The thesis examines technical efficiency using frontier efficiency estimation techniques from parametric and non-parametric approaches. Five different frontier efficiency estimation techniques are considered which are SFA, DFA, DEA-CCR, DEA-BCC and DEA-RAM. These techniques are then used on an artificially generated panel dataset using a two-input two-output production function framework based on characteristics of German life-insurers. The key contribution of the thesis is firstly, a study that uses simulated panel dataset to estimate frontier efficiency techniques and secondly, a research framework that compares multiple frontier efficiency techniques across parametric and non-parametric approaches in the context of simulated panel data. The findings suggest that, as opposed to previous studies, parametric and non-parametric approaches can both generate comparable technical efficiency scores with simulated data. Moreover, techniques from parametric approaches, i.e. SFA and DFA are consistent with each other whereas the same applies to non-parametric approaches, i.e. DEA models. The research study also discusses some important theoretical and methodological implication of the findings and suggests some ways whereby future research can enable to overcome some of the restrictions associated with current approaches.

Since the open door policy was embarked upon in 1979, China s banking sector has undergone gradual but notable reforms. A key objective of the reforms implemented by the Chinese government is to build an effective, competitive and stable banking system in order to improve its efficiency and reliability. This study employs both parametric stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and non-parametric data envelopment analysis (DEA) methods to assess and evaluate the cost efficiency of Chinese banks over the period from 1994 until 2007, a period characterised by far-reaching changes brought about by the banking reforms. To this end, we first compare a number of specifications of stochastic cost frontier models to determine the preferred frontier model which are adopted in our efficiency analysis. The preferred model specification for our sample is the one stage SFA model that includes the traditional input prices, the outputs and the control variables (that is, equity, non-performing loans and the time trend) in the cost frontier and the environmental variables (that is, ownership structure, size, deregulation, market structure and market discipline) in the inefficiency term. Moreover, we also employ two cost DEA models (traditional DEA and New DEA) as a complement to the preferred SFA model for methodological cross-checking purposes. Similar to the previous empirical literature, we find that in most cases only moderate consistency across the different techniques. The cost efficiency of Chinese banks is found to be 91% on average, based on our SFA model, over the period from 1994 until 2007. Based on the results of the DEA and New DEA models, the average cost efficiency for Chinese banks over the sample period is about 89% and 87%, respectively. We find that Chinese banking efficiency has deteriorated after China s admission to the WTO, suggesting that the significant external environmental changes which arose from China s WTO entry may have had a negative impact on its banking efficiency. In addition, we find that the majority of Chinese banks reveal scale inefficiencies and as asset size increases, banks tend to pass from increasing, to constant, and then to decreasing returns to scale. Our findings also show that both state-owned banks and foreign banks are more efficient than domestic private banks and larger banks tend to be relatively more efficient than smaller banks. These and other results suggest that in order to enhance Chinese banking efficiency, the government needs to continue with the banking reform process and in particular, to open up banking markets, to improve risk management and corporate governance in Chinese banks and to encourage the expansion of banks.

The Department of Defense is facing medical expenses that are growing at an unprecedented rate. The top leadership is looking for ways to reduce costs and improve efficiency while still providing world class medical care for its beneficiaries. One option is to implement a relatively new tool called Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). This tool uses linear programming to identify efficient entities, called decision making units (DMU), relative to the other entities in the set. In the past, DEA studies used military hospitals as DMUs. This study is different in that it uses clinics within hospitals as DMUs. The rational behind this is that administrators have difficulty using data that tells them in general terms that they have too many people or are spending too much money. What they need is a tool that tells them where there are too many people or where they are spending too much money. A hospital is made up of clinics so it is intuitive to begin by improving the efficiency of the clinics which in turn will improve the efficiency of the whole hospital.

