Derivative-free DIRECT-type global optimization algorithms are increasingly favoured for their simplicity and effectiveness in addressing real-world optimization challenges. This review examines their practical applications through a systematic analysis of scientific journals and computational studies. In particular, significant challenges in reproducibility have been identified with practical problems. To address this, we conducted an experimental study using practical problems from reputable CEC libraries, comparing DIRECT-type techniques against their state-of-the-art counterparts. Therefore, this study sheds light on current gaps, opportunities, and future prospects for advanced research in this domain, laying the foundation for replicating and expanding the research findings presented herein.
In this study, effect of the environmental factors on the organizational behaviour in higher education sector is analysed and these factors are prioritized. For this aim, first, the environmental criteria affecting the organizational behaviour of higher education sector are selected from the literature. Then, as a solution methodology, (i) some experts are asked to determine pairwise comparison of the criteria, (ii) the linguistic terms are converted to interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy values, and (iii) an interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy DEMATEL approach is developed and applied. According to the results, most of the economic, political, and professional domain criteria are of the cause category.