An AHP/DEA method for measurement of the efficiency of R&D management activities in universities

In order to develop a better tool for the assessment of the management performance of research and development (R&D) activities in research‐oriented universities, a combination of analysis hierarchical process (AHP) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) is proposed for the assessment of the efficiency of R&D management activities in universities. The measure consists of the measurement of a university's previous and present R&D strength by AHP and the assessment of the relative efficiency of its growth in R&D strength against those of other universities by DEA, in which the management basis of the measured universities is taken into consideration. The application of the measure to assess the R&D management efficiency of 29 universities in China indicates the universities which have improved their management work achieved a high efficiency value regardless of whether their original R&D strengths were strong or weak. Such a measure is proved to be helpful for motivating the universities to keep on improving their R&D management.