Using data envelopment analysis to investigate the performance of industrial clusters to utilise resources

Industrial clusters use different resources to realise their desired performance. Managers and decision makers tend to know how clusters use resources to create outputs and products and which of them efficiently/non‐efficiently utilise input resources. In this study some of the industrial clusters in different business sections ('handicrafts', 'food', 'construction' and 'manufacturing') have been considered. For each cluster, 'technology', 'human resources skill' and 'work environment' are supposed as input resources. In addition, 'production capability' and 'products quality' are considered as output factors. Basic CCR DEA model has been applied to calculate the efficiency factors for two approaches. First, all input resources have been considered and the efficiency factors of the industrial clusters have been attained to show which of them efficiently or non‐efficiently utilise inputs. Afterwards, input resources have been investigated individually to indicate which cluster efficiently or non‐efficiently use each input resources ('technology', 'human resources skill' and 'work environment').