Key facts

UNE unit code: ECON577

*You are viewing the 2024 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.

Start
  • Trimester 2 - On Campus
  • Trimester 2 - Online
Campus
  • Armidale Campus
24/7 online support
  • Yes
Intensive schools
  • No
Supervised exam
  • Yes
Credit points
  • 6

Unit information

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In an era of rapid change, studying this unit will equip you with the tools to measure and evaluate performance in complex firms and organisations with multiple inputs and outputs in order to help them improve business efficiency and productivity, and become more responsive to disruptions brought about by new technology.

Using quantitative approaches such as data envelopment analysis, stochastic frontier analysis and index numbers, you will measure and decompose productivity differences into various components. These includes technical efficiency, allocative efficiency, scale efficiency and technological change.

You will gain hands-on experience implementing these methods using different software packages and data sets in a selection of case studies.

Offerings

For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.

Teaching period
Mode/location
Trimester 2On Campus, Armidale Campus
Trimester 2Online

*Offering is subject to availability

Intensive schools

There are no intensive schools required for this unit.

Enrolment rules

Pre-requisites
ECON101 and ECON271 or ECON371 or candidature in a postgraduate award
Restrictions
ECON377 or ECON477
Combined units

Notes

This unit is offered in alternate years.

Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.

Unit coordinator(s)

profile photo of Renato Villano
Renato VillanoChair, Research and Research Training Committee, UNE Business School - Faculty of Science, Agriculture, Business and Law; UNE Business School

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. demonstrate an advanced understanding of performance measurement using the concepts of technical efficiency, allocative efficiency, scale efficiency, and total factor productivity;
  2. demonstrate a specialist understanding of how to measure technical efficiency, allocative efficiency, scale efficiency, and total factor productivity, given access to suitable data;
  3. apply and interpret the three principal performance measurement methods: index numbers, stochastic frontier analysis, and data envelopment analysis;
  4. critically analyse and evaluate empirical literature in the area of efficiency and productivity measurement; and
  5. critically evaluate the ways in which these methods can be used to address management and policy issues.

Assessment information

Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

TitleMust CompleteWeightOfferingsAssessment Notes
Assignment 1No15%All offerings

Problem-based and computations.

Assignment 2No15%All offerings

Problem-based and computations.

Assignment 3No15%All offerings

Problem-based and computations.

Final ExaminationYes55%All offerings 

Learning resources

Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

Note: Referenced material is held in the University Library — purchase is optional.

Benchmarking with DEA, SFA and R

ISBN: 9781441979605

Bogetoft, P. and Otto, L., Springer 2011

Note: Available from the Dixson Library, UNE. Additional Journal Articles will be provided in the Learning Resources.

Text refers to: All offerings

An Introduction to Efficiency and Productivity Analysis

ISBN: 9780387242668

Coelli, T.J., Rao, P.S., O'Donnell, C.J. and Battese, G.E., Springer 2nd revised ed. 2006

Note: Additional Journal Articles will be provided in the Learning Resources.

Text refers to: All offerings

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