The Governance paradox in Work Integration Social Enterprises: On the folly of measuring output while hoping for impact

Abstract

This paper examines how social impact measurement in Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs) functions as a mechanism of public value governance within the Swedish welfare state. Drawing on Public Value Theory and public governance scholarship, it reconceptualises impact measurement as a governance practice through which public value is defined and prioritised. Based on analysis of Swedish policy frameworks, procurement requirements, reporting systems, and co-creation material from the Women4Integration project, the study shows that Swedish WISEs operate in conditions of measurement abundance rather than scarcity. Overlapping evaluation regimes tied to labour-market policies, procurement, and project funding produce fragmented, audience-specific accounts of impact that prioritise short-term employment outcomes over long-term capability development and social integration. The paper argues that fragmented governance, rather than methodological insufficiency, underlies current measurement challenges.