Applications of non-parametric frontier production methods such as Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) have gained popularity and recognition in scientometrics. DEA seems to be a useful method to assess the efficiency of research units in different fields and disciplines. However, DEA results give only a synthetic measurement that does not expose the multiple relationships between scientific production variables by discipline. Although some papers mention the need for studies by discipline, they do not show how to take those differences into account in the analysis. Some studies tend to homogenize the behaviour of different practice communities. In this paper we propose a framework to make inferences about DEA efficiencies, recognizing the underlying relationships between production variables and efficiency by discipline, using Bayesian Network (BN) analysis. Two different DEA extensions are applied to calculate the efficiency of research groups: one called CCRO and the other Cross Efficiency (CE). A BN model is proposed as a method to analyze the results obtained from DEA. BNs allow us to recognize peculiarities of each discipline in terms of scientific production and the efficiency frontier. Besides, BNs provide the possibility for a manager to propose what-if scenarios based on the relations found.

PurposeThis paper seeks to present a proposal to change the form in which knowledge is produced in Colombia.Design/methodology/approachDiscusses the key issue – to transform the way in which the production of knowledge is currently taking place at the university level.FindingsTo be able to increase the production of knowledge in this country there is a need to create bonds among industrial, governmental, and academic institutions. It is believed that this can be done by the development of a system capable of continuously forming researchers at a doctoral level.Originality/valueThe paper puts forward a proposal for the construction of such a system based on the developments of organizational cybernetics. The proposal is based on the concept of autonomy which is crucial to solve this problem.

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Competitiveness is essential for an organization's success in both the public and private sectors. Using three well-known mathematical methodologies, this work has centered its analysis on factors that affect primarily organizational competitiveness viewed through three different scales (global, local, and businesses). Using these methods, researchers and decision-makers gain insight to perform a qualitative analysis over key metrics of each level looking for improvements in business competitive performance and elucidate the importance of intangible assets like strategy. The authors identified that although each tool can only let us know some aspects about system agents, after combining the three tools as a toolbox, it might be used in volatile and rapidly evolving settings when strategic approaches concentrate on accurate resource allocation that demands a lot of time.