Answers:

Operating leverage arises due to the presence of fixed operating expenses in the firm’s income flows. It has a close relationship to business risk. Operating leverage affects business risk factors, which can be viewed as the uncertainty inherent in estimates of future operating income.

The operating leverage takes place when a change in revenue produces a greater change in Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT). It indicates the impact of changes in sales on operating income. A firm with a high operating leverage has a relatively greater effect on EBIT for small changes in sales. A small rise in sales may enhance profits considerably, while a small decline in sales may reduce and even wipe out the EBIT