The document discusses a tradeoff companies face between predictability in product development through modular designs versus potential for breakthrough innovations through more interdependent component designs. The researchers analyzed over 200 years of patent data and found that while modular designs allow for more predictable advances, interdependent components that are more difficult to develop tend to result in more impactful breakthrough inventions. However, companies often overvalue predictability and modularity at the cost of breakthroughs. The researchers recommend companies take a contingent approach, aiming for intermediate levels of interdependence and also encouraging more risky interdependent designs to maximize the chance of innovations.