Assessing the Outcome Effectiveness of Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives in the Field of Corporate Social Responsibility - The Example of the United Nations Global Compact

This article proposes a new approach to the assessment of outcome effects of Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility. Based on the conceptual distinction between output, outcome, and impact effectiveness, we develop a set of indicators that allows the differentiated assessment of outcome effects related to Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives. Furthermore, we apply this set of indicators in an empirical assessment of the UN Global Compact. Our empirical study utilizes a quantitative survey completed by members of the UN Global Compact Network Germany as well as qualitative interviews. Our results show a differentiated picture of the outcome effectiveness of the UN Global Compact, highlighting a paradoxical combination of strong outcomes on strategic management levels together with significantly weaker enforcement outcomes, such as employee trainings or measurement of goal attainment. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.