Technology Modernization: A Decision Support System Incorporating Extensions of Data Envelopment Analysis for Prioritization of Contracts

摘要

Technology Modernization (Tech Mod) is a DoD effort to incentivize U.S. industry to modernize their facilities and procedures. For DoD personnel to effectively manage the Tech Mod programs, they must not only understand the Tech Mod processes, but also the factors that control and influence the process. This thesis examines the environment that Tech Mod operates in, studies three Tech Mod decision processes, develops a normative decision process that can serve as a basis for a decision support system (DSS), and demonstrates how the normative model developed can be used in a DSS. The study of the Tech Mod environment coupled with the Tech Mod case studies were used to develop the normative model. In exploring ways to expand one of the modules in the flow diagram, the researchers developed a prioritization technique using as a basis the linear programming technique called Data Envelopment Analysis. The method developed ranks multiple input/output contracts using technical and allocation efficiencies as a basis. The method further allows the decision maker to analyze the prioritization scheme from several perspective, thus giving him a better understanding of the problem (inputs/outputs). The method may have generic application for profit and nonprofit organizations alike.