Performance measurement in not-for-profit organisations : relative efficiency among South African public universities

Abstract

This interdisciplinary thesis has two principal objectives: to measure the relative efficiency of South Africa's public universities between 1994-97 and to provide explanations for levels of efficiency observed. Two methods Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and analytical review - were used to measure relative efficiency and to attempt to explain efficiency amongst the ten universities for which comparable data were available, covering the years 1994 to 1997. Three DEA models academic, research and consolidated - were estimated and this analysis was supplemented by the analytical review method. which confirmed the results from the DEA computations. Institutions were grouped according to their relative efficiency measures within three suggested apparent levels of efficiency. An attempt was made to explain efficiency across various dimensions and the issue of quality was also addressed. Finally, some benchmarks of 'best practice' for the university sector were suggested. These findings have important implications for policy in higher education, particularly in respect of university rationalisation and governance.