This second edition systematically presents the underlying theory, model development, and applications of network Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). It discusses the models used to measure the efficiency of systems in specific network structures and introduces readers to the latest applications. It demonstrates how the “network DEA� approach helps identify and manage the specific components that cause inefficiencies in the overall system. The existing models for measuring the efficiency of systems in specific network structures are also discussed, and the relationships between system efficiency and component efficiency are explored. Moreover, the book provides an advanced exposition on performance evaluation of systems with network structures. It explores the networked nature of most production and operation systems, and explains why network analyses are necessary. Accordingly, the book will inspire new research and applications based on the state of the art. In this new edition, the latest research advances and discoveries are discussed. Two new chapters on Linkage Efficiency and External and Internal Evaluations have been added.  This book is mainly aimed at researchers and graduate students who are interested in performance evaluation, DEA, and multi-criteria decision analysis. Practitioners who want to measure the performance of production, operation, or any type of decision-making units will also find it useful.

This book presents the underlying theory, model development, and applications of network Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) in a systematic way. The field of network DEA extends and complements conventional DEA by considering not only inputs and outputs when measuring system efficiency, but also the internal structure of the system being analyzed. By analyzing the efficiency of individual internal components, and more particularly by studying the effects of relationships among components which are modeled and implemented by means of various network structures, the "network DEA" approach is able to help identify and manage the specific components that contribute inefficiencies into the overall systems. This relatively new approach comprises an important analytical tool based on mathematical programming techniques, with valuable implications to production and operations management. The existing models for measuring the efficiency of systems of specific network structures are also discussed, and the relationships between the system and component efficiencies are explored. This book should be able to inspire new research and new applications based on the current state of the art. Performance evaluation is an important task in management, and is needed to (i) better understand the past accomplishments of an organization and (ii) plan for its future development. However, this task becomes rather challenging when multiple performance metrics are involved. DEA is a powerful tool to cope with such issues. For systems or operations composed of interrelated processes, managers need to know how the performances of the various processes evaluated and how they are aggregated to form the overall performance of the system. This book provides an advanced exposition on performance evaluation of systems with network structures. It explores the network nature of most production and operation systems, and explains why network analyses are necessary.