gain your Certification as an Impact Rater.



Rating an impact analysis is easy. We use 3 simple measures.

Quality

Rate the quality of the impact analysis that you’ve just read by indicating how many stars you’d give the analysis, 1 being the lowest quality and 5 being the highest.

How relevant is the Impact Analysis?

Ask yourself:

  • Is the impact analysis related to the company and SDG chosen by the writer?
  • How much of the analysis refers to environmental or social issues?
  • Is the headline a good indication of the content?

How objective is the Impact Analysis?

Ask yourself:

  • Is the analysis fact-based?
  • Did the writer give sources? How many and how objective are they?
  • Is the analyst staying away from company bashing and is it balanced?

How insightful is the Impact Analysis?

Ask yourself:

  • How much has your understanding of the company’s impact improved since reading the analysis?
  • Did the writer bring a particularly smart or original angle, that adds value?
  • Is the analysis well structured and easy to follow?
  • Would you recommend others to read this impact analysis?


Value

Now you must consider how positive or negative the impact of the company is based on what is described in the impact analysis.

Rate the value of the impact described, from very negative (-5) to very positive (+5).


You should think about the following ways a company can impact the planet and society:
  • Through its processes and practices (for example, industrial pollution or decent job creation).
  • Through its products and services (for example, health issues or increased mobility).
  • Through its influence on society (for example, disruptive technology or market transformation).

The same issue can have a very different impact on distinct groups of people:
  • Some people might benefit while others will not.
  • Some groups are more sensitive to impact than others (children, refugees, etc.)


Scale

The final measure is scale, you must now consider how small or large the impact is, 1 being very small and 5 being very large.


Take into account the breadth of the impact:
  • Is the impact local, national, or global?
  • How many people are concerned? Thousands? Millions? Billions?

Take into account the depth of the impact:
  • Is the life of people concerned deeply affected, or are they just marginally impacted by the issue?
  • Are the changes brought by the issue profoundly changing society or the planet?

Take into account the persistence of the impact:
  • How long would the impact described last for? Months? Years? Decades?
  • How reversible is the impact described in the Impact Analysis? Can it be easily stopped/extended?

Remember, after you consider each of the ratings, make sure to click ‘submit’ for them to be counted toward the overall impact score of the company.

Your ratings count.

Don’t forget, every rating you submit contributes to the company impact score. Learn more about how the score is calculated on our methodology page.

Get Certified.

If you want to improve your knowledge on how companies impact the environment and society, why not sign up to one of our free Certified Impact Rater webinars and get your certification as an Impact Rater?
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