Faculty - Daniel Solow

Professor, Operations

Ph.D., Stanford University, 1978
M.S., University of California at Berkeley, 1972
B.S., Carnegie-Mellon University, 1970

Daniel Solow pursues several streams of research. The first area is “complex systems”, which are systems made up of a number of factors that interact in complex ways. He’s developed mathematical models that provide insight on how much interaction among employees and managers is good for performance and the role and value of leadership. Related research identifies when, how and how much central control benefits a complex system. Danny's second research area involves developing computer programs for solving decision problems in business, engineering, economics, mathematics and computer science. And his third focus is in developing systematic teaching methods to help college and graduate students learn advanced mathematics.

Interests

Teaching

I teach the use of quantitative methods such as statistics and modeling for use in decision making to MBA, Masters and Ph.D. students.

Research

I use mathematical models, analysis and computer simulations to study how properties emerge in complex adaptive systems, with applications to teams and leadership in organizations. I also do basic research with linear, combinatorial and nonlinear optimization.

Selected Publications

• Millhiser, W., Coen, C. A., Solow, D. (2011). Understanding the role of worker interdependence in team selection (vol. 22, issue 3, pp. 772-787). Organization Science.
• Solow, D. (2009). How to Read and Do Proofs, 5th edition (pp. 301). New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons.
• Solow, D., Halim, H. H. (2009). In Prof. Angappa Gunasekaran (Ed.), Improving the Efficiency of the Simplex Algorithm Based on a Geometric Explanation of Phase 1 (vol. 5, issue 4, pp. 408 - 428). International Journal of Operational Research.
• Solow, D., Szmerekovsky, J. (2008). Factors that Affect the Optimal Amount of Central Control in Complex Systems Naval Research Logistics.
• Solow, D. Linear Programming: An Introduction to Finite Improvement Algorithms Dover Publications.
• Solow, D. How to Read and Do Proofs, 6th edition (pp. 301). New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons.

Presentations

• Solow, D. (Presenter & Author) Naval Postgraduate School, "What makes a Combinatorial Optimization Problem Easy or Hard to Solve?", Department of Operations Research, Monterey, CA. (2012).
• Solow, D. (Presenter & Author), Szmerekovsky, J. (Author Only) Naval Postgraduate School, "What makes a Combinatorial Optimization Problem Easy or Hard to Solve?” ", Department of Operations Research, Monterey, CA. (2012).
• Solow, D. (Presenter & Author) High School Outreach, "On the Nature of Mathematical Proofs", Montessori High School, Cleveland, OH. (2011).
• Solow, D. (Presenter & Author), Szmerekovsky, J. (Author Only) Naval Postgraduate School, "Mathematical Models Justifying the Emergence of Leadership", Department of Operations Research, Monterey, CA. (2010).
• Solow, D. Asian Simulation and Modeling Conference, "Factors that Affect the Optimal Amount of Central Control in Complex Systems", Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand. (2009).

Academic and Professional Activities

• Committee Member, Ad Hoc Darwin Committee, 2006 - 2009

Awards

• Weatherhead Teaching Excellence, Weatherhead School of Management. (2010).