Purposesadding

Purposesadding is the deliberate practice of explicitly enumerating and embedding the purposes or objectives that a project, policy, algorithm, or organization intends to advance, and of designing decisions and assessments to align with that catalog. As a concept, it appears in discussions of governance, ethics, and design as a way to reduce ambiguity and mission drift.

Etymology and scope: The term is a neologism formed from "purpose" and "adding" and is used mainly in academic and policy circles rather than as a widely adopted standard. It is distinct from defining goals in a plan by emphasizing the ongoing maintenance of a purposes list throughout development and operation.

Process and methods: Purposesadding typically begins with a formal listing of core purposes, followed by operationalization into indicators, metrics, or decision criteria. Projects map actions to purposes and require justification for new activities that affect alignment. Methods such as logic models, theory of change, or multi-criteria decision analysis are commonly used to support the process.

Applications and examples: In AI governance, purposesadding can help ensure that systems uphold safety, fairness, and transparency. In public policy, it provides a transparent basis for evaluating program results. A municipal project might enumerate purposes such as mobility, accessibility, and environmental sustainability, and assess proposed features against those aims.

Benefits and criticisms: Proponents cite clearer accountability, easier evaluation, and better stakeholder communication. Critics warn that enumerating purposes may become bureaucratic, fail to anticipate emergent uses, or produce conflicts among purposes that require prioritization and governance.

See also: Related concepts include multi-objective optimization, impact assessment, governance, and mission statements.