To establish a framework of strategic trends of regional and industrial development of a city system it is necessary to estimate the competitiveness level of the city and its industries. The authors present a method of assessment of the city’s competitiveness, based on the analysis of potentials available: economics, finance, labour resources, infrastructure, social sphere, demography. The level of development of certain types of economic activity (C, D, E) was estimated by the indicators of labour productivity, employment by economic activity and average monthly salary. The authors have created the “competitiveness of the city – sectoral interaction” matrix for the municipal system of the region. As a result of practical approbation they introduce the framework of strategic priority trends of regional and sectoral development of municipal system in Belgorod region in 2020–2025.

Strategizing is a dynamically developing trend of contemporary research and an autonomous branch of economic knowledge in the professional sphere. The methodological basis of the research in this field is the study of Vladimir L. Kvint and his scientific school of strategizing. The theory and practice of strategizing are the focal point of the representatives of this scientific school. Development of a strategy starts with analyzing forecasts and examining the inner and the outer environment of the object of strategizing. The peculiar feature of strategizing methodology is applying of the OTSW-analysis method. Strategizing methodology involves strategic systematization, categorization and classification of national and regional objects of strategizing. Strategizing of new regions and objects requires research in national and regional strategies, scientific and innovative, economic and financial, environmental strategies of economic sectors (sectoral, educational, cultural), corporate strategies. The rapidly developing branch of economic studies requires new approaches to teaching theory and practice of strategizing to schoolchildren, bachelor students, master students and postgraduates as well as to young researchers. Development of theory and methodology of strategizing establishes new effective approaches to managerial decision-making, transforms classical methods of economic analysis. Methodology of strategizing has proved to be extremely successful and useful in many countries when applied for developing and modernizing national, regional and corporate strategies.

At present integrated entities are facing tough competition at the global market. In order to make the functioning more efficient these entities ought to conduct regular and purposeful transformations of both business process and its organization.

Each economic system requires understanding how new technologies affect the existing markets and how to start the transformation to keep and strengthen the position.

The existing methods and mechanisms fail to balance the interests in a corporate structure during the participants’ integration and to consider the participants’ activity. They reveal the inefficiency of the existing mechanisms of development management of integrated entities in terms of digitalization, therefore it is necessary to find new approaches to transformation management of the systems in accordance with their complicated and multi-level character.

The analysis of methodology of transformation management process conducted by the authors shows significant discrepancy of digital tools, objectives and the efficiency level of the integrated entities’ management.

The authors come to the conclusion that the platform approach is both an optimizing technological solution and a powerful factor creating integrated economic environment which provides for gross product growth and increases labour productivity.

A platform integrated entity is one of the most successful innovations in creating business models in digital economy. Development and spreading of digital technologies will undoubtedly give ways for new business development opportunities.

The authors study the problems of the quality of government agencies’ forecasts for social and economic development of the subjects of the Russian Federation. They point out that the volumes of investment in the fixed capital is one of the most important indicators by which it is possible to judge about the current state of economics as well as about the prospects for its development. On the one hand, the study is considered to be of extreme topicality due to the risks of development of negative process in investment activity in the country which are caused by global factors. On the other hand, it is necessary to point out that the role of forecasting as the element of regional development management is growing under the present conditions. The purpose of the study is to assess the quality of forecast for the volumes of investment in fixed capital and the indicators connected with it at the regional level. The approach suggested has been tested while analyzing the data on the Republic of Bashkortostan. To achieve the objective, the authors made statistical analysis for revealing contradictions in the indicators’ dynamics; examined the pace of growth of investment in current and comparable prices; made comparison with the region’s GRP dynamics, enterprises’ profit, parameters of development of construction industry; calculated the return of capital. They employed structural analysis method, dynamics’ analysis. Moreover, the authors estimated the conformity of the forecast with the strategic planning of regional and federal levels. They disclosed contradictions which decrease the quality of the forecast and dispute the effect of the measures taken in accordance with it. The scientific novelty of the approach suggested lies in implementation of complex view on assessment of quality of such documents by means of analyzing the conformity of dynamics for interrelated indicators. The results of the research can be used to discover the drawbacks in the existing forecast system. These drawbacks ought to be eliminated to raise the efficiency of the entire state management system.

