Reducing weight flexibility in fuzzy DEA

An important outcome of assessing relative efficiencies within a group of decision making units (DMUs) in fuzzy data envelopment analysis is a set of virtual multipliers or weights accorded to each (input or output) factor taken into account. These sets of weights are, typically, different for each of the participating DMUs, and in some cases it may be considered unacceptable that the same factor is accorded widely differing weights. Thus, it is important to find a common set of weights (CSW) across the set of DMUs. In this paper, by assessing upper bounds on factor weights and compacting the resulted intervals, a CSW is determined. Since resulted efficiencies by the proposed CSW are fuzzy numbers rather than crisp values, it is more informative for decision maker. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.