Modularity radically reduces risk

