Reform should proceed by small correctable steps, because large designs cannot be tested and their failures cannot be undone.
Popper's 1945 argument, and the methodological complement of falsificationism. Close kin to Lindblom's muddling through, from an entirely different political starting point.
In practice
- A council that pilots a scheme in two wards before a borough rollout can reverse it; one that launches everywhere cannot.
- A team that changes one variable per release can attribute the effect; one that ships a redesign cannot say which part worked.
- Standing
- The methodological complement of falsificationism, and close kin to Lindblom's muddling through.
- Subject
- Design & Systems
- Essay
- Rules of thumb for building things that work