Nonprofit and Foundations
Gert Balling, PhD
Senior Impact Partner
Novo Nordisk Foundation
Hellerup, Italy
Rasmus Jensen, MSc
Head of Data
Novo Nordisk Foundation
Hellerup, Italy
Henrik Fosse, PhD (he/him/his)
Head of Analytics
Novo Nordisk Foundation
Birkeroed, Denmark
Location: White River Ballroom C
Abstract Information: This session sets the stage for a conversation on the implementation of impact management in purpose-driven or mission-oriented organizations, e.g., foundations, here defined as a how impact management is institutionalized as part of the organizational culture changes toward a common evaluation culture, structure and process, with a special focus on when implementation is challenged. Implementation is sometimes taken for granted even though it is also a complex and a highly contextual praxis that both demands decisions taking and a lot of effort on adjustments to make stakeholder ends meet. The Think Tank will give a chance to discuss the dynamics of a successful impact management implementation that also implies multiple agendas, issues with communication, coordination and cooperation, setbacks and redirections and finally, hopefully, a success – and a lot of learnings. The session is based on experiences from the Novo Nordisk Foundation and how we are approaching the implementation of impact management, and participants in the session will be urged to reflect on how barriers slow them down or even lead them down a different path than initially planned, but also how barriers allow for crucial insights. In these discussions we will focus on the complexity of implementation, share illustrative cases from implementation processes, identifying barriers for implementing impact management. The Think Tank will end with a 'lessons learned'-plenary and key messages on DOs and DON’Ts.
Relevance Statement: Implementation is a crucial part in building an evaluation culture implementing frameworks and strategies, building strategic alliances between stakeholders, co creation, integrating impact strategies and using frameworks as policy instruments. Even if we are researchers by training, we are aware that it is as practitioners in the field that we are aware of the challenge of planned versus serendipity, need for outcome/impact culture before it is manifest, greater coordination and cooperation between diverse actors, lack of shared language and tools, lack of harmonized data and consensus on measures. But that doesn't mean, that we can't learn from it, and that we can’t strengthen our impact management by having an open mind when implementing for change. Presenters and facilitator are active in international networks and organizations. GVB, RVL and HBF are active in the international evaluation community covering appointed co-chair of the London based international Research on Research Institute (RoRI), the UK NIHR Impact Advisory Board, the Strategic Committee and Product Advisory Group for the data collection platform Researchfish, Product Advisory Board of the data collection platform Foundgood as participants in a number of strategic as well as practical collaborations between international funders.