Policy of achieving a goal in steps

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
Gradualism , from Latin gradus ("step"), is a hypothesis, a theory or a tenet assuming that change comes about gradually or that variation is gradual in nature. Uniformitarianism , incrementalism , and reformism are similar concepts.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1832, in abolitionist literature, as a disparaging term (opposed to immediatism ), from gradual + -ism . Related: Gradualist .

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. 1 (label en biology) The belief that evolution proceeds at a steady pace, without the sudden development of new species or biological features from one generation to the next. 2 (label en transferred sense) The belief that some phenomenon occurs gradually ...