Evaluation of the results of a production simulation game using a dynamic DEA approach

- DEA is used to evaluate the performance of teams in a simulation game.
- The effect of production management decisions on efficiency is analyzed using DEA.
- A dynamic DEA model is applied to analyze changes in efficiency over time.
- The results of a static and a dynamic DEA model are compared.

Assessing the performance of teams participating in simulation games is a special area of performance evaluation, because not only the results achieved by the teams, but also the characteristics of the learning process are evaluated. In this paper, data envelopment analysis (DEA) is applied to the evaluation of the results of teams competing in a production simulation game used during a Master's degree program. An output oriented, slack-based DEA model with constant returns to scale is proposed. The slack-based measure is modified to avoid the problems of negative data. A comparison of the results of the static and the dynamic DEA models reveals how the dynamic approach can help to explore the characteristics of the evolution of efficiency over time. Some general conclusions concerning the application of dynamic DEA models in a simulation environment are also presented.