Selecting symmetric weights as a secondary goal in DEA cross-efficiency evaluation

• Published in: Applied mathematical modelling Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 544 - 549
• Main Authors: Jahanshahloo, G.R., Hosseinzadeh Lotfi, F., Jafari, Y., Maddahi, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Inc 2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cross-efficiency; Data envelopment analysis; Decision making; Decision theory. Utility theory; Exact sciences and technology; Feasibility; Mathematical models; Mathematics; Modelling; Nonparametric inference; Operational research and scientific management; Operational research. Management science; Operations research; Probability and statistics; Ranking; Sciences and techniques of general use; Statistics; Cross-efficiency; Ranking; Data envelopment analysis; Performance evaluation; Decision support system; Hierarchical classification; Decision making; Non parametric estimation; Feasibility; Reward
• ISSN: 0307-904X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apm.2010.07.020

In data envelopment analysis (DEA), the cross-efficiency evaluation method introduces a cross-efficiency matrix, in which the units are self and peer evaluated. A problem that possibly reduces the usefulness of the cross-efficiency evaluation method is that the cross-efficiency scores may not be unique due to the presence of alternate optima. So, it is recommended that secondary goals be introduced in cross-efficiency evaluation. In this paper we propose the symmetric weight assignment technique (SWAT) that does not affect feasibility and rewards decision making units (DMUs) that make a symmetric selection of weights. A numerical example is solved by our proposed method and its solution is compared with those of alternative approaches.