Technical Sessions – Monday July 11

� TA-17
Tuesday, 9:00-10:30
Meeting Room 214
Fundamentals of Multicriteria Decision
Analysis
Stream: Multicriteria Decision Analysis and
Multiobjective Optimisation
Invited session
Chair: Jyrki Wallenius, Helsinki School of Economics, POB 1210,
00101, Helsinki, Finland, jyrki.wallenius@aalto.fi
1 - Can a Linear Value Function Explain Choices
Jyrki Wallenius, Helsinki School of Economics, POB 1210,
00101, Helsinki, Finland, jyrki.wallenius@aalto.fi, Pekka
Korhonen, Anssi Oorni, Kari Silvennoinen
We investigate in a simple bi-criteria experimental study, whether subjects are
consistent with a linear value function, while making binary choices. Many
inconsistencies appeared in our experiment. However, the impact of inconsistencies
on the linearity vs. non-linearity of the value function was minor.
Interestingly, consistency with a linear value function was restored for 83% of
the cases if one or two of the response constraints (with highest shadow prices)
were purged from the model, implying that one should incorporate a preference
statement only if sure about its correctness. Moreover, a linear value function
seems to predict choices for bi-criteria problems quite well. Predictability is
independent of whether the value function is diagnosed linear or not. Inconsistencies
in responses did not necessarily change the original diagnosis of the
form of the value function. Our findings have implications for the design and
development of decision support tools for Multiple Criteria Decision Making
problems.
2 - Scholarly Communities of Research in Multiple Criteria
Decision Making: A Bibliometric Research Profiling
Study
Hannele Wallenius, Industrial Engineering and Management,
Aalto University School of Science, P.O. Box 15500, 02015
HUT, 00076 Aalt, Espoo, Finland, hannele.wallenius@tkk.fi,
Johanna Bragge, Pekka Korhonnen, Jyrki Wallenius
Electronic journal databases allow efficient retrieval and processing of bibliometric
data, making possible enhanced literature reviews called research profiling
studies. We have conducted such a study of Multiple Criteria Decision
Making using the ISI Web of Science. We report statistics regarding how our
field has developed based on variations of a set of broad search words. We
have produced detailed correlation maps based on most cited authors for different
decades, showing the birth and evolution of different schools of thought.
Our study shows that our field has experienced exponential growth. At the
same time it has penetrated other neighboring domains of knowledge, such as
Information ICT and engineering.
3 - Value-Focused Brainstorming
Ralph Keeney, Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, 101
Lombard Street, #704W, 94111, San Francisco, CA, United
States, KeeneyR@aol.com
Brainstorming can be a useful technique to create alternatives for complex decisions.
To enhance the quality and innovativeness of the created alternatives,
value-focused thinking is used to specify the valued aspects of the alternatives.
These valued aspects, specified as distinct objectives, focus brainstorming to
create alternatives of greater value. Relevant concepts and procedures of the
approach are discussed. A public policy application concerning the emergency
evacuation of individuals from large buildings is summarized.
4 - Estimation Methods for Choice-based Conjoint Analysis
Utility Functions
Merja Halme, Information and Service Economy, Aalto School
of Economics, Pl 11000, 00076, Aalto, Finland,
merja.halme@aalto.fi, Markku Kallio
Conjoint analysis, a method expanding in many disciplines is one way to assess
value functions. Choice-based conjoint analysis (CBC) is currently the
most popular type. In its questionnaire the respondents are made to choose
from among a number of product profiles the most preferred one. The profiles
consist of attributes whose values have been defined. We compare optimization
based estimation approaches, including a new one, convex penalty minimization
(CP) with the benchmark Hierarchical Bayes (HB) estimation. Of the
optimization methods CP performs best, and is equally good as HB.
IFORS 2011 - Melbourne TA-18
� TA-18
Tuesday, 9:00-10:30
Meeting Room 215
Applications of DEA in Education sector
Stream: Data Envelopment Analysis
Invited session
Chair: M a Teresa Cáceres, Matemática Aplicada I, Universidad de
Sevilla, Avenida Reina Mercedes s/n, Sevilla, Spain, caceres@us.es
1 - DEA and SFA for Benchmarking of Public Services: The
Case of Universities and Research Centers
José L. Pino, Estadística e Investigación Operativa, Universidad
de Sevilla, Avenida Reina Mercedes s/n, 41012, Sevilla, Spain,
jlpino@us.es, M a Teresa Cáceres, Gerardo Valeiras, Luisa Jurado
The principle 10 (Cost —Effectiveness) of the European Statistics Code of
Practice indicates that resources must be effectively used. One of the objectives
of the Andalusia Statistical Plan 2007-2010 is to contribute to the construction
of procedures for the design of efficiency indicators of public services. In this
issue we show how we are applying Data Envelopment Analysis and Stochastic
Frontier Analysis methods as tools to build useful indicators for the benchmarking
of universities and research centers, avoiding the limitations of using only
one or a few Key Performance Indicators.
2 - Supporting External Assessors’ Judgements on Secondary
School Performance
Cláudia S. Sarrico, ISEG- School of Economics and
Management, UTL - Technical University of Lisbon, Rua Miguel
Lupi n o 20 - Office 310, 1249-078, Lisboa, Portugal,
cssarrico@iseg.utl.pt, Margarida F. Cardoso, Maria J. Rosa
This paper uses parametric and non-parametric techniques to assess the performance
of secondary schools in Portugal. Schools are classified using a typology
based on a matrix of measured performance vs perceived performance.
Schools’ performance is to some extent dependent on variables not under the
control of the school, such as pupils’ prior attainment, and socioeconomic background.
However, taking those into account, it is found that schools’ performance
varies considerably and that there is significant room for improvement.
The results are used to inform external assessors’ judgements.
3 - Technical Efficiency and Productivity among Swedish
Higher Education Institutions
Christian Andersson, Swedish National Audit Office (SNAO),
Nybrogatan 55, 11490, Stockholm, Sweden,
christian.andersson@riksrevisionen.se, Jesper Antelius, Månsson
Jonas, Krister Sund
We study technical efficiency and productivity among Swedish higher education
institutions (HEI’s). Efficiency and productivity are computed using a
DEA-framework. Our results indicate an average inefficiency of 7% and a
productivity increase of around 2%. The analysis reveals that HEI’s with large
proportions of on—campus program students have high efficiency. HEI’s with
a large proportion of students enrolled in distance education are more likely to
be inefficient. Our results show that highly specialized HEI’s are more efficient
than HEI’s that cover many academic disciplines.
4 - Efficiency Assessment of Education Faculties
Erhan Berk, Defence Science, Hava Duragi Lojmanlari 4.Blok
Daire:1, 06790, Ankara, Turkey, erhanberk@hotmail.com, Diyar
Akay
Today, the development level of a country is measured with the investments
made on human resources, and the biggest among them is education. Even
education is in the every phase of the life, elementary education is the utmost
important since it is the initial step in the education; and for that reason elementary
school teachers have great responsibility. In this study, efficiency assessment
of education faculties in Turkey is performed by analyzing the data,
related to 2010, collected from 56 education faculties located in Turkey. The
assessments are made using six different models.
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