{"id":2333,"date":"2026-08-21T14:50:39","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T05:50:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platform.impactlake.com\/en\/?page_id=2333"},"modified":"2026-08-21T23:44:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T14:44:08","slug":"data-structure","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/platform.impactlake.com\/en\/overview\/data-structure\/","title":{"rendered":"Common Data Structure"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!-- Target URL: \/en\/overview\/data-structure\/ --><\/p>\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Common Data Structure<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<script>\ndocument.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => {\n  \/\/ Run only on Overview pages\n  if (window.location.pathname.includes('overview')) {\n    \/\/ Replace the page title shown by the theme\n    document.querySelectorAll('.entry-title').forEach(el => {\n      el.textContent = 'Platform Overview';\n    });\n  }\n});\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"blockart-spacing blockart-spacing-09351dce\"><div class=\"blockart-spacing-inner\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Impact data is spread across reports, statistics, KPI sets, issue classifications, frameworks, and research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platform connects companies, businesses, issues, outcomes, KPIs, statistics, and sources in one common data structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div aria-label=\"Connect distributed impact data through relationships\" class=\"ilp-object ilp-object--diagram\" role=\"img\">\n<div class=\"ilp-connected-graph\">\n<div class=\"ilp-connected-graph__center\"><span class=\"ilp-icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-project-diagram\"><\/i><\/span><strong>Common data structure<\/strong><small>Organize data as relationships, not isolated fields<\/small><\/div>\n<div class=\"ilp-connected-graph__node ilp-connected-graph__node--1\"><i class=\"fas fa-building\"><\/i><span>Companies &amp; organizations<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"ilp-connected-graph__node ilp-connected-graph__node--2\"><i class=\"fas fa-briefcase\"><\/i><span>Businesses &amp; initiatives<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"ilp-connected-graph__node ilp-connected-graph__node--3\"><i class=\"fas fa-globe\"><\/i><span>Social issues<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"ilp-connected-graph__node ilp-connected-graph__node--4\"><i class=\"fas fa-route\"><\/i><span>Outcomes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"ilp-connected-graph__node ilp-connected-graph__node--5\"><i class=\"fas fa-chart-line\"><\/i><span>KPI<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"ilp-connected-graph__node ilp-connected-graph__node--6\"><i class=\"fas fa-book-open\"><\/i><span>Statistics &amp; sources<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"blockart-spacing blockart-spacing-6dba16b9\"><div class=\"blockart-spacing-inner\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Data as Relationships<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Documents Alone Are Not Enough<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same issue can use different terms, classifications, periods, and units. Keyword search alone can miss related data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When activities, outcomes, KPIs, and statistics sit in separate sources, their relationships are hard to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"blockart-spacing blockart-spacing-ed0af33d\"><div class=\"blockart-spacing-inner\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Data Connected by Platform<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platform connects the following data types.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Companies &amp; organizations:<\/strong>Companies, investors, funds, local governments, nonprofits, and others<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Businesses &amp; initiatives:<\/strong>Products, services, projects, investments, policies, and other initiatives<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Social issues:<\/strong>Issues to address, their causes, structures, affected groups, and related data<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Activities &amp; outputs:<\/strong>Activities undertaken and their direct results<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Outcomes &amp; impact:<\/strong>Changes experienced by people, society, the environment, and others<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>KPIs &amp; metrics:<\/strong>Indicators used to track progress and change<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Statistics &amp; evidence:<\/strong>Data used to understand or estimate issues and change<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sources:<\/strong>Reports, web pages, statistical materials, academic papers, and more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"blockart-spacing blockart-spacing-d2dd9035\"><div class=\"blockart-spacing-inner\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Connect Terms &amp; Methods<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Link Different Terms<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platform links related data even when names or classifications differ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Explore related data across years and documents without exact keyword matches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"blockart-spacing blockart-spacing-db58bc48\"><div class=\"blockart-spacing-inner\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Connect Methodologies<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Impact management uses multiple frameworks, categories, and indicator systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div aria-label=\"Cross-reference multiple