Starodubov Alexander V.

The technological transformation of the forest sector, the introduction of digital technologies as well as the shift in state policy priorities towards sustainable development demands reconsideration of approaches towards evaluating the effectiveness of management systems in forestry organizations. The aim of this article is to study the conceptual and categorical framework of efficiency theory and to determine the criteria evolution for the effectiveness of management systems in relation to the features of forestry activities. Being based on a systematic approach, as well as on methods of analysis and synthesis, the study clarifies the content of basic categories («costs,» «result,» «effect,»«efficiency») considering the long biological cycles and multi-purpose nature of the forest management. The definitions of a criterion (a qualitative attribute) and an indicator (a quantitative measure) of efficiency are distinguished in the article. The authors conduct retrospective analysis of the evolution in the Russian researchers’ views on efficiency in forestry, taking into account the context of changing technological paradigms (from the 3rd to the 6th). The factors determining both the efficiency of organizations and their management systems at each historical stage are systematized. It is established that the modern stage (the 6th technological paradigm) is characterized by polyparadigmality, requiring the management system to simultaneously ensure operational efficiency, digital maturity, strategic orientation towards ESG principles and adaptability to change. In conclusion, it is established that forming a unified assessment system in modern conditions is methodologically hard and it is necessary to integrate various management concepts. The significance of the study's results for government agencies lies in the need to rethink traditional management approaches and develop a unified system for assessing forestry management effectiveness based on a combination of various approaches. Forestry organizations may find the study's results useful in developing management systems, taking into account the factors in uencing performance.