Time-staged outputs in production process: A DEA-Based Approach

Abstract

This paper examines the issue of handling outputs in DEA that occur at different stages in time. In some situations, the output set occur at the different period of time, meaning that the produced outputs at the first period of time impact on the production of outputs of next time . This problem setting gives rise to the phenomenon of time-staged outputs. Specifically, the two outputs occur at different points in time, meaning that one of them plays a dual role. In other words, the dual-role measure is considered as either the output of the first stage and simultaneously as input for another time period. This paper demonstrates a modification of the joint technology in order to yield the maximum efficiency of the evaluated units. A real case on ten business schools has been illustrated . This real example is applied to emphasize that the suggested structure can handle this situation appropriately.