Purpose is improving the adaptive management model of organizations on the criteria of efficiency and timeliness in order to reduce the destructive harmful effects of the VUCA-environment, ensure adaptation to the effects of COVID-19, Industry 4.0, and the transition to a circular economy. To solve the tasks following methods were applied: the method of analysis and synthesis, the system approach, the theory of solving inventive problems, methods of decision making, the method of structural analysis and systems design, grouping, generalization. A matrix of six quadrants was developed, each of which was obtained at the intersection of the criteria "efficiency -inefficiency" of management decisions, and the implementation timeliness of these decisions in states of delay, timely, and ahead (premature). The characteristics of each quadrant are determined: the adaptation of the organization to the destructive factors of the environment, the area of control of the system (viability, destruction, nonviability), the effectiveness of strategy implementation through project activities, and competitiveness. The developed approaches can be used to improve the procedure for evaluating the effectiveness of project activities of any sector of the economy for operational management and adaptation to the destructive factors of the environment. The article may be of interest to project managers and senior managers.