Master of Science / Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineering / David H. Ben-Arieh / Quest for continuous improvement among the organizations and issue of missing data for data analysis are never ending. This thesis brings these two topics under one roof, i.e., to evaluate the productivity of organizations with sparse data. This study focuses on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to determine the efficiency of 41 member clinics of Kansas Association of Medically Underserved (KAMU) with missing data. The primary focus of this thesis is to develop new reliable methods to determine the missing values and to execute DEA. DEA is a linear programming methodology to evaluate relative technical efficiency of homogenous Decision Making Units, using multiple inputs and outputs. Effectiveness of DEA depends on the quality and quantity of data being used. DEA outcomes are susceptible to missing data, thus, creating a need to supplement sparse data in a reliable manner. Determining missing values more precisely improves the robustness of DEA methodology. Three methods to determine the missing values are proposed in this thesis based on three different platforms. First method named as Average Ratio Method (ARM) uses average value, of all the ratios between two variables. Second method is based on a modified Fuzzy C-Means Clustering algorithm, which can handle missing data. The issues associated with this clustering algorithm are resolved to improve its effectiveness. Third method is based on interval approach. Missing values are replaced by interval ranges estimated by experts. Crisp efficiency scores are identified in similar lines to how DEA determines efficiency scores using the best set of weights. There exists no unique way to evaluate the effectiveness of these methods. Effectiveness of these methods is tested by choosing a complete dataset and assuming varying levels of data as missing. Best set of recovered missing values, based on the above methods, serves as a source to execute DEA. Results show that the DEA efficiency scores generated with recovered values are close within close proximity to the actual efficiency scores that would be generated with the complete data. As a summary, this thesis provides an effective and practical approach for replacing missing values needed for DEA.

Data Envelopment Analysis is a multi-criteria decision making tool employing set of minimizing criteria (inputs) and set of maximizing criteria (outputs) for evaluating decision making unit efficiency. This method is accompanied by problems in field of input and output weight assignment, whereas benevolent basic model formulation enables decision making unit evaluation to be based on far unevenly distributed weight vector. Furthermore, data envelopment analysis basic model produces dichotomized dividing in form of efficient and inefficient decision making unit sets. Extensive set of efficient units occurs frequently and this causes difficulties in choosing one or less number efficient units. These phenomena appear often simultaneously. An implementation of multi-criteria decision making models into data envelopment analysis is exercised in order to reduce these undesired effects in applications.

[pt] O setor turístico tem apresentado grande importância econômica e impulsionado o crescimento dos estabelecimentos de hospedagem no Brasil. Esses estabelecimentos buscam se instalar em regiões reconhecidamente turísticas e com potencial para o turismo de negócios. Neste trabalho, os estabelecimentos de hospedagem do município Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, foram avaliados quanto a sua eficiência com uso da técnica de Análise por Envoltória de Dados (DEA) segundo a perspectiva dos clientes. Os valores dos outputs e inputs foram calculados a partir de observações contidas nas homepages dos estabelecimentos. Os modelos matemáticos CCR e BCC orientados a outputs foram resolvidos usando o pacote AIMMS para obter a eficiência de cada estabelecimento de hospedagem. Ao ordenar as unidades produtivas de acordo com o índice de eficiência, os estabelecimentos de pequeno porte e particulares tem a oportunidade de tomar como referência aqueles estabelecimentos que apresentaram eficiência máxima, e assim identificar e introduzir as melhorias necessárias de modo a não perderem mercado para os estabelecimentos de redes hoteleiras. Os resultados obtidos com DEA respondem ao grande questionamento desta pesquisa: os estabelecimentos de hospedagem de gestão familiar de Campos, RJ, precisam aprimorar seu desempenho, em relação aos serviços oferecidos a seus hóspedes, para se manterem competitivos no mercado diante do atual cenário em que se encontra o país? / [en] The tourism sector has shown great economic importance and stimulated the growth of lodging establishments in Brazil. These establishments seek to locate in regions with known potential for tourism and for business. In this work, the lodging establishments of the municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, are evaluated in respect to their efficiency from the perspective of customers, using the technique of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The input and output data were computed based on data collected from the establishments’ websites. The mathematical models CCR and BCC oriented to outputs were solve dusing the package AIMMS to get the efficiency of each facility hosting. By ordering the lodging establishments according to their efficiency scores, the small establishments, in general private, have the opportunity to refer to those establishments with maximum efficiency, and then identify and make the necessary improvements to stay competitive and to not lose market for the establishments of hotel chains. The results obtained with DEA respond to the great challenge of this research: the family-running lodging establishments of Campos, RJ, need to improve their performance, in relation to the service offered to their customers, in order to remain competitive in the market facing the current country scenario?

