Assessment of mixed network processes with shared inputs and undesirable factors

Abstract

In the real world, there are processes whose structures are like a parallel-series mixed network. Network data envelopment analysis (NDEA) is one of the appropriate methods for assessing the performance of processes with these structures. In the paper, mixed processes with two parallel and series components are considered, in which the first component or parallel section consists of the shared inputs, and the second component or series section consists of undesirable factors. By considering the weak disposability assumption for undesirable factors, a DEA approach as based on network slackbased measure (NSBM) is introduced to evaluate the performance of processes with mixed structures. The proposed model is illustrated with a real case study. Then, the model is developed to discriminate efficient units.