COMPETITIVENESS OF CONSTRUCTION ENTERPRISES: ESSENCE, CONTENT AND INFLUENCING FACTORS

The article explores the theoretical aspects of competitiveness among construction enterprises. A study was conducted to examine key theoretical approaches to defining the concepts of “competition,” “competitiveness,” and “enterprise competitiveness.” Through analysis, primary theoretical approaches to defining “enterprise competitiveness” were identified, including analogical, resource-based, systemic, comparative, comprehensive, profit-oriented, and qualitative approaches. Each approach is described, along with its key proponents. The article notes that the choice of approach for researching a company’s competitiveness is influenced by its specific activities, the market characteristics of its products (goods or services), and competitor behavior models. The investigation into theoretical approaches to “enterprise competitiveness” also helped identify certain inherent properties of the concept as an economic category, such as comparability, objectivity, systematicity, dynamism, attributiveness, spatiality, integrality, relevance, and consideration of both external and internal operational conditions. It is emphasized that industry affiliation is critical when defining and understanding “enterprise competitiveness,” as specific components contribute to its competitive advantages. The article further highlights that construction is a pivotal sector in Ukraine’s economy, significantly affecting the efficiency of the national economic system. The current state and key trends of the construction industry in Ukraine are discussed, and the primary factors impacting the competitiveness of construction companies are identified, which either enhance or diminish their competitive advantages. Innovation development and labor resource availability are highlighted as major influences on competitiveness. Finally, based on the synthesis of theoretical approaches and the specific characteristics of the construction industry, a definition of «competitiveness of construction enterprises» is proposed.