Economic efficiency of management decisions in the implementation of cultural projects: Manager’s competencies and soft skills as key factors

The cultural sector is making a growing contribution to the global economy, but remains vulnerable to crises and structural risks. In conditions of instability, there is a growing need for effective management of cultural projects, which makes it relevant to study the impact of managerial and social competencies on the achievement of sustainable economic results. The aim of the study was to analyse the relationship between the managerial competencies, their soft skills and the economic efficiency of cultural projects. Research methods: critical review and content analysis of professional literature, in particular materials published in 2020-2025, logical-analytical and comparative-synthetic approaches. It was found that the managerial competencies of cultural managers have a decisive influence on the effectiveness of cultural initiatives. The leading role of soft skills, such as emotional intelligence, adaptability and strategic communication, in a multicultural environment has been confirmed. It has been established that a high level of cultural intelligence (CQ) contributes to reducing conflict, improving communication within teams and increasing project effectiveness. The effectiveness of strategic management tools (SWOT, PESTLE, Balanced Scorecard) for long-term cultural projects has been analysed. Management tools are proposed that enable a systematic approach to planning and evaluating cultural initiatives, which provides opportunities to strengthen the institutional capacity of cultural organisations and increase their social and economic impact on the country’s economic development. The practical value of the study lies in identifying specific management competencies that contribute to the successful implementation of cultural projects in complex socio-cultural conditions. The results obtained can be used to develop training programmes for cultural managers, particularly in the field of intercultural communication and leadership