Given the growing demand for electricity in Iraq and the significant contribution of gas-fired power plants to electricity generation, evaluating and improving the efficiency of these units from economic, environmental, and social perspectives is an imperative. This study aims to develop an integrated framework for identifying inputs and outputs for employing Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to assess the performance of gas-fired power plants in southern Iraq. To this end, Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) was employed to identify and structure problematic factors and challenges through expert interviews. The challenges of electricity generation and influencing factors were structured as inputs and outputs. The findings revealed that the inputs and outputs of gas-fired power plants in Iraq can be defined within seven subsystems: economic, environmental, supply, human resources, technology and infrastructure, social, and managerial. The integration of SSM and DEA provides an effective framework for multifaceted performance analysis, enabling root definitions and conceptual modeling that support evidence-based policymaking, efficient resource allocation, and strategic planning for structural reform and transition toward sustainable energy within Iraq's power sector.
