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A classification of DEA models when the internal structure of the Decision Making Units is considered

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Abstract

We classify the contributions of DEA literature assessing Decision Making Units (DMUs) whose internal structure is known. Starting from an elementary framework, we define the main research areas as shared flow, multilevel and network models, depending on the assumptions they are subject to. For each model category, the principal mathematical formulations are introduced along with their main variants, extensions and applications. We also discuss the results of aggregating efficiency measures and of considering DMUs as submitted to a central authority that imposes constraints or targets on them. A common feature among the several models is that the efficiency evaluation of the DMU depends on the efficiency values of its subunits thereby increasing the discrimination power of DEA methodology with respect to the black box approach.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Elettrotecnica, Elettronica e Informatica, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Via A. Valerio 10, 34127, Trieste, Italy

    Lorenzo Castelli & Walter Ukovich

  2. Dipartimento di Matematica Applicata, Università Ca’ Foscari di Venezia, Dorsoduro 3825/E, 30123, Venice, Italy

    Raffaele Pesenti

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  1. Lorenzo Castelli
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Correspondence to Lorenzo Castelli.

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Castelli, L., Pesenti, R. & Ukovich, W. A classification of DEA models when the internal structure of the Decision Making Units is considered. Ann Oper Res 173, 207–235 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-008-0414-2

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