The overall purpose of this project is to extend previous work on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)--a method for analyzing and evaluating the relative efficiency and effectiveness of organizational units with multiple outputs and multiple inputs. The proposed work builds on previous theoretical nd methodological work on DEA by the two principal investigators. This research will extend this work by addressing important theoretical, methodological, and applied issues related to the use of semi-infinite programming, times series analysis, envelopment maps, and cone ratio analysis. In addition, the proposal includes funds for a workshop aimed at assessing the state of knowledge in DEA and identifying future directions for basic and applied research. Despite the importance of methods for analyzing and evaluating organizational efficiency and effectiveness, conventional methods provide an inadequate means for representing and measuring the complex factors that affect efficiency and effectiveness in organizations. This innovative project will use anew and powerful mathematical programming methodology--Data Envelopment Analysis--to address this issue. It is expected to the development of methods for analyzing organizational efficiency and effectiveness. The project will also provide important information for both analysts and decision makers interested in improving organizational efficiency and effectiveness in the public and private sector. The principal investigators are highly experienced researchers who have made numerous important contributions to the literature on operations research and management science.
