Incrementellism

Incrementellism, or Incrementellism, is a term used to describe a philosophy or approach that favors small, gradual changes over sweeping, comprehensive reforms. It emphasizes proceeding through a sequence of modest, easily acceptable steps, each intended to be implementable, reversible, and subject to evaluation. The idea is that incremental adjustments build on existing structures and knowledge, reducing risk and political resistance while allowing learning from ongoing experience.

The concept has roots in public administration and political science, where it is associated with the idea that decision making in government and large organizations often proceeds in fits and starts through a process of bounded rationality and bargaining among stakeholders. A prominent formulation is Charles Lindblom’s description of “muddling through,” which views policy change as a series of small adaptations rather than a single, comprehensive redesign. Incrementellism is often contrasted with radical or revolutionary change, which aims to overhaul systems in one step.

In practice, Incrementellism appears in various domains. In public policy, it manifests as iterative revisions to laws and programs, building on existing frameworks to gain incremental gains. In management and product development, it echoes continuous improvement, iterative development, and agile methodologies, where enhancements are delivered in small increments and evaluated before proceeding.

Critics argue that excessive reliance on incrementalism can slow transformative reform, entrench undesirable habits, or produce policy drift. Proponents contend that it fosters stability, broad stakeholder buy-in, and frequent learning, which can ultimately yield durable improvements. Variants include strategic incrementalism and adaptive incrementalism, which emphasize direction and learning in guiding gradual change.