The Impact of Size and Specialisation on Universities' Department Performance: A DEA Analysis Applied to Austrian Universities

Autor/inn/en	Leitner, Karl-Heinz; Prikoszovits, Julia; Schaffhauser-Linzatti, Michaela; Stowasser, Rainer; Wagner, Karin
Titel	The Impact of Size and Specialisation on Universities' Department Performance: A DEA Analysis Applied to Austrian Universities
Quelle	In: Higher Education: The International Journal of Higher Education and Educational Planning, 53 (2007) 4, S.517-538 (22 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0018-1560
DOI	10.1007/s10734-006-0002-9
Schlagwörter	Universities; Efficiency; Performance; Science Departments; Organization Size (Groups); Specialization; Benchmarking; Evaluation; Foreign Countries; Austria + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? University; Universität; Effectiveness; Effektivität; Wirkungsgrad; Achievement; Leistung; Organization size; Unternehmensgröße; Arbeitsteilige Spezialisierung; Evaluierung; Ausland; Österreich
Abstract	This paper explores the performance efficiency of natural and technical science departments at Austrian universities using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). We present DEA as an alternative tool for benchmarking and ranking the assignment of decision-making units (organisations and organisational units). The method applies a multiple input and output variables approach, which is a clear advantage to other approaches using simple performance ratios. To deliver reasonable results, suitable input and output variables have been determined in a previous step using correlation analyses and OLS regression. The results validate the methods applied, and reveal performance differences and scale effects. The use of multiple output variables enables the revealing of detailed improvement or reduction amounts of each input and output of the evaluated units and furthermore for identifying the specialisation of teaching, research, and industrial cooperation. We find significant evidence that the size of a department influences its overall and specialisation performance; both small and large departments perform above average, which proves that simple linear scale effects do not exist. (Author).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10