SCALE-UP MATURITY MODEL: A MODERN APPROACH TO DIAGNOSING AND DEVELOPING THE SCALABILITY OF UKRAINIAN ENTERPRISES
Abstract
The article analyses the challenges and opportunities of scaling Ukrainian enterprises in the context of globalization, digital transformation and growing turbulence of the external environment. It emphasises that many firms remain locked in the phase of organic growth because they lack clear criteria for assessing their readiness to scale, structured management systems and access to patient capital. Therefore, the need for a comprehensive diagnostic toolkit that links strategic ambitions with organisational capabilities and measurable performance indicators is substantiated. The author proposes the Scale-Up Maturity Model (SUMM), which integrates five key dimensions of assessment: managerial, financial, process, innovation and foreign-economic. Each dimension is described through a set of qualitative and quantitative indicators that capture the robustness of decision-making, availability of financial resources, level of process formalisation and automation, intensity of innovation activity and depth of internationalisation. The model is structured as a five-level maturity scale that reflects the evolutionary transition from a locally oriented company to a globally integrated player able to compete in international markets. A methodology for calculating the Scale-Up Readiness Index (SURI) is presented, which provides a synthetic numerical measure of scaling readiness and supports comparison across firms and over time. The index allows managers to identify bottlenecks, prioritise development initiatives and monitor the results of implemented changes. Practical approbation using examples of Ukrainian manufacturing, technology and retail companies demonstrates the universality, flexibility and sectoral neutrality of the model. The results can be used by managers, consultants, investors and policymakers to design evidence-based scaling strategies, enhance competitiveness and foster deeper integration of Ukrainian businesses into global value chains. The proposed approach also creates a basis for digital tools that visualise maturity profiles for different stakeholder groups.
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