Allen et al. see a need for a balanced perspective, utilizing a mix of methods within the organization. They do not inform us as to what the criteria for structuring such a division might be. Goodhue, et al. Although there are short comings in his methodology, he reports results that heavily favor the bottom up approach in factors labeled Competitive Advantage, Success, and Least Concerns. It should be noted that his Organizational approach involves intraorganizational communication and cooperation, so might be better understood as a middle-out approach.
Intelligent innovation is a factor in creating organizational success.
Induced strategy is like top down information systems design in that it is centralized, controlled and seeks to eliminate variation within the organization. Autonomous strategy is similarly akin to bottom up information systems design in that it is decentralized and variation creating. Not surprisingly, Burgelman finds that a balance of autonomous and induced strategies are the most likely to be successful. The consensus seems to be that the determination of system goal being lower rather than higher in the organization seems to be a key factor in achieving system success as previously defined. I believe we need to view information systems as a factor in the work environment.