Instead of making one big, fixed plan for change, what method involves making small tests and constant tweaks as new information comes in?

The method described is Iterative and Incremental Development. This approach breaks down a large, overarching change or project into smaller, manageable components called increments, and then develops these increments through repeated cycles called iterations. Each increment represents a small, functional piece of the overall change, designed to deliver immediate value and allow for early evaluation. For example, instead of building an entire complex software system at once, an increment might be a single, core feature that users can test. An iteration is a short, fixed-duration time box, typically lasting from one to four weeks, during which a team plans, designs, develops, and tests one or more increments. This short cycle inherently involves "small tests" because the output of each iteration is reviewed and evaluated quickly. As new information comes in, primarily through feedback loops from stakeholders, users, or the results of the increment's performance, "constant tweaks" are made. This means the plan for subsequent iterations is adjusted and refined based on validated learning from previous steps. This adaptability is central, allowing the change process to evolve rather than rigidly follow a predetermined, inflexible path. Prominent frameworks that embody Iterative and Incremental Development include Agile methodologies, such as Scrum or Kanban. These methodologies emphasize responding to change over following a fixed plan, delivering working increments frequently, and continuously collaborating with stakeholders to ensure the solution evolves to meet actual needs. Lean principles also align closely, focusing on building a minimum viable product (MVP) as an increment, measuring its impact, and learning from the results to inform the next steps in a continuous build-measure-learn cycle.