Rationality and Incrementalism in Public Policy Flashcards
What is Comprehensive rationality?
Comprehensive rationality is a theoretical framework or ideal-type model that conceptualizes policymaking as a systematic, logical process aimed at achieving societal goals through the complete and rational consideration of all options and their effects. It is not a description of reality but rather a tool for exploring how real-world policymaking deviates from this ideal. This concept is rooted in a series of assumptions about how policymakers and organizations function when making decisions. While these assumptions provide a structured way to think about policymaking, they are widely regarded as unrealistic when applied to actual policy environments.
Core Features of Comprehensive Rationality
- Separation of Values and Facts
- Consistent and Ranked Policy Preferences
- Linear Decision-Making Process
- Comprehensive Analysis
Limitations of comprehensive rationality
- Interplay of Facts and Values
- Multiplicity and Ambiguity of Objectives
- Non-linear Nature of Policymaking
- Cognitive and Practical Constraints
Who proposed Bounded Rationality?
Herbert Simon
Define Bounded Rationality?
Bounded rationality is a model of decision-making that acknowledges the inherent limitations faced by individuals and organizations in the policymaking process. Unlike comprehensive rationality, which assumes policymakers can systematically evaluate all available information and options to make optimal decisions, bounded rationality recognizes that real-world decisions are constrained by limited information, cognitive capacity, and time.
What is Simon’s view of bounded rationality?
Herbert Simon, the originator of this concept, proposed that decision-makers do not aim to maximize utility but instead seek to “satisfice”—a term he coined to describe the pursuit of options that are “good enough” rather than optimal. This approach reflects the reality of how policymakers operate under uncertainty and complexity.
Core features of bounded rationality
- Satisficing Over Maximizing
- Limited Information Processing
- Focus on Organizational Behavior
- Adaptation Through Training and Incentives
Challenges of bounded rationality
- Uncertain and Conflicting Aims
- Complexity of Centralized Control
- Incremental Problem Solving
- Biases in Decision-Making
Who proposed incrementalism and in which article?
Charles E. Lindblom in his Article “The Science of Muddling Through 1959) had advocated the concept of ‘Incremental Model’ of decision making
What is incrementalism?
According to Lindblom, Incremental Model of decision making process involves “continuously building out from the current situation, step-by-step and by small degrees”. In the context of public administration or policy studies, Incrementalism means continuing the existing programmes and policies with little modification. Further, Lindblom observes that the past activities and experiences are used by the decision makers to make future decisions. It is also known as ‘branch technique’ or “model of successive limited comparisons’ or ‘step-by-step decision-making’ model.
core features of incrementalism
- Rejection of Comprehensive Rationality
- Focus on Agreement over Ideals
- Incrementalism as an Efficient, Sensible, and Democratic Strategy
Types of Incrementalism
Simple Incremental Analysis
Disjointed Incrementalism
Strategic Analysis
What is simple incremental analysis?
Policymakers focus on a small set of options that are slightly different from current policies. They analyze these few options in depth instead of trying to cover every possible choice
Disjoined incrementalism?
Organizations use practical methods to simplify decision-making, like trying out solutions (trial and error), working on multiple tasks at once (parallel processing), and narrowing the issues they analyze
