Measurement Efficiency of Entrepreneurial Universities by Using Mathematical Programming (DEA) Approach

Abstract

Entrepreneurship orientation (EO) approach provides universities with a plan and roadmap for getting over rising uncertainty and complexity. Inspiring universities to embrace transformation and innovation, risk taking and proactive policy for planning and executing development strategies for success in the dynamic competitive environment arise from entrepreneurship orientation spirit. To reach this status, the key factors of success in entrepreneurship should be taken into consideration and assessed in universities. Structural and entrepreneurial policies as key non-financial factors are two concepts that have received considerable attention over the past years. Measuring efficiency of universities by the mentioned factors and using mathematical programming like Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method is the aim of this study. Hence, this paper applied DEA method for measuring efficiency of 16 faculties and institutes in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM) in Iran. Descriptive-survey methodology was used and data were collected through questionnaire survey. The faculties and institutes were ranked based on structural policies and EO through DEA. Finally, the DEA method recommended the development roadmaps template for the 11 faculties and institutes which were inefficient.