Enhancing strategic flexibility for sustainable agro-industrial enterprises in transition economies: a fuzzy multicriteria approach
研究针对乌克兰农业企业，整合模糊集理论与多准则评估，构建战略灵活性管理模型，通过模糊PIPRECIA和SAW方法计算内外部灵活性水平，并提出改进建议。
The article demonstrates that managing an enterprise’s strategic flexibility effectively is key to its competitiveness and market sustainability. The authors have developed a comprehensive model of strategic flexibility management of an agro-industrial enterprise operating in the Ukrainian agricultural market. This model integrates modern strategic analysis tools with fuzzy set theory, multicriteria evaluation, and fuzzy matrix analysis. Specifically, the Fuzzy PIPRECIA (PIvot Pairwise RElative Criteria Importance Assessment) method is used to prioritize the assessment directions of internal (ISF) and external (ESF) strategic flexibility. The Fuzzy Delphi method is used to harmonize expert opinions. In contrast, the Fuzzy SAW (Simple Additive Weighting) method, incorporating a 7-level term set, triangular fuzzy numbers, and triangular membership functions, calculates the fuzzy values of ISF and ESF levels. Based on the constructed ”ISF – ESF” fuzzy matrix, generalized recommendations for improving and managing the enterprise’s strategic flexibility are proposed. Considering the specifics of the studied agro-industrial enterprise’s activities and expert assessments for each component of its internal and external flexibility, a list of refined proposals, initiatives, and measures to enhance its strategic flexibility has been formulated. First published online 4 March 2026