Assessing the performance of organizations with the hierarchical structure using data envelopment analysis: An efficiency analysis of Farhangian University

The main objective of this research is to measure the relative efficiency of the campuses of Farhangian University, which trains schoolteachers in Iran. As with many organizations, Farhangian University's campuses have hierarchical structures and need to provide appropriate models for evaluating their performance. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is now widely used for evaluating the performance and efficiency of many systems. The present research aims at introducing suitable models for calculating the efficiency of hierarchical structures using DEA and applying these models for comparing the efficiencies of Farhangian University's campuses. The results reveal that some campuses have high efficiency, while others do not have satisfactory performance, suggesting that these campuses do not optimally utilize their inputs and outputs. The results of the proposed models can be of great assistance for managers to identify inefficient departments, develop strategies to improve their performance and enhance the overall efficiency of the campuses. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.