. Human capital theory serves as the scientific basis for development of innovative economics. It is human capital that determines the maintenance of quality parameters of economic growth providing for efficient development of economics of modern states. The purpose of the authors is to justify theoretical and methodological expositions of human capital management in the innovative economics. The latter is regarded as an economic system based on the innovative activity of the business entities and individuals, on the permanent technological enhancement. Such an economic system is developing due to on-going generation of new knowledge. The authors present the results of their copyright study of genesis of system human capital paradigm of innovative economics as a research concept which implements and concretizes a holistic approach to revealing the patterns and causal relationships within the system of human capital of innovative development. The method of the study is based on using monographic method, statistical methods, charts, tables, graphs and other means to visualize the findings. As a result, the authors ascertain the shift in the economic science from classical understanding of how economic growth is impacted by education in innovative economics to considering economic growth as the main driver for development of education. The authors adduce the results of statistical analysis of interrelation between the volumes of technological innovation expenditures, the aggregate level of organizations’ innovative activity and the index of human development on the international level. By means of nonparametric methods the authors discover that the development of human capital, educational potential and the level of innovation development in the regions of Russia are moderately interrelated. The authors come to the conclusion that Russian economics is unique in comparison with other countries due to the combination of the high level of human capital development and low pace of economic and innovative development. As a result, they have found out that, considered as part of human capital management providing for innovative development, investments in education can be more efficient only if science, education and business integrate to train their employees within the context of the new paradigm of interrelation between human capital and economic growth in innovative economics in which investment in innovation and technology is regarded as the main driver of development of education.

Initially, the Belt and Road initiative was greeted with enthusiasm in Southeast Asia, as it made possible to support projects and bring the products from Southeast Asia to international markets. However, the overwhelming number of projects in Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Philippines, and Thailand are experiencing significant difficulties,and none of them has been completed. China’s main volumes of investments and loans are allocated exclusively for infrastructure projects, while serious funds are not allocated for innovative industrial facilities or IT structures. Railroads and logistics facilities will be used to export Chinese goods to these countries, import raw materials to China, or deliver local industry products. The economic feasibility and quality of investments in projects in Indonesia and Malaysia are in great doubt. Laos and Myanmar are taking loans from China to develop the railway network without developing their own industry, so these regions can only be traders of Chinese goods. These countries cannot recoup the projects at all, many of them turn out to be unfinished, and therefore the debt to China is growing. The mega-project of the South China-Southeast Asia corridor was not economically sustainable. Its economic feasibility for the participating countries (except for China itself) raises many questions.

The authors of the article justify the expediency of applying resource saving in developing innovative technologies for hot rolling of boning knife blades from steel slabs. Such knives are widely used in meat processing industry. Metal consumption of the process was significantly reduced after changing the existing factory technology of making boning knives. The operation of cutting or grinding was replaced by hot rolling. The specific feature of the technology lies in minimizing the metal loss into shavings during the final processing of the steel slab by means of cutting. Reducing metal loss in making such steel parts and raising metal utilization rate are achieved by maximum possible approximation of forging configuration to the end product contour and preservation of the allowances regulated by the operational chart. The authors suggest optimal combinations of basic parameters of introduction of resource saving technology into production. To adduce an example the authors justify the possibility of shaping and simultaneous hardening of the knife blade during hot rolling between deforming rollers. Energy intensity of the technology suggested is lowered by means of reducing the time for further mechanic processing of the forging by cutting. Practical approbation of the introduced resource saving technology in repair production made it possible to raise the metal utilization rate to 95% and to reduce by 1.2 the production cost of a boning knife as the end product. When manufacturing the parts metal resources are saved due to the fact that irreversible loss of metal in the innovative technology of the boning knives’ production differs a lot from that in the traditional one. Technical and economic calculations adduced in the article show the effectiveness of the research and prove the profit of implementation of the new technology

Digital transformation is one of the key areas of change in the areas of social production; assessment of the level of technology implementation is an integral tool for the development of companies. The level of manufacturability of a company is of great importance, quality management is an essential part of an organization’s management system and includes the process of measurement, analysis and improvement of quality indicators. Therefore, the development of a model for assessing the level of manufacturability of quality management is an urgent area of science and practice. Grounding of the criteria and development of the model of assessment of a company’s manufacturability level in quality management are a perspective direction for assessment and working out the path for development of digitalization of a company. The suggested model of assessment of a company’s manufacturability in quality management includes criteria of quality of main factors of a production system (product, production, management). It estimates them from the viewpoint of IT development: regulation, automation, robotization and the fulfilled QMS functions: finding out the quality indicators, monitoring and assessment. Relevant assessment of manufacturability of a company suggests measurement of the results on each direction of the activity and integration of the indicators into overall result. The proposed Assessment Model can contribute to the development of a digital platform for quality management, containing processes and indicators for managing the quality of products, processes and systems. Model will make it possible to make informed management decisions on the development of quality management and will allow avoiding unreasonable costs of digitalization with a low level of development of quality management functions and the absence of documented procedures.

A question that often arises in expert discussions on how to combine the aspirations of universities for international competitiveness, and the development of partnerships with enterprises that need specific employees and developments.

The hypothesis of our research is that there are options for strategies which can lead to achievement both of the above goals. The research is devoted to the practices of two universities (Ural Federal University named after the First President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin (UrFU) and the National Research Technological University "MISiS"), participants of the "5-100" project, in which, as the four stages of the Competitiveness Improvement Program are implemented (hereinafter PPK), there was a strengthening of global positions, as well as the development of cooperation with industry. This development is reflected in the texts of the roadmaps (hereinafter referred to as the DC), the dynamics of absolute and specific indicators, and the variety of forms of such interaction, including marketing strategies and strategic initiatives.

