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About impact and legacy

The power of legacy – our impact ambitions

Gothenburg Convention Bureau act as an enabler to create, maximize and showcase the long-term value that individual events and meetings can contribute to by arranging them in the Gothenburg region. At the same time, we act as enablers to create long-term effects for annual events. These values should contribute to strengthening and developing the city’s prioritized areas and plans with the aim of creating added value in the society. We do this by providing knowledge, experience and working methods to create stronger and more long-term effects in the society.

Impact planning

A successful process to reach impact needs a structural work procedure. Impact planning is about the practice by which an organization purposefully manages its resources and assets to bridge gaps, deliver tangible outcomes and meet explicit goals while fulfilling its business. Gothenburg Convention Bureau have the methods, experience, and the knowledge it takes to become successful.

Methodology figure

Move from outcome to impact

How do we move from outcome to impact? The logic model, also called the Theory of Change, serves as a suitable tool in the orientation of these concepts. The Theory of Change can have both a project-specific and a general application. It illustrates the cause-and-effect chain between the identified need, the desired change and the resources and activities used to achieve it. This structure can be used to systematically form hypotheses on how to approach a certain need, and to define metrics and processes to evaluate the practical application of the theory. The below figure illustrates the main components of the theory of change:

We think it´s important to consider the entire logic model and use it as a tool in the impact framework. The Theory of Change is a tool to facilitate our Gothenburg Way to Legacy method. 

Glossary (by MEET4IMPACT)

Impact – The sum of changes generated by an organization through its actions on the community or ecosystem, which consider the needs of stakeholders and the system targeted. To talk about impact, one must be able to demonstrate a clear link between an activity undertaken and the outcomes generated (a.k.a. “contribution”, see below) from the point of view of the person/group who has benefited from the results of this activity.

Legacy – It refers to something an organization creates and leaves behind. It’s like a gift, a direct and tangible asset that will be created or transmitted through their actions, which has a potential of yielding impact. Legacy is typically considered more organization-centric because it designates the delivery of a tangible good or asset by the organization or those acting on its behalf, and when obtained, this asset will generate changes upon the receiver (the impact).

Social/Societal impacts – Designate the value generated by activity and include: economic, social, cultural, ethical, environmental, legal and political impacts; and they may affect societal issues such as: innovation and decision-making, community well-being and social progress (poverty, health, equality, safety, citizen participation, inclusion, employment, etc.), education/knowledge acquisition & transfer, creation of networks, sustainability and environmental regeneration, sustainable business models & improved efficiency, and direct/indirect/induced economic benefits, as examples.

Outputs Refers to what is delivered by our activities as direct results – it is usually reported in quantity of activities and products or in services rendered and clientele serviced.

Outcomes Changes – that you intended to generate and that can be observed or evaluated following an activity.

Impact Management – The ongoing practice of understanding, planning, assessing and measuring the impacts or effects of its activity on broad sustainability issues (env+social+econ). Through impact management, one can deliberately mitigate the negative effects and amplify the positive outcomes of their activity. For tourism and events, we use the term more specifically to refer to the practice of managing impact goals and outcomes while meeting business objectives.

Impact Assessment – The practice of evaluating and understanding how our activity has generated the expected change on targeted stakeholders and on the planet.

Impact Measurement – The systematic process of analyzing the change that has occurred through qualitative or quantitative measures of results & effects of a specific activity.

Useful links  

The OECD Recommendation on Global Events and Local Development – OECD 

Event Impact Standards – International Association of Event Hosts 

Guidance for Measuring Benefits – International Association of Event Hosts 

Legacy Delivery Ltd – Delivering a return on investment from major events 

Maria Särnholm. Foto.

Maria Särnholm

Marketing Coordinator, Meetings/Convention Bureau
+46 31 368 41 46
Ulrika Scoliège. Foto.

Ulrika Scoliège

Project Manager, Association Meetings
+46 31 368 40 49