- In politics, the term Incrementalism is also used as a synonym for Gradualism.
Incrementalism is a method of working by adding to a project using many small changes instead of a few (extensively planned) large jumps.
Logical incrementalism implies that the steps in the process are sensible. Logical Incrementalism focuses on "the Power-Behavioral Approach to planning rather than to the Formal Systems Planning Approach." In public policy, incrementalism refers to the method of change by which many small policy changes are enacted over time in order to create a larger broad based policy change. This was the theoretical policy of rationality developed by
Lindblom to be seen as a middle way between the
rational actor model and
bounded rationality, as both long term goal driven policy rationality and
satisficing were not seen as adequate.
