Optimization & Operations Research
Zahra Mohammadhashemi; Khatere Ghorbani-Moghadam; Safora Allahy; Sepehr Ghazinoory
Abstract
This study employs a two-stage analytical framework to assess efficiency, comprising a standard SBM evaluation and a novel weighted SBM model. Unlike conventional SBM-DEA applications, the proposed weighted model uses an enhanced slack-based mechanism that prioritizes strategic inputs (R&D investment, ...
Read More
This study employs a two-stage analytical framework to assess efficiency, comprising a standard SBM evaluation and a novel weighted SBM model. Unlike conventional SBM-DEA applications, the proposed weighted model uses an enhanced slack-based mechanism that prioritizes strategic inputs (R&D investment, number of employees, and funding) and clearly distinguishes input redundancies (e.g., excessive R&D expenditure or staffing) from output deficiencies (e.g., weak revenue performance). This separation yields more precise and targeted diagnostic insights. Additionally, the model incorporates sector-specific efficiency differentiation, supported by ANOVA, enabling assessment of cross-firm inefficiencies and their statistical significance in terms of systemic versus sector-specific phenomena. The methodology is applied to a distinctive panel of 146 technology-based firms (TBFs) in Iranian science and technology parks from 2021–2023, a context rarely explored with DEA in emerging markets. The study combines quantitative DEA results from both models with qualitative follow-up analyses of factors such as marketing strategies, private investment initiatives, and certification achievements, producing a robust mixed-methods approach and actionable policy recommendations. A comparative analysis reveals that fully efficient firms comprise 2.7\% under the unweighted model and 3.4\% under the weighted model, indicating that weighting yields a small, non-significant change in overall efficiency. About 97.3\% of firms display efficiency gaps due to input redundancies or output shortfalls. Sectoral tests show no statistically significant inter-sector differences, pointing to systemic inefficiencies across industries. Qualitative insights identify firm-level success factors—effective marketing, certification, and investment strategies—that align with the detected inefficiency patterns. Collectively, these findings offer measurable strategies for improvement, such as reducing redundant investment and enhancing revenue-generation mechanisms, to inform evidence-based policy aimed at the commercialization and growth of TBFs in emerging markets.
)