Title: Using constructivist multi-criteria decision aid to evaluate the workforce sizing in public organisations: the case of a Brazilian university

Authors: Juliana Fausto Flores; André Andrade Longaray; Leonardo Ensslin; Ademar Dutra; Sandra Ensslin; Vilmar Antonio Gonçalves Tondolo

Addresses: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem – PPGENF, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande – FURG, Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil ' Programa de Pós-Graduação em Modelagem Computacional – PPGMC, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande – FURG, Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil ' Programa de Pós-Graduação em Administração – PPGA, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina – UNISUL, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, SC, Brazil ' Programa de Pós-Graduação em Administração – PPGA, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina – UNISUL, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, SC, Brazil ' Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia de Produção – PPGEP, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina – UFSC, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, SC, Brazil ' Programa de Pós-Graduação em Administração – PPGA, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande – FURG, Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil

Abstract: When addressing staff sizing management, the workforce that is required to meet the institution's objectives must be quantitatively and qualitatively identified and analysed, taking the institution's environment into account. Most studies concerning workforce sizing in learning institutions are limited to measuring faculty performance. Therefore, a gap in the literature exists concerning a performance evaluation of the sizing procedures for the administrative workforce at universities. We developed a model to determine the requirements for a workforce sizing at a Brazilian public university. The research was classified as applied, exploratory, and descriptive, and it was divided into qualitative and quantitative steps. Utilising a constructivist multi-criteria decision aid approach, 83 primary evaluation elements and 119 descriptors were identified. The status quo analysis revealed three areas with performance levels significantly lower and 50 indicators that are at a compromising level, for which action plans were proposed. The built model supported the manager in the performance evaluation of the staff sizing procedures.

Keywords: performance evaluation; MCDA-C; staff sizing; universities; human resources.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOR.2023.134779

International Journal of Operational Research, 2023 Vol.48 No.3, pp.316 - 337

Received: 21 Aug 2020
Accepted: 28 Feb 2021
Published online: 10 Nov 2023 *

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