On the basis of the study of neoclassical, institutional, resource, evolutionary and system approaches to the functioning of economic entities the theory of economic development, based on the systematization of scientific views on the essence of imperatives of enterprise functioning under transformational changes to knowledge economy, which states that sustainable development: 1) corresponds to the way of enterprise functioning; 2) reflects the system ability to maintain a certain level of productivity and efficiency. On the basis of synthesis of the leadership theory and human capital management methodology, theoretical and methodological foundations of business leadership of companies in the market with adaptation to modern management conditions from the position of integrity of process and result, is achieved through effective use of key competences of human capital. To form a development strategy of an enterprise requiring effective use of its unique internal properties, conceptual provisions of the methodology of sustainable economic development of machine-building enterprises based on business leadership are proposed: a) determined by the order of evolution of the production and economic system and the sphere of economic activity to which it belongs; b) based on principles, scientific approaches and development postulates; c) implemented through methods, mechanisms and tools. Their scientific basis is based on the key postulates of theories of organization, competitiveness, human capital and development; on general scientific, systemic and specific principles; mechanisms of economic laws, which allows considering the sustainability of economic development on the basis of business leadership in a logical connection between human capital, intellectual activity and the position of the company in the market, which is achieved through strategic management. The conceptual model of steady economic development of machine-building enterprises on the basis of business leadership which is based on convergence of methodological platforms of theories of institutional change, competitiveness, behavioral theory of firm, human capital, dynamic capabilities and knowledge management and defines vector of economic development of enterprise in the conditions of transformational transition to knowledge economy is developed; The sources of strategic competitive advantage of firm in the market are considered. The conceptual and categorical apparatus of the theory of development in terms of interpretation of the concepts: "sustainable economic development of enterprise", "business leadership". The paper presents a methodological approach to the formation of business leadership, which is based on the behavioral theory of the firm and the system approach and takes into account the main characteristics of the organizational architecture in its interaction with the external environment through the consolidation of all the major driving forces of the enterprise. The elements of organizational architectonics are defined and structured. Determined the factors hindering the formation of business leadership of domestic machine-building enterprises. Methodological support for evaluating the impact of human capital on the sustainability of economic development of enterprises has been developed and approved. Scientific and methodological basis for the intellectualization of activities was substantiated. Methodological approach and applied recommendations for introducing corporate culture of innovative type are proposed. Methodological bases of functioning of organizational-economic mechanism for providing stability of development of machine-building enterprises are formed. Methodological tools for managing organizational architectonics are offered. The strategy of enterprise development on the basis of forecasting of investments into human capital is defined. As a result of the conducted research it was established that ensuring the sustainability of economic development of machine building enterprises on the basis of business leadership should be based on the effective use of key competencies and dynamic capabilities. This enables the achievement of superior economic results.
