Pitfalls and solutions in inverse models of data envelopment analysis with network structures

Abstract Today, data envelopment analysis models with network structures are widely used to evaluate the performance of production systems and activities in various fields. the relationships between the internal stages of the network provides more information about the performance of each stage as well as their effects on the performance of the entire network to the managers and decision-makers. The inverse data envelopment analysis model is introduced to estimate useful information to system decision-makers, about analyzing the sensitivity of system inputs or outputs as long as the efficiency score is kept unchanged or improved according to the managers preferences. Managers can apply their important preferences and policies on resources, including input and output when analyzing production, resource allocation process, increasing resource efficiency, etc. on the system to use the results for future decisions. In this article, we will discuss the problems of infeasibility that can occur in theory and application for the inverse model of data envelopment analysis with network structure. After introducing these problems, an innovative idea is presented to prevent these shortcomings. Then, various problems are supposed, in terms of theory and applications, and are solved with case studies.