Estimation of flexibility of an organization on the ground of the calculation of profit margin rate

Abstract

The article deals with the problem of the flexibility of an organization as the ability to adapt effectively to the external environment. The authors have identified and investigated different approaches to estimating the flexibility of an organization on the ground of flexibility grading, calculation of the general index of flexibility as well as the calculation of flexibility's ranking score. We have identified the advantages and disadvantages of these approaches. A new method of the estimation of an organization's flexibility on the ground of the calculation of relative profit margin has been developed. This method is the multifunctional assessment tool of enterprise's functionability in the current context of difficult and volatile economic environment. It allows in the early stage to identify negative trends in the production and financial figures and thus, it enables the organizational leadership to take steps in advance in order to avert a crisis in its activity. Keeping the profit margin at the same rate at the forced contraction of output, because of the negative impact of external factors, will confirm that the organization has adapted to the external environment and, therefore, it is flexible. The organization can be considered with margin rate beginning to low up to zero value as an organization with an insufficient level of flexibility that is at the "zone of crisis" and it is characterized by the depletion of reserved funds and reduction of current assets. Loss-maker is nonflexible and the presence of loss means that the organization has an evident sign of crisis and it can be bankrupt. © Copyright 2005-2016 Institute of Economics, the Ural branch of the RAS. All rights reserved.