Architectural and Modular Innovation

Architectural Innovation

• Architectural innovation is a type of innovation that changes the way a product or service is fundamentally structured. It involves changes to the overall architecture of the product or service, rather than just to individual components.
• Examples of architectural innovation include:
  • The development of the multi-core processor, which combines the circuits of two or more processors to create a single, more powerful processor.
  • The introduction of the smartphone, which combines the functionality of a phone, a computer, and a camera.
  • The development of the internet, which created a new way for people to communicate and share information.

Modular Innovation

• Modular innovation is a type of innovation that breaks a product or service down into smaller, interchangeable modules. This makes it easier to customize the product or service to meet the needs of different customers.
• Examples of modular innovation include:
  • The Lego brick system, which allows users to create a variety of different structures by combining different Lego bricks.
  • The personal computer, which is made up of a variety of different modules, such as the CPU, memory, and storage devices.
  • The open source software movement, which allows developers to create and modify software modules that can be used in a variety of different applications.

Both architectural and modular innovation can be important for businesses. Architectural innovation can help businesses to create new products and services that disrupt existing markets. Modular innovation can help businesses to customize their products and services to meet the needs of different customers.

Here are some additional examples of architectural and modular innovation from the real world:

Architectural Innovation

• The introduction of the assembly line by Henry Ford was an architectural innovation that revolutionized the way cars were manufactured.
• The development of the jet engine by Frank Whittle was an architectural innovation that changed the way airplanes fly.
• The introduction of the internet by Tim Berners-Lee was an architectural innovation that changed the way people communicate and share information.

Modular Innovation

• The modular design of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner makes it easier to maintain and repair the aircraft.
• The modular design of the Lego brick system makes it possible for children to create a variety of different structures.
• The modular design of the personal computer makes it easy to upgrade individual components, such as the CPU, memory, and storage devices.