The dissertation presents an in-depth analysis of the theoretical foundations, methodological approaches, and applied aspects of strengthening the economic security of entrepreneurial activity. The relevance of the topic is driven by the urgent need for business entities to adapt to emerging challenges, including digitalization, the rise of cyber threats, regulatory instability, globalization pressures, and intensified competition. The study substantiates a transformational mechanism for enhancing economic security, which enables the creation of a protected state against internal and external threats and assesses the capacity of entrepreneurial activity for sustainable strategic development and effective risk management under conditions of unpredictability.
The scientific findings obtained in the course of the dissertation have enabled the refinement and advancement of methodological approaches and applied tools aimed at the development and implementation of a transformational mechanism for strengthening the economic security of entrepreneurial activity:
The conceptual essence of the categories “challenge”, “risk”, “threat”, and “danger” has been clarified in the context of enhancing economic security in entrepreneurship. A hierarchy of definitions has been constructed based on causal relationships, levels of manifestation, and potential impact on the economic security of business entities, allowing for systematic classification and the adaptation of managerial decisions according to the stages of their emergence.
The content of the transformational mechanism concept has been refined through the systemic integration of principles, methods, instruments, and forms of management, with consideration of internal and external threats and security factors. This has facilitated the formation of a holistic response mechanism, improved the adaptability of business entities to changes in the external environment, and ensured their sustainable development.
The methodological approach to assessing the diffusion of transformational changes in mechanisms for strengthening economic security has been improved through the application of the Bass model. This enabled a quantitative evaluation of the diffusion dynamics triggered by business entities’ responses to external threats, identification of critical change points, typical behavioural patterns, and assessment of transformation outcomes.
The model for assessing economic security potential has been further developed. It integrates stimulators and de-stimulators, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of the state of entrepreneurial entities and their capacity to withstand adverse challenges and threats, determine the level of protection, and ensure the effective utilization of assets and the performance of innovative, financial, and operational activities.
The definition of “economic security of entrepreneurial activity” has been expanded based on the synthesis of scientific approaches. It is interpreted as a multidimensional dynamic system of protection, adaptation, and development of business entities, enabling the efficient use of resource potential, strategic foresight, neutralization and timely response to internal and external threats, and the preservation of financial stability, competitiveness, and long-term economic growth.
The mechanism for strengthening economic security has been further developed by incorporating intelligent monitoring, scenario-based and predictive planning, and flexible strategic management. This has resulted in the formation of a proactive, adaptive system capable of real-time threat identification, future scenario modelling, and rapid strategy adjustment under conditions of environmental uncertainty.
The methodological approach to threat identification has been advanced through statistical analysis of their emergence dynamics. This allows for the identification of key macroeconomic threats to the economic security of business entities, the integration of quantitative analytical tools with expert evaluation methods, improved forecasting accuracy, and the foundation for effective managerial decision-making aimed at enhancing economic security.
The process of forming the “risk – economic security potential” scenario matrix has been further developed. As a component of the transformational mechanism, it enables the assessment of risk occurrence probability, classification by criticality of impact, determination of the entity’s capacity to neutralize adverse effects, and enhancement of strategic management effectiveness under economic instability.
