EEA Launches Free Monthly Contest to Validate the Business Impact of Engagement Programs
Organizations can compete for a complimentary independent assessment of their engagement, incentive, reward, or recognition programs, with certification and industry recognition for those meeting EEA's validation standards. A paid assessment option is also available for organizations seeking validation outside the monthly contest.The Value of Impact Validation
Who Can Participate?
How the Contest Works
What Selected Organizations Receive
Enter the Free Engagement Impact Validation Contest
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Can you prove the business impact of your engagement programs—not simply claim it?
The Enterprise Engagement Alliance (EEA) is launching the Engagement Impact Validation and Contestto draw attention to the importance of credible measurement in employee engagement, customer loyalty, sales and channel incentives, recognition, rewards, and other stakeholder initiatives.
Each month, EEA will select one organization for a complimentary independent impact assessment. Programs that meet EEA's validation standards will receive formal EEA Engagement Impact Validation Certification and an opportunity for a published case study in Enterprise Stakeholder Management (ESM), Rewards Recognition Network (RRN), or other EEA media.
There is no cost to enter, no charge for the selected assessment, and no obligation to purchase EEA services.
Confidentiality. Submissions remain confidential unless the program is validated. In addition, the EEA is willing to sign standard non-disclosure agreements.
A caveat. The EEA Engagement Impact Validation initiative is designed to advance the use of measurable engagement practices throughout the industry, not to evaluate or rank suppliers. Participation is voluntary, and the absence of independent validation should not be interpreted as evidence that a program is ineffective. EEA recognizes that many successful programs have not been designed with the data collection necessary to establish their financial impact. The initiative aims to help organizations close that gap.
The Value of Impact Validation
Organizations invest significant resources in engagement programs, yet many rely on participation rates, satisfaction surveys, testimonials, or unverified return-on-investment claims to demonstrate success. Far fewer establish the extent to which specific initiatives contribute to measurable business outcomes.
EEA's validation methodology draws on statistical process control principles used in total quality management to examine relationships between program activities, stakeholder behaviors, and financial or operational results. The goal is to distinguish credible evidence of impact from assumptions about causation.
Methodologies for different types of engagement initiatives are outlined in EEA's Impact Measurement Library.
Who Can Participate?
The contest is open to organizations of all sizes and solution providers submitting programs with their clients' permission. Eligible initiatives include employee engagement and recognition, customer loyalty, sales and channel incentives, rewards, incentive travel, training, wellness, and other programs designed to improve stakeholder performance.
How the Contest Works
1. Submit Your Program. Provide a brief description of the initiative, its objectives, target audience, approximate investment, intended business outcomes, and outline of available measurement data.2. Monthly Selection. EEA selects one entrant each month based on the quality of available evidence and the opportunity to conduct a credible assessment—not on claims of success. Other qualifying entries may be considered in subsequent months.
3. Initial Review. A meeting of one hour or less examines program objectives, strategy, tactics, measurement methods, and available data to determine whether meaningful validation is feasible.
4. Independent Assessment. Should your program be considered for validation, EEA analysts review the available evidence, including the purpose, goals, objectives and values of the program, strategies and tactics, relevant baselines, comparisons, stakeholder behavior, business outcomes, program costs, and alternative explanations for the results. EEA auditors use standard statistical process controls to weigh results measures against process measures,
5. Certification and Recognition. Programs meeting EEA's standards receive formal certification and an opportunity for a published case study, subject to factual review and publication approval.
What Selected Organizations Receive
- Complimentary independent impact assessment examining the program's measurable contribution to business performance and recommendations, if any, for improvement.
- EEA Engagement Impact Validation Certification if the evidence meets established standards.
- Published case study in EEA media for certified programs, subject to publication approval.
- Industry recognition for participating organizations and solution providers.
Optional paid validation for organizations seeking immediate assessment, Organizations that prefer not to wait for the monthly contest selection may apply for EEA's independent paid validation service.
Preliminary Impact Assessment — No cost during launch period; $950 thereafter. This process includes an initial review of program objectives, available data, measurement methodology, and readiness for full validation. The deliverable includes detailed findings and recommendations. When the paid service begins, the fee can be applied to the impact validation process.
Standard Impact Validation — $4,950. An independent review of existing program purpose, goals, objectives and values, along with data, business outcomes, and supporting evidence, including a written assessment and certification if EEA's standards are met. More complex, multi-program, or enterprise-wide assessments are available through individually scoped engagements. All fees cover the assessment process and certification, if awarded. Certification is provided only when the evidence meets EEA's established validation requirements.
Enter the Free Engagement Impact Validation Contest
Applicants are asked to provide the organization and program name, a brief description of the initiative, its target audience and objectives, approximate investment and duration, intended business outcomes, and a summary of available data. Entries are reviewed monthly. Applicants not selected may be considered for future months or may request a paid assessment.
One organization is selected each month for a free assessment. All organizations have the opportunity to establish the credibility of their results through independent validation.
The purpose is to prove—not simply claim—the business impact of engagement.
For More Information
Bruce Bolger
Founder, the EEA
914-591-7600, ext. 230
Bolger@TheEEA.org
Enterprise Engagement Alliance Services
Celebrating our 18th year, the Enterprise Engagement Alliance helps organizations enhance performance through:1. Information and marketing opportunities on stakeholder management and total rewards:
- ESM Weekly on stakeholder management since 2009. Click here to subscribe; click here for media kit.
- RRN Weekly on total rewards since 1996. Click here to subscribe; click here for media kit.
- EEA YouTube channel on enterprise engagement, human capital, and total rewards since 2020
Management Academy to enhance future equity value for your organization.3. Books on implementation: Enterprise Engagement for CEOs and Enterprise Engagement: The Roadmap.
4. Advisory services and research: Strategic guidance, learning and certification on stakeholder management, measurement, metrics, and corporate sustainability reporting.
5. Permission-based targeted business development to identify and build relationships with the people most likely to buy.
Contact: Bruce Bolger at TheICEE.org; 914-591-7600, ext. 230.
