Economic Assessment of the Performance of Metal Trading Enterprises

Abstract

Aim. The presented study aims to improve the theoretical and methodological approach to assessment and to develop practical recommendations for improving the performance of metal trading enterprises.Tasks. Based on a study of the essence of the concept of “performance” and assessment models, the authors develop methodological provisions for assessing the performance of enterprises; investigate industry-specific features and factors affecting the performance level of metal trading enterprises; develop a comprehensive methodology for assessing the performance level of enterprises in the metal trading industry; test the developed methodology on metal trading enterprises in the Republic of Crimea; identify potential directions for improving the performance of the analyzed group of enterprises.Methods. This study uses a wide range of general scientific methods: induction and deduction, abstraction, analysis and synthesis, modeling, systematization of theoretical and practical material. Analytical, graphical, and statistical methods and the method of comparative economic analysis are applied. The research methodology is based on the key provisions of the theory and practice of financial and economic analysis of enterprise activity.Results. The problem of ensuring the performance of an enterprise essentially comes down to increasing economic results per cost unit. At the same time, among the existing assessment models, the management model provides the most comprehensive accounting of various aspects of operation. The main aspects for assessing the performance of enterprises include the application of a dialectical approach, compliance with certain principles, and the sequence of implemented actions. The conducted analysis of factors affecting the performance level of metal trading enterprises reveals the most negative factors: decreasing purchasing power, increasing tax burden, non-market competition, and underdeveloped industrial infrastructure. This study presents a comprehensive methodology for assessing the performance level of metal trading enterprises, the idea of which goes back to the “performance pyramid” model for analyzing and evaluating operating results developed by K. McNair and is supplemented with a system of key indicators. The proposed methodology is tested on actual enterprises in the Republic of Crimea, and recommendations for increasing the achieved level of performance are formulated.Conclusions. The developed assessment methodology is based on the idea of performance as a pyramid, the volume of which reflects the level of performance; the sides of the base are key indicators showing the state of various aspects of the enterprise’s operation; the base area is the current potential of the enterprise formed by its activities; the pyramid’s height is the position of the enterprise in the market. The integrated index calculated based on the methodology makes it possible to assess the current performance level of the enterprise in accordance with the conventional assessment scale and to develop a list of the most significant measures for improving it.