This paper seeks to compare production costs of similar farms to determine competitiveness across countries. A data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach was used to calculate efficiency indices for farms producing corn, soybeans, wheat, both corn and soybeans, and both corn and wheat. Technical efficiency, allocative efficiency, and cost efficiency were compared for all farms. The data consisted of a five-year (2013-2017) panel of 24 corn-producing farms, 15 soybean-producing farms, 38 wheat-producing farms, 13 farms producing both corn and soybeans, and 17 farms producing both corn and wheat. The <i>agri benchmark</i> network at the Thünen Institute (TI) of Farm Economics manages the dataset that was used in this analysis. Outputs were measured using revenue. Input costs included direct costs, operating costs, and overhead costs.<br>

Purpose:The purpose is to investigate the adequacy of the Basel Accords to fulfill the underlying ideas of reducing risk and stabilizing the financial sector, or if it allows banks to use regulatory arbitrage to maintain a desired productive efficiency- and risk level. Methodology:A two-step analysis is constructed where each bank’s efficiency is first estimated, followed by a panel data regression on the efficiency-score and on a proxy for bank risk.  Conclusion:We found evidence supporting that the third Basel Accord have been more effective, by a reduced risk as a consequence of both an increased capital adequacy ratio and the implementation. However, we cannot confirm that the capital requirements inhibit bank efficiency, but there is evidence of an impaired efficiency since the implementation of the third accord, suggesting that the supervision, for instance, has a weakening effect on efficiency. Moreover, there are also implication of the strengthened capital requirements, in terms of quantity and quality of capital, more efficiently fulfilling the accords purpose of reducing risk.

No âmbito do marketing de relacionamento, busca-se o estabelecimento de relações de longo prazo entre empresa e cliente, de forma a propiciar vantagens para ambas as partes. Espera-se que clientes mais satisfeitos, tenham a sua retenção ampliada e gerem maior rentabilidade, tal como evidenciado em diversos trabalhos de pesquisa. A eficiência com que se dá esse processo de conversão, segundo uma cadeia de serviços-lucro, também tem sido objeto de interesse, uma vez que permite analisar, comparativamente, o desempenho de unidades que se relacionam com clientes. No entanto, a utilização intensiva de canais de atendimento eletrônico pode trazer impactos, tanto na interação entre os construtos, em nível de cliente, quanto na eficiência do processo de relacionamento com o cliente, em nível agregado de unidades de canal de atendimento.

A responsabilidade socioambiental tem assumido uma significativa importância no ambiente empresarial, principalmente devido ao contexto das políticas do Estado mínimo no Brasil, que reduziram o espaço para o Estado paternalista atender as necessidades sociais. Isso criou um novo cenário, onde o setor privado passou a assumir essa tarefa junto à sociedade. A partir da idéia do desenvolvimento sustentável, que objetiva criar um modelo econômico capaz de gerar riqueza e bem-estar, ao mesmo tempo em que promove a coesão social e impede a destruição do meio-ambiente, as empresas estão sendo obrigadas a atender, no seu funcionamento, o tripé da sustentabilidade empresarial: econômico, social e ambiental. O trabalho de pesquisa aqui relatado buscou analisar de que forma os investimentos em ações de responsabilidade socioambiental podem ser transformados em oportunidades de negócios para as empresas. Assim, o objetivo do presente trabalho é identificar a relação entre investimentos em responsabilidade socioambiental e o valor da empresa, em empresas distribuidoras de energia elétrica. O método de pesquisa consistiu em aplicar a técnica de análise por envoltória de dados (DEA) em 20 empresas brasileiras distribuidoras de energia elétrica, no período compreendido entre os anos de 2002 e 2006. Os resultados da investigação permitiram validar a hipótese de que o investimento em responsabilidade socioambiental é capaz de alterar positivamente o valor da empresa. Além disso, foi observada uma gradual adoção de ações socioambientais, por parte das distribuidoras de energia elétrica, no período estudado. / The social and environmental responsibility have taken a significant importance in the business environment, due mainly to context of Brazil\'s minimum state policies, which reduced the space for the paternalistic state to assist social needs. This has created a new scenario, in which the private segments started to take on this task along with society. Considering the idea of sustainable development, which aims at creating an economic model capable of generating wealth and welfare, and, at the same time promoting social cohesion and preventing environmental destruction, companies are being forced to serve, regarding their operation, the tripod of corporate sustainability: economic, social and environmental. The research here reported sought to examine how investments in social and environmental responsibility shares can be transformed into business opportunities for companies. So, the objective of this work is to identify the relationship between social and environmental responsibility investments and the company\'s value, in power dealer companies. The research method consisted of appling the data envelopment analysis (DEA) tool in 20 brazillian power dealer companies in the period between the years of 2002 and 2006. Research results let validate the assumption that investment in social and environmental responsibility is able to change positively the value of the company. Moreover, a gradual adoption of social and environmental actions by power dealer companies was seen in the period studied.