bottom-up (why in quotes)

English translation: it's the name of a system

19:21 Dec 24, 2016
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Management
English term or phrase: bottom-up (why in quotes)
Hello everyone,

From the book by thev British author Dana Zohar:

"Quantum leadership emphasizes the importance of trusting people and the system, building relationships and teams, remaining flexible and in dialogue with changing circumstances, being open to and ready for many possible futures. It also means an emphasis on meaning, vision, and values, particularly the value of service. As we shall see, the quantum leader is a “servant leader.” Where “Newtonian” organizations are run like machines, quantum organizations are respected as living systems, what biologists call “complex adaptive systems.” Living systems are in a constant creative dia- logue with their environment; they are sensitive to and readily adapt to change. They thrive on risk and creative mistakes (mutations), they are __“bottom-up”__ and self-organizing, and they are at their best in unstable circumstances. Understanding that their organizations are living systems, living organisms with brains, gives quantum leaders new power to under- stand themselves and their needs and new power to work witft rather than against the inner dynamics of the organizations and people whom they lead."

According to the dictionary:

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/bottom-up
Progressing from small or subordinate units to larger or more important units, as in an organization or process.

Why is bottom-up in quotes? Does it impy that the author used the word with the meaning that doesn't correspond to the dictionary definition? If yes, what's the meaning then?

Thank you.
Mikhail Korolev
Local time: 01:42
Selected answer:it's the name of a system
Explanation:
as in your dictionary entry
organised from bottom to top rather than top down

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 mins (2016-12-24 19:33:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

notice the other quotation marks in the paragraph e.g. what biologists call “complex adaptive systems" so the quotation marks show that this term is to be understood as a bottom-up (rather than top-down) "living system" which is mutable and ever-changing depending on its environment...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2016-12-25 00:37:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Yes, probably should have been more explicit. I wouldn't say that the quotation marks are wrong per se, as they are quite commonly used like this for the first instance of use to denote that a term is being used in an unusual way or with a non-standard usage or simply, as here, as a name for this system =what this system is to be called here (in this particular instance or example). Certainly they are used quite frequently like this in American English, which I assumed this was from the "z" spellings (though that's another debate as these spellings are increasingly favoured in GB English as well). It isn't great writing but I wouldn't agree with Jane that it's "bad"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day17 hrs (2016-12-26 13:05:58 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

glad to have helped! And enjoy the rest of the holiday season everyone!
Selected response from:

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 22:42
Grading comment
Thank you, Gallagy!
And Merry Christmas!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +2it's the name of a system
Yvonne Gallagher


Discussion entries: 8





  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
it's the name of a system


Explanation:
as in your dictionary entry
organised from bottom to top rather than top down

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 mins (2016-12-24 19:33:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

notice the other quotation marks in the paragraph e.g. what biologists call “complex adaptive systems" so the quotation marks show that this term is to be understood as a bottom-up (rather than top-down) "living system" which is mutable and ever-changing depending on its environment...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2016-12-25 00:37:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Yes, probably should have been more explicit. I wouldn't say that the quotation marks are wrong per se, as they are quite commonly used like this for the first instance of use to denote that a term is being used in an unusual way or with a non-standard usage or simply, as here, as a name for this system =what this system is to be called here (in this particular instance or example). Certainly they are used quite frequently like this in American English, which I assumed this was from the "z" spellings (though that's another debate as these spellings are increasingly favoured in GB English as well). It isn't great writing but I wouldn't agree with Jane that it's "bad"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day17 hrs (2016-12-26 13:05:58 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

glad to have helped! And enjoy the rest of the holiday season everyone!

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 22:42
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 51
Grading comment
Thank you, Gallagy!
And Merry Christmas!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Yasutomo Kanazawa
10 hrs
  -> Many thanks:-)

agree  Ashutosh Mitra
12 hrs
  -> Many thanks:-)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search