A multi-subsystem fuzzy DEA model with its application in mutual funds management companies’ competence evaluation

Abstract This paper proposes a multi-subsystem fuzzy data envelopment analysis (MFDEA) model to evaluate mutual funds management companies’ core competence which is apparently characterized with both qualitative factors and quantitative factors. As the first attempt of core competence analysis of mutual funds management companies in a financial market, we evaluate how close the mutual funds management companies are to the best practices frontier, and analyze how they should manage their funds. An empirical study of 32 mutual funds management companies in China leads to a meaningful analysis and some management insights. The approach can also be applied to many other hard assessment and evaluation problems.