Jim Rutt defines the term 'bottom-up' as a system organization and decision-making process that prioritizes input, influence, and initiation from the lower levels of a hierarchy or grassroots operations rather than from top-down directives from higher authorities. This approach emphasizes the empowerment and autonomy of individuals and small groups within the system, which collectively contribute to its overall functionality and adaptation. In a bottom-up system, the flow of information, ideas, and innovations originates from these decentralized units, allowing for a more organic, flexible, and responsive structure. Rutt advocates for this model as it often leads to more robust and sustainable outcomes, leveraging the diverse perspectives and localized knowledge inherent in its contributors.

See also: emergence, evolutionary computing, evolution, self-organization