When working with my clients, I often hear them talk about taking a ‎‎"bottom up" or "top down" approach to addressing a problem. Which ‎method is most effective? ‎

The terms "top down" and "bottom up" are often used to indicate how decisions ‎are made or how initiatives are driven within an organization.‎
• A "top down" approach is one in which the top- level management ‎determines the approach to be taken and then disseminates it to the lower ‎levels of the organizational hierarchy. ‎
• A "bottom up" approach usually emanates from people at the lower levels ‎of the organization working together to drive a change or decision ‎throughout the organization. ‎
• A "top down" approach usually ensures compliance. ‎
• A "bottom up" approach usually ensures strong organizational buy-in. ‎
Although in certain circumstances one approach might be better than another, ‎usually both approaches need to be employed during the life of a project and it is ‎simply a question of balancing them. In fact, it might be better to "mix and ‎match" at appropriate times (employ a "top down" approach in one stage of a ‎project and a "bottom up" approach in another).‎

Tip: Don't be too quick try to adopt a single approach. Recognize that more often ‎than not it is a question of balancing the two methods in an effective manner.‎


Source: institute of Management Consultants – USA‎