Search -
Data Envelopment Analysis: The Assessment of Performance
Data Envelopment Analysis The Assessment of Performance Author:Michael Norman, Barry Stoker This book aims to introduce the business analyst to a very powerful tool for evaluating the performance of comparable organizational units, whether they are in the public or private sector, and to provide a working understanding of the technique and to assist the technical research analyst to achieve an understanding of the mathematical concepts... more » underpinning DEA and to gain an appreciation of its practical interpretation and application. The authors strongly believe that analytical approaches have an important role to play in attacking strategic problems faced by senior managers. However, it is essential that the issues are carefully researched to ensure that the analysis is properly focused. All too often analytical studies are carried out as backroom research projects divorced from areas of real management concern. Although this book is about an analytical technique, we have placed great emphasis on its place in the context of management information and decision making. In particular, we show how organizational objectives dictate the use of the approach and we describe how the work can lead to management decisions, supported where appropriate by other techniques. The book has been structured to allow the non-technical reader to learn about DEA without the need to wade through detailed mathematics. These have been confined to two specialist Chapters (3 and 5) and the Appendices.« less