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Bertolé: "We remember the commitment of a man who was always attentive to comparison and respect for the positions of others" - Photo gallery

Milan, 27 May 2021 - It was held this morning in Sala Marra a Palazzo Marino the graduation prize award ceremony in memory of Giovanni Marra, President of the City Council who passed away in 2004. An event promoted by the Administration since 2005 and aimed at young graduates or researchers at Italian universities who have developed and discussed degree theses master's or doctorate, non-compilatory, on the topic of the Social Report.

The President of the Municipal Council Lamberto Bertolé spoke on behalf of the Administration: "Every year – he said – we remember Giovanni Marra by inviting students and young researchers to present their research on the subject of budgeting and social responsibility. Concepts in which Marra believed a lot and for whom he engaged in during his political activity. We remember him for this and for his attention to discussion and respect for the positions of others. Certainly a fine example of politics at the service of the city."

The prize, worth 5.000 euros, went to Dr. Serena Palazzo, La Sapienza University of Rome, Master's Degree in Business Economics, for the thesis entitled: "The measurement of social impact: systematizing economic and social value generated by Third Sector bodies: An (im)possible challenge?".

In addition to President Bertolé, some of the members of the commission presented the recognition: Mr. Angelo Marra, professors Giorgio Fiorentini (Bocconi University), Giancarlo Rovati (Catholic University of the Sacred Heart) and Dr. Cesare Giannoni, who read the motivations the basis of their choice.

"Serena Palazzo's thesis, consistent with the themes covered by the announcement, deals with the topic of measuring social impact and its applicability to the Third Sector (TS). It is an in-depth thesis worthy of an award and develops in a theoretical part in which the candidate offers the results of an exhaustive research of the historical, economic-corporate, social accounting foundations of the profit and non-profit enterprise/company. Subsequently, she offers an in-depth and documented discussion on the social balance sheet tool as evidence of processing and communication of the social value of the enterprise/company. Finally, after having made an excursus on the methods of measurement and impact assessment, it offers their application, in the Spes contra Spem case, in which it demonstrates the operational mastery of the measurement tools and assessment.

It is an excellent integration between the theoretical and operational approach of the topic covered and demonstrates the combination of economic and social value in the case of Third Sector (ETS) entities. Furthermore, it argues for the passage of the TS from an "accidental" and reparative role to a "substantial" role of the socioeconomic system also through the measurement and evaluation of economic and social "outcomes". Therefore an active and structured CSR. The thesis has an excellent logical sequentiality; the contents are treated in depth and the evidence of the conceptual citations and the references to the authors in historical sequentiality and scientific contribution demonstrate a notable value of sedimented research. The ability to develop references to the scientific literature of the topics covered in an elaboration of personal commentary is highlighted. The Spes contra Spem case study is treated in depth and also with a consultative approach, useful for demonstrating the applicability of the measurement and evaluation theories of social impact previously discussed. The mastery of the measurement and evaluation model adopted is highlighted, and it has certainly invested a consistent amount of time and conceptual resources for the development of recommendations for the non-profit enterprise/company in question, proposals for innovative solutions and methodologies that imply a personal contribution. It is also evident through the mastery of the existing scientific literature and the gray literature which attests to a thesis connected to the latest regulatory and methodological developments with a complete bibliography. The thesis deserves to be rewarded for its depth of research and scientificity."