Gary B. Hirsch - Consultant, Creator of Learning Environments

A Little About Me…

Gary Hirsch has been consulting with organizations on management strategy and organizational change for the past 35 years. He has worked with clients in diverse areas such as health care, human services, education, and news media. He specializes in applying System Dynamics and Systems Thinking and using these techniques in the creation of simulation-based learning environments. The learning environments help people develop intuition about complex systems and problems by working with them in a manner not possible in the real world. These experiences help them understand why simplistic or fragmentary fixes don't work and how comprehensive, well-coordinated approaches are required for effective solutions.

Mr. Hirsch received SB and SM degrees from MIT’s Sloan School of Management with concentrations in System Dynamics and Public Sector Management. He then set up a Health and Social Systems Group at Pugh-Roberts Associates and managed it for 11 years. After leaving Pugh-Roberts, he became an independent consultant, working with a number of firms including Institutional Strategy Associates and Innovation Associates.

Mr. Hirsch is the author of three books and numerous journal and magazine articles and conference presentations about System Dynamics and Systems Thinking and their application to education, health care, human services, and other public sector management problems. He is also the author of a number of software packages that use simulation to teach complex concepts. For a number of years, Mr. Hirsch was a faculty member of MIT’s Summer Session on the Dynamics of Health Service Systems. His other interests include economic and social planning for developing countries, urban problems, delivery of welfare and related social services, and environmental problems. Another area of specialization for Mr. Hirsch has been the design of information systems for organizations’ Boards of Directors.

Welcome to my web site. I’m a developer of learning environments that help people better understand the complex systems they deal with. These systems can be schools, hospitals, community agencies, retail stores, and other businesses. My learning environments help adults manage their organizations and adapt to change. They help students understand the complex systems encountered in the natural and social sciences. My learning environments are based on System Dynamics simulation models. My web site will tell you more about me, my learning environments, and about System Dynamics. Click on one of the links to learn more or reach me.