Implementing and interpreting a data envelopment analysis model to assess the efficiency of health systems in developing countries

This paper presents a data envelopment analysis model that canbe implemented by public sector management for assessing theefficiency of a health system within a developing country. Toillustrate the practical implementation and interpretation ofthe model this study compares health systems across 51 developingcountries using 1998–99 data. The results of the analysisgenerated empirical indicators of efficiency, and we demonstratehow these may then be used by management in order to understandthe factors associated with good performance of a health system.     

Operational Research for “Multi-organizations”

The need for operational research in the public and social services draws attention to the problems of conflicting and competing objectives present in such situations. The characteristics of a "multi-organization" are described, it consists of parts of several organizations, which come together for some task. Examples are given of the problems of doing operational research in multi-organizations and some possible approaches and models are suggested. Aspects of operational research methodology which require further development are indicated.