Developing a multi-criteria decision support system for evaluating knowledge transfer by higher education institutions

ABSTRACT

This study sought to develop a multiple-criteria decision support system for evaluating transfers of knowledge from higher education institutions (HEIs) to society at large. Drawing on a panel of knowledge transfer specialists, we developed the evaluation system by completing the three phases of the multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach. The structuring phase used the strategic options development and analysis (SODA) methodology and cognitive mapping techniques. The evaluation phase applied the measuring attractiveness by a categorical-based evaluation technique (MACBETH), which allowed us to evaluate HEIs’ local and overall performance. The third phase consisted of formulating recommendations. Assuming a constructivist process-oriented stance, this research included a real-world application of the proposed system to Portuguese public HEIs. Our study demonstrates that HEI administrators can use the techniques applied to make strategic decisions when seeking to foster the transfer of knowledge to society at large.

KEYWORDS:

• Higher education institutions
• knowledge transfer
• MCDA
• SODA
• cognitive mapping
• MACBETH

Acknowledgments

Records of the group meetings including photographs, software output, and non-confidential information can be obtained from the corresponding author upon request. The authors gratefully acknowledge the outstanding contribution and infinite willingness of the panel members: Hugo Sousa, Joaquim Lima, Jorge Mendonça e Costa, Miguel Mira da Silva, Sérgio Monteiro and Vanda Martins.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia [UID/GES/00315/2013,UID/GES/04630/2013].