Efficiency Analysis of Technology-Based Firms Using the SBM-DEA Model‎: ‎Evidence from Iran

‎This study employs a two-stage analytical framework to assess efficiency, comprising a standard SBM evaluation and a novel weighted SBM model. Unlike conventional SBM-DEA applications, the proposed weighted model uses an enhanced slack-based mechanism that prioritizes strategic inputs (R&D investment, number of employees, and funding) and clearly distinguishes input redundancies (e.g., excessive R&D expenditure or staffing) from output deficiencies (e.g., weak revenue performance). This separation yields more precise and targeted diagnostic insights. Additionally, the model incorporates sector-specific efficiency differentiation, supported by ANOVA, enabling assessment of cross-firm inefficiencies and their statistical significance in terms of systemic versus sector-specific phenomena. The methodology is applied to a distinctive panel of ۱۴۶ technology-based firms (TBFs) in Iranian science and technology parks from ۲۰۲۱–۲۰۲۳, a context rarely explored with DEA in emerging markets. The study combines quantitative DEA results from both models with qualitative follow-up analyses of factors such as marketing strategies, private investment initiatives, and certification achievements, producing a robust mixed-methods approach and actionable policy recommendations. A comparative analysis reveals that fully efficient firms comprise ۲.۷\% under the unweighted model and ۳.۴\% under the weighted model, indicating that weighting yields a small, non-significant change in overall efficiency. About ۹۷.۳\% of firms display efficiency gaps due to input redundancies or output shortfalls. Sectoral tests show no statistically significant inter-sector differences, pointing to systemic inefficiencies across industries. Qualitative insights identify firm-level success factors—effective marketing, certification, and investment strategies—that align with the detected inefficiency patterns. Collectively, these findings offer measurable strategies for improvement, such as reducing redundant investment and enhancing revenue-generation mechanisms, to inform evidence-based policy aimed at the commercialization and growth of TBFs in emerging markets.

کلیدواژه ها:

Data envelopment analysis‎ ، ‎Slack-based measure‎ ، ‎Efficiency ranking‎ ، ‎Sector-specific efficiency‎ ، ‎Technology-based firms