Improving performance evaluation based on balanced scorecard with grey relational analysis and data envelopment analysis approaches: Case study in water and wastewater companies

Various approaches are used to measure the firms’ performance. Grey relational analysis is one of the multiple attribute decision-making methods and data envelopment analysis is used to calculate the efficiency. Regarding the importance of water and wastewater companies’ services, the present study, evaluates the performance and rank these companies by using grey relational analysis and data envelopment analysis approaches based on balanced scorecard criteria. Besides, balanced scorecard considers all levels of organization. In this research, statistical population includes thirty-five municipal water and wastewater companies in Iran for the year 2017. In order to ascertain grey relational grade, fuzzy normalization method was used then by subtracting normalized numbers from one, reference sequences obtained and in the next step, grey relational coefficient was calculated and finally, grey relational grade was determined by multiplying relative weight from Shannon entropy to relational coefficients. In order to assess companies’ efficiency in data envelopment analysis, after ascertaining input and output indices, with the assumption of constant returns to scale and output-oriented viewpoint, the efficiency scores were calculated. Also, to rank efficient units Anderson-Petersen model implemented. Results demonstrated that, grey relational analysis is a more accurate method to measure the performance of water and wastewater companies.     

制度与经济增长:一个数理模型分析

将制度引入内生经济增长模型,从消费者效用最大化出发,构建了一个包含资本、劳动、技术和制度的经济增长模型,分析了制度质量对经济增长过程中均衡点的存在性影响.模型的结论是:良好的制度质量可以使得经济中存在正的均衡点;可以提高人均产出增长率和总体经济增长率,加快经济增长,从而可以解释后发优势现象.反之,不好的制度使得经济系统中无法肯定地得到正的均衡点,使得人均产出增长率和总体经济增长率出现负增长,从而可以解释一个富裕的国家亦可以变穷现象,即制度的逆转.     

A basic lemma and the analysis of block and Kronecker product designs

In this paper the analysis of the class of block designs whose C matrix can be expressed in terms of the Kronecker product of some elementary matrices is considered. The analysis utilizes a basic result concerning the spectral decomposition of the Kronecker product of symmetric matrices in terms of the spectral decomposition of the component matrices involved in the Kronecker product. The property (A) of Kurkjian and Zelen (1963) is generalised and the analysis of generalised property (A) designs is given. It is proved that a design is balanced factorially if and only if it is a generalised property (A) design. A method of analysis of Kronecker product block designs whose component designs are equi-replicate and proper is also suggested.     

On construction of constant block-sum partially balanced incomplete block designs

Abstract

Constant block-sum designs are of interest in repeated measures experimentation where the treatments levels are quantitative and it is desired that at the end of the experiments, all units have been exposed to the same constant cumulative dose. It has been earlier shown that the constant block-sum balanced incomplete block designs do not exist. As the next choice, we, in this article, explore and construct several constant block-sum partially balanced incomplete block designs. A natural choice is to first explore these designs via magic squares and Parshvanath yantram is found to be especially useful in generating designs for block size 4. Using other techniques such as pair-sums and, circular and radial arrangements, we generate a large number of constant block-sum partially balanced incomplete block designs. Their relationship with mixture designs is explored. Finally, we explore the optimization issues when constant block-sum may not be possible for the class of designs with a given set of parameters.     

Integrating the Data Envelopment Analysis and the Balanced Scorecard approaches for enhanced performance assessment

This article presents the development of a conceptual framework which aims to assess Decision Making Units (DMUs) from multiple perspectives. The proposed conceptual framework combines the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) method with the non-parametric technique known as Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) by using various interconnected models which try to encapsulate four perspectives of performance (financial, customers, internal processes, learning and growth).The practical relevance of the conceptual model has been tested by using it to assess the performance of DMUs in a multinational company which operates in two business areas. Various models were developed with the collaboration of the directors of the company in order to conceive an appropriate and consensual framework, which may provide useful information for the company. The application of the conceptual framework provides structured information regarding the performance of each DMU (from multiple perspectives) and ways to improve it. By integrating the BSC and the DEA approaches this research helps to identify where there is room for improving organisational performance and points out opportunities for reciprocal learning between DMUs. In doing so, this article provides a set of recommendations relating to the successful application of DEA and its integration with the BSC, in order to promote a continuous learning process and to bring about improvements in performance.     

平衡计分卡在社会服务组织应用的探索

本文探讨平衡计分卡在社会服务组织中的应用,通过对机构内外环境的审视和分析,同时考量机构的使命、价值观和愿景,以平衡计分卡的顾客、内部流程、学习与成长和财务资源四个基本维度的平衡,来统筹设计机构的策略性目标。然后,将这些策略性目标串联起来而成为策略图,并为每项目标制订关键性表现指标、衡量方法、指标水平、以及行动计划,最终成为机构服务的表现蓝本。     

An integrated approach to evaluation and planning of best practices

This paper develops a new integrated evaluation and planning approach for implementing a given set of best practices in a prioritized and phased manner. The best practices are implemented for achieving lower-level business unit objectives and higher-level strategic goals of an organization. With a multiattribute decision making algorithm under the balanced scorecard (BSC) framework, a new evaluation model is developed to effectively measure the relationship between lower-level objectives and higher-level goals, and to give each best practice a relative priority value. A new adjustment method is also developed to address potential biases in the self-assessment process at the business unit level. The evaluation model enables the prioritization and implementation planning of best practices in terms of their importance and achievability from the viewpoints of the organization, four BSC strategic perspectives, individual business units, and the overall implementation planning zone. An empirical study is conducted to demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of the integrated evaluation and planning approach.     

基于AHP-BSC模型的项目投资风险分析评价

对于投资方来说,从众多投资项目中选择风险较低的项目进行投资以创造最大利润至关重要.如何选择最佳的投资项目对决策者来说是一大难题.先运用BSC对候选投资项目所在的企业进行初选,淘汰综合测评差的企业,再用AHP对剩下的项目进行投资风险综合评价,找出风险系数最低的项目,为投资决策者在项目投资时,提供一种理论决策依据.     

Quick estimation of tourist nights spent in Italy

ISTAT currently disseminates monthly provisional data on arrivals and nights spent in the Italian tourist establishments after 90 days from the end of the reference month, according to the EU Directive on Tourism Statistics. The aim of the paper is to compare some quick estimation methods able to improve timeliness and quality of provisional estimates. According to a super-population model, on the basis of available quick responses of provinces which tourist data are available within 45 days, some predictors are proposed in addition to that actually used. An empirical application has been carried out, using true monthly data on nights spent in Italy in 2002 and comparing predictors derived from balanced sampling theory and regression methods.