To study this issue, a historical comparative content analysis of the changes in the DC of two universities was carried out, with an emphasis on the dynamics of changes in target models, especially the nature of reference groups and the practice of interacting with enterprises. Given the possibility of comparison, four elements of the university’s target model were selected for analysis: reference groups, missions, marketing strategies in key markets, changes in the composition of key initiatives.

Analysis of theoretical and practical aspects of assessment of innovative activity at national and foreign oil and gas enterprises revealed the necessity of improvement of the existing tools which include the lists of key indicators of efficiency and performance applied within the innovative development programs of the Russian companies. Thereby the authors analyzed national and foreign research paying the most serious attention to theoretical aspects of innovative activity assessment. Among them of greatest interest is the complex approach to application of metrics in scientific and technical development of a company. The authors have also studied the conceptual apparatus and the main terms for the problems under consideration. As a result, the research confirmed the idea that the practice of applying the lists of key indicators of innovative activity in oil and gas industry does not coincide with the results of academic works and the innovative management theory: the current methods are primarily aimed at assessment of the results of innovative activity, several stages of the life cycle of creation of innovation are not subject to monitoring. At the same time lists of key indicators of innovative activity make it possible for the company’s management to estimate economic and resource effects of innovations which corresponds to strategic interests of oil and gas companies.

Lists of indicators of efficiency and performance of innovative activity can be improved by means of national and foreign research. It is important to involve more metrics which make it possible to monitor all the life cycle of creation and implementation of innovative solutions.

The results of the study can be used as the basis for further research on improvement and development of the lists of key indicators of innovative activity of oil and gas companies.

High competition in the existing coal mining market has set up new landmarks in companies’ performance. Maintaining steady development of a coal mining business is the main task at all managerial levels and is supported by high sustainability level. A company’s ability to preserve stability is one of the key factors revealing stable development of a coal mining business. The need for establishing a system of a company’s sustainability indicators is determined by the necessity to estimate the company’s performance more accurately and in accordance with the objectives set. The authors of the article suggest a new complex approach to estimating a coal mining company’s sustainability. It is based on preserving stable operation under the influence of outer and inner risks. The authors explain the impact of various technical and economic indexes on a company’s activity, suggest formulas for calculating the assessment index – stability coefficient, define the limits for three areas by the value of the stability coefficient and the degree of risk elimination, calculate the sustainability of the company’s operation basing on the indicators’ actual values and the actions taken to eliminate risks per year. The approach suggested can become one of universal tools for analysis and assessment of current operation as well as for the medium-term planning. It can also be used in any coal mining company. The novelty of the approach is determined by the combination of traditional financial and economic analysis and the approach based on application of risk management system.

Energy sector is considered to be the basis for economy’s growth, improvement of the population’s life quality, maintenance of energy security of the country. However, the activities of some enterprises of the fuel and energy complex have a negative impact on the environment. The problems of geoecology in the field of fuel and energy require close attention. In this article, by the example of coal industry, gives an evaluation of effects industrial enterprises on the environment. Based on the analysis of official statistical sources, the key trends in this area are highlighted. The strategic solution to the environmental problem in the coal industry, according to the authors, is the creation of energy technology and coal-chemical clusters. Geoecology management information systems should be developed for each cluster. The simplest structure of these systems is given in this paper. The next stage of the study should be to set and solve the problem of optimizing the functioning of each cluster and calculate rating estimations.

The authors of the article examine the possibilities of using alternative energy in Tambov region. Natural resources are the main power sources for both production process and human activity. Since hydrocarbon energy sources are not inexhaustible scientists all over the world are searching for new technologies for exploiting renewable power sources. The authors have studied the basic tendencies of Russia energy policy concerning the use of renewable power sources. According to “Energy Strategy of the Russian Federation until 2030” the share of renewable power sources will be increased and local fuel resources will be used in the regions. It is essential to define the opportunities and perspectives of using renewable power sources in Tambov region. The research involves analysis of actinometric and meteorological data in Tambov region. To ground the perspective of using solar energy based power sources the authors estimated the following updating criteria: total solar radiation, daylight hours, average monthly daylight irradiance, average annual and average monthly wind speed. The necessity of using alternative energy in Tambov region is explained by the pace of development of agricultural sector of economy. As a result there is a lot of agricultural waste (straw, grass, manure, sunflower husk, corn stalks, potato tops, bird droppings) which is the main source for bioenergy. To show the benefit of the measures taken the authors have conducted the SWOT-analysis of perspective use of renewable power sources in Tambov region.

The study conducted demonstrates the expediency of using renewable power sources to solve the tasks of environmental and energy security

Vasliyev and Kefeli’s bookreview in “Managerial consulting” #10 (2020);162–165 of Vladimir Kvint’s “Concept of strategizing” in 2 vol. DOI: 10.22394/1726- 1139-2020-10-162-165