Incremental but Not Disjointed

Prominent among policy analysis and decision-making theories is that known as incrementalism. In this theory decisions have six major features. First, decisions involve taking only small-incremental-steps at a time. Second, they are marginal, that is, they are not fundamental departures from the existing position. Third, they are serial, or relatively regular, each change being of roughly the same magnitude as previous changes. Fourth, they are remedial, less concerned with pursuing a better world than avoiding a worse. Fifth, they reflect an adjustment of ends to means, of objectives to the availability of resources. Sixth, they are disjointed in that they result from the discussion and examination of policy issues being carried out at numerous points in society: they are the result of partisan interests mutually adjusting to agree a decision. Incremental decisions are the opposite of rational decisions in which well planned, well coordinated major changes are made that depart radically from the existing position and are made without regard to the direction or magnitude of earlier decisions. 1

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• A Lasting Story

  Open Access•E Green•The Journal of African History•2009

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