methodologies through a common structure\" class=\"ilp-object ilp-object--diagram\" role=\"img\">\n<div class=\"ilp-framework-flow-v2\">\n<div class=\"ilp-framework-flow-v2__methods\"><div><strong>SDGs<\/strong><small>Goals &amp; targets<\/small><\/div><div><strong>IRIS+<\/strong><small>Categories &amp; metrics<\/small><\/div><div><strong>Industry &amp; proprietary frameworks<\/strong><small>Purpose-specific classifications &amp; indicators<\/small><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"ilp-diagram-arrow ilp-diagram-arrow--right\"><i class=\"fas fa-arrow-right\"><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"ilp-framework-flow-v2__bridge\"><span class=\"ilp-icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-link\"><\/i><\/span><strong>Common relationship structure<\/strong><small>Connect through issues, outcomes &amp; KPIs<\/small><\/div>\n<div class=\"ilp-diagram-arrow ilp-diagram-arrow--right\"><i class=\"fas fa-arrow-right\"><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"ilp-framework-flow-v2__uses\"><span class=\"ilp-icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-random\"><\/i><\/span><strong>Cross-reference<\/strong><small>Use across search, comparison &amp; design<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platform connects different approaches without forcing one standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>SDGs and related targets<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Impact categories and metrics such as IRIS+<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Indicator systems across social and environmental domains<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Classifications used by companies, investors, financial institutions, and others<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Issue maps, logic models, and theories of change<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Users can choose methods by purpose while referencing related approaches and public data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"blockart-spacing blockart-spacing-c717c17e\"><div class=\"blockart-spacing-inner\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Choose by Purpose<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Methods and indicators can be cross-referenced by purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Choose methods based on geography, population, business, investment policy, and stakeholder needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"blockart-spacing blockart-spacing-38862fbe\"><div class=\"blockart-spacing-inner\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Use Connected Data<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Connected Data Enables<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Find related companies and businesses from a social issue<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Review related outcomes and KPIs from a company<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reference logic models and indicators from similar businesses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Find companies and funds using the same KPI<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Review statistics and evidence that can support a KPI<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compare data across companies, funds &amp; geographies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use AI to analyze data relationships<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use structured data from external AI or analytics tools as access expands<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"blockart-spacing blockart-spacing-b5ae352d\"><div class=\"blockart-spacing-inner\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div aria-label=\"Structured data connecting to multiple ways of use\" class=\"ilp-object ilp-object--diagram\" role=\"img\">\n<div class=\"ilp-structure-use-flow\">\n<div class=\"ilp-structure-use-flow__base\"><span class=\"ilp-icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-project-diagram\"><\/i><\/span><strong>Connected data<\/strong><small>Companies, issues, outcomes, KPIs &amp; evidence<\/small><\/div>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ilp-branch-flow__connector\"><span><\/span><span><\/span><span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"ilp-structure-use-flow__uses\"><div><span class=\"ilp-icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-search\"><\/i><\/span><strong>Explore &amp; compare<\/strong><\/div><div><span class=\"ilp-icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-pencil-ruler\"><\/i><\/span><strong>Create models<\/strong><\/div><div><span class=\"ilp-icon\"><i class=\"fas fa-robot\"><\/i><\/span><strong>AI &amp; external use<\/strong><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Use Connected Data to Create<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use issues, outcomes, KPIs, statistics, and existing models to create maps, models, and assessments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One data structure connects research, impact design, KPI selection, and disclosure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/en\/overview\/service-title-2\/\">See Create Data<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A wide variety of impact-related information can be utilized more effectively through generalized categories, tags, and defined relationships.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1682,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-left-sidebar.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2333","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.7.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Common Data Structure - mpactlake Platform | Open Platform for Impact Data<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.impactlake.com\/en\/overview\/data-structure\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" 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