CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS OF STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOCIAL SPHERE: EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51547/ppp.dp.ua/2025.3.10Keywords:
strategic management, social sphere, social investment, co-production, digitalization, multi-level governanceAbstract
The article examines the conceptual foundations of strategic management in the social sphere of Ukraine in comparison with European experience. The necessity of shifting from crisis response to long-term strategic development is emphasized, with a focus on proactive planning, systemic analysis, and a human-centered approach. The social sphere is considered not only as an environment for overcoming the consequences of crises but also as a foundation for sustainable development, social cohesion, inclusiveness, and social justice.European experience highlights five key directions: social investment, co-production of services, performance evaluation, multi-level governance, and digitalization. In the Netherlands and Denmark, social investments are regarded as long-term contributions to human capital that ensure stability and cohesion. In the United Kingdom and Germany, co-production fosters trust and policy legitimacy through active citizen engagement. In Sweden and Finland, the primary criterion for assessing reform effectiveness is the quality of life of the population. The Scandinavian model of multi-level governance combines community autonomy with unified national standards. Estonia demonstrates how digitalization enhances transparency, accessibility, and the effectiveness of social services, opening new opportunities for civic participation.The Ukrainian context is illustrated by normative documents, academic research, and community practices in the Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Even under wartime conditions, communities implement innovative approaches; however, they require scaling up, systemic support, and regulatory consolidation at the national level.It has been proven that strategic management of the social sphere in Ukraine should be based on investment, partnership, performance evaluation, multi-level coordination, and digitalisation. This approach will help improve the quality of services, strengthen trust, reduce inequality between communities, and build a resilient society during wartime and post-war periods, laying the foundation for sustainable development.
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