Many people, all over the world, are toiling tirelessly to make an impact. They work until their backs ache and their fingers feel as if they're failing. They lose sleep, or go without, all in the hope of carrying their crusade as far and wide as possible. However, in the end, how do they know if their efforts have made a difference? How do you measure dignity, self-respect, or financial confidence?

Measuring the impact of social enterprise can be a challenging and frustrating proposition. But for all of its complexity it can also be controversial, as funders demand evidence of progress and entrepreneurs struggle to measure the intangible. In this interactive session from the 2008 Skoll World Forum, a diverse panel provides multiple perspectives on the tricky prospect of measuring impact.

While some problems like disease can be easier to measure than others, that does not mean that it is easy to actually collect the data necessary to make an assessment. Other problems with measuring impact stem from confusion about how to frame the measurement challenge, what to measure, or how the social enterprise actually affects the people experiencing the problem. In this passionate session, which includes pressing questions and thoughtful answers, real life examples are given which should help anyone struggling to understand how to measure complexity.