The authors of the Harvard Business Review article believe that the reason for this lies in the fact that design patents (e.g. Coca-Cola bottle or iPhone) can be described as consisting of interdependent parts that work together well. A team which is designing will most likely find it difficult to divide tasks.
Dynamics of the invention process
For example, if a team wanted to create a new painting, the effort necessary to coordinate and communicate ideas among the team members would be very high. The benefits of working collaboratively are erased by these extra efforts.
In contrast to a team, an individual inventor can mentally assess and iterate with ease, discarding unsuitable possibilities. No lengthy communication or coordination is required.
Team or individual? Level of modularity is key
The effectiveness of teams compared to solo inventors is then most likely affected by the level of modularity of the invention in question.
In terms of modularity, technology inventions vary.
- Some inventions are very modular: e.g. many PCs are configured for using independent and interchangeable components.
- Some inventions are less modular: e.g. the original combustion engine includes many interdependent elements. There is no adaption or interchangeability of the parts.
If the invention can be partitioned easily into its various components, team collaboration will be very beneficial. Team members can operate autonomously and reap the benefits of knowledge diversity and shared resources.
-jk-