A new approach to the bi-dimensional representation of the DEA efficient frontier with multiple inputs and outputs

•We propose a new approach to visualize the DEA efficient frontier and the position of the DMUs.•It is shown that the efficiencies are easily obtained using graphical representation.•The results of the standard DEA models (CCR and BCC) are used to derive the new graphical representation.•It is shown that the efficient frontier has always the same shape, regardless of the model.•Depending on the model and the orientation used, DMUs location may move on the representation plane.

This paper presents a new approach to the graphical presentation of DEA results. Whatever the number of inputs and outputs are, an adequate normalization of their weights is enough to generate a simple bi-dimensional graph, similar to that of the CCR frontier with one input and one output. An advantage over other approaches to the same representation problem is that no complementary techniques are required to plot the frontier. It is also proved that the distance of a DMU to the frontier is related to its efficiency. The proposed approach is also valid for the BCC model.