Article
Development of Performance Evaluation Indicators for Table
Grape Packaging Units. 2. Global Indexes
Edson Kogachi * , Adonias Ferreira, Carlos Cavalcante and Marcelo Embiruçu
Citation: Kogachi, E.; Ferreira, A.;
Cavalcante, C.; Embiruçu, M.
Development of Performance
Evaluation Indicators for Table Grape
Packaging Units. 2. Global Indexes.
Sustainability 2021, 13, 6367.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116367
Academic Editors: João Carlos de
Oliveira Matias and Marc A. Rosen
Received: 28 April 2021
Accepted: 1 June 2021
Published: 3 June 2021
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4.0/).
Industrial Engineering Program, Polytechnic Institute, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador 40210630, Brazil;
adoniasmagdiel@ufba.br (A.F.); arthurtc@ufba.br (C.C.); embirucu@ufba.br (M.E.)
* Correspondence: ekogachi@gmail.com
Abstract:
The adoption of a global index (GI) for performance evaluation has been increasingly
recognized as a useful strategy for decision-making as it simplifies the interpretation and monitoring
of the results. Because the GI is often built by adopting a combination of different procedures
for normalization, weighting, and aggregation of indicators, it is challenging to select the optimal
combination of procedures, since the countless combinations lead to different results. This paper
proposes a method for the development of a robust and original GI for the evaluation of table grape
production units (TGPUs). Various combinations of procedures were used to develop eighteen GIs
for each TGPU. These are located in the lower-middle San Francisco valley in the northeast of Brazil,
where their robustness was assessed by identifying outlier GIs and via a graphical analysis. Plausible
GIs were reliably identified and a cluster analysis was conducted to categorize the TGPUs into groups
considering each performance objective. The identification of the outlier GIs and the use of the
plausible GIs in cluster formation constitute a new scientific approach to the topic, which can be
extended to other applications and contribute to the sustainable development of several industries.
Keywords:
global index; cluster analysis; packaging; table grapes; sustainability; lower-middle San
Francisco valley in Brazil
1. Introduction
Several previous studies have addressed the definition, development, and use of
indicators for various objectives, such as performance evaluations, action planning, control
of achievements, and positioning in relation to global and strategic objectives, in many
areas [
1
]. An increasing challenge is the proposal of indicators that encompass several
dimensions in a single indicator, known as a global index (GI). GIs have been increasingly
recognized as a useful tool [
2
] and several studies have emphasized the need to assess
performance using a GI [
3
–
6
]. Examples of GIs used in multidimensional performance
assessment include the human development index (HDI) and gross domestic product
(GDP). They are considered easier to interpret than a set of individual indicators, easier
to use for educating and communicating to the general public, easier to monitor progress
over time, and more useful for decision-making [7].
Among the papers addressing the development of GIs, those that adopt normaliza-
tion, weighting, and aggregation procedures make up the majority [
8
–
10
]. The observed
variations in the results of these methods are due to the many possible combinations of
these procedures (normalization, weighting, and aggregation). Therefore, it is necessary to
analyze the combinations of procedures because the heterogeneity of the results reduces
the credibility of the method [
1
]. If the GI is poorly constructed, it can be used to send
misleading messages or even to manipulate results in favor of certain interests [11].
Some authors [
2
] have expressed concerns that the heterogeneity of the combinations
reduces the credibility of the GI used to rank the performance of countries in areas such
as industrial competitiveness, sustainable development, globalization and innovation.
Sustainability 2021, 13, 6367. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116367 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability
