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Here, we examine the capability of artificial neural networks (ANNs) in sensitivity analysis of the parameters of efficiency analysis model, namely data envelopment analysis (DEA). We are mainly interested to observe the required change of a group of parameters when another group goes under a managerial change, maintaining the score of the efficiency. In other words, this methodology provides a platform for simulating the level of some parameters against the remaining parameters for generating different scenarios, as being in demand for managers.

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Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is a nonparametric approach for evaluating the relative efficiency of a homogenous set of Decision Making Units (DMUs). To evaluate the relative efficiency of all DMUs, DEA model should be solved once for each DMU. Therefore, by increasing the number of DMUs, computational requirements are increased. The Cerebellar Model Articulation Controller (CMAC) is a neural network that resembles a part of the brain known as cerebellum. The CMAC network with a simple structure is capable of estimating nonlinear functions, system modelling and pattern recognition. Meanwhile, the CMAC approach has fast learning convergence and local generalization in comparison to other networks. The present paper is concerned with assessing the efficiency of DMUs by the CMAC neural network for the first time. The proposed approach is applied to a large set of 600 Iranian bank branches. The efficiency results are analyzed and compared with the Multi-layer Perceptrons (MLP) network outcomes. Based on the results, it can be seen that the DEA-CMAC results tend to be similar to those of DEA-MLP in terms of accuracy. In addition, the Mean Squared Error (MSE) in DEA-CMAC decreases much faster than that in DEA-MLP. The DEA-CMAC model takes 1008 and 1107 iterations to reach MSE errors of 2.03×〖10〗^(-4) and of 6.01×〖10〗^(-4), respectively, while the DEA-MLP model takes 1190 iterations keeping the MSE error stable at 2.07×〖10〗^(-1). Moreover, DEA-CMAC requirements for CPU time are far less than those needed by DEA-MLP.

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Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is a nonparametric approach for evaluating the relative efficiency of a homogenous set of Decision Making Units (DMUs). To evaluate the relative efficiency of all DMUs, DEA model should be solved once for each DMU. Therefore, by increasing the number of DMUs, computational requirements are increased. The Cerebellar Model Articulation Controller (CMAC) is a neural network that resembles a part of the brain known as cerebellum. The CMAC network with a simple structure is capable of estimating nonlinear functions, system modelling and pattern recognition. Meanwhile, the CMAC approach has fast learning convergence and local generalization in comparison to other networks. The present paper is concerned with assessing the efficiency of DMUs by the CMAC neural network for the first time. The proposed approach is applied to a large set of 600 Iranian bank branches. The efficiency results are analyzed and compared with the Multi-layer Perceptrons (MLP) network outcomes. Based on the results, it can be seen that the DEA-CMAC results tend to be similar to those of DEA-MLP in terms of accuracy. In addition, the Mean Squared Error (MSE) in DEA-CMAC decreases much faster than that in DEA-MLP. The DEA-CMAC model takes 1008 and 1107 iterations to reach MSE errors of 2.03×10-4  and of 6.01×10-4 , respectively, while the DEA-MLP model takes 1190 iterations keeping the MSE error stable at 2.07×10-1 . Moreover, DEA-CMAC requirements for CPU time are far less than those needed by DEA-MLP.