THE CONTRIBUTION OF STRATEGIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO THE CREATION OF PUBLIC VALUE
Keywords:
strategic entrepreneurship, public value, innovation management, public sector innovation, digital transformationAbstract
The contemporary transformation of public administration requires governance models capable of responding to complex social, technological, and economic challenges. Strategic entrepreneurship has emerged as an approach that integrates strategic management and entrepreneurial thinking in order to stimulate innovation and create sustainable public value. The present study explores the contribution of strategic entrepreneurship to the development of public value within modern public sector organizations. The research is based on a conceptual and analytical approach that includes a review of contemporary literature, examination of international good practices, and analysis of the institutional context of Bulgarian public administration. The findings indicate that strategic entrepreneurship contributes to public value creation through several interconnected mechanisms. These include innovation management, which enables the introduction of new technologies and administrative solutions; leadership and organizational culture, which foster creativity, learning, and adaptability; public-private partnerships, which combine public accountability with private sector expertise; network governance, which promotes collaboration among institutions, businesses, and civil society; and digital transformation, which accelerates transparency, efficiency, and citizen participation. The analysis also demonstrates that strategic entrepreneurship represents more than a managerial technique. It functions as a strategic orientation that transforms public organizations into adaptive and learning systems capable of generating long-term societal benefits. In the Bulgarian context, the development of strategic entrepreneurship is increasingly linked to initiatives related to digital governance, innovation ecosystems, and the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Despite these positive developments, challenges remain, including bureaucratic inertia, insufficient motivational mechanisms, and limited evaluation of public value outcomes. The study concludes that strengthening entrepreneurial capacity in the public sector is essential for achieving effective governance, sustainable development, and increased public trust. Strategic entrepreneurship therefore represents a key driver of institutional modernization and a central mechanism for transforming public administration into a system oriented toward innovation, collaboration, and citizen-centered value creation.
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