Order-Value Optimization: Formulation and solution by means of a primal Cauchy method

The Order-Value Optimization problem is a generalization of the classical Minimax problem. Instead of the maximum of a set functions, the functional value that ranks in the p-th place is minimized. The problem seeks the application to (non-pessimistic) decision making and to model fitting in the presence of (perhaps systematic) outliers. A Cauchy-type method is introduced that solves the problem in the sense that every limit point satisfies an adequate optimality condition. Numerical examples are given.