Title: An efficiency analysis of grant awarded research projects: a case study of a Malaysian public university

Authors: Noor Saifurina Nana Khurizan; Adli Mustafa; Hamidah Abd. Hamid

Addresses: School of Mathematical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Penang, Malaysia ' School of Mathematical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia ' School of Communication, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Abstract: This paper presents a novel way of evaluating the performance of grant awarded research projects using two multi-criteria decision-making methods, the measuring attractiveness through a category-based evaluation technique (MACBETH) and data envelopment analysis (DEA). This study examines the relative efficiency of the research projects as a whole and according to four groups of research disciplines. A case study of sponsored research projects from the Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia was presented in this paper. The MACBETH methodology was employed before conducting the DEA analysis to group the output variables and therefore increasing the discrimination power of DEA. A total of two inputs and four outputs, after the MACBETH analysis, were used in the DEA analysis. Also, a non-parametric statistical test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, was employed to compare the performance of the research projects according to research discipline, years sponsored and a number of collaborations. Finally, a potential improvement of selected input and output was discussed as a result of a further investigation of the DEA analysis.

Keywords: measuring attractiveness through a category-based evaluation technique; MACBETH; data envelopment analysis; DEA; sponsored research; R&D efficiency; performance measurement; university decision making.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPSPM.2018.088696

International Journal of Public Sector Performance Management, 2018 Vol.4 No.1, pp.80 - 97

Received: 27 Dec 2016
Accepted: 18 Jun 2017
Published online: 14 Dec 2017 *