A Glimpse of Input Congestion Methods in Data Envelopment Analysis

Authors

https://doi.org/10.48314/jidcm.v1i2.68

Abstract

This comprehensive review explores recent advances in measuring and analyzing congestion within Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), a pivotal tool in efficiency assessment of Decision-Making Units (DMUs). The study categorizes multiple methodologies developed over the years, focusing on both classical and novel models to detect, quantify, and interpret congestion situations where input increases lead to output reductions or vice versa, indicating inefficiencies or overutilization. These approaches include input-oriented, output-oriented, multi-stage, weight-restriction, and models addressing undesirable outputs, as well as those accommodating integer data and production trade-offs. Several models utilize concepts such as Pareto efficiency, slack variables, and weight restrictions to formalize congestion detection, with specific attention to strong, weak, and wide congestion phenomena. The synthesis includes algorithms for projecting DMUs onto efficiency or congestion boundaries, alongside measures for the extent of congestion. Furthermore, innovative techniques addressing multiple stages, undesirable outputs, and integer data expand the applicability of DEA in complex, real-world scenarios. The findings offer researchers a robust, categorically organized toolkit for congestion analysis, advancing the understanding of resource overuse and production bottlenecks, thereby contributing to more accurate efficiency measurement and resource management strategies in diverse sectors. 

Keywords:

Data envelopment analysis, Decision-making units, Input-oriented, Output-oriented, Multi-stage

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Published

2025-06-16

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 2 (2025): Journal of Intelligent Decision and Computational Modelling (JIDCM)

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Jokar, F. ., & Hadi Vencheh, A. . (2025). A Glimpse of Input Congestion Methods in Data Envelopment Analysis. Journal of Intelligent Decision and Computational Modelling, 1(2), 107-137. https://doi.org/10.48314/jidcm.v1i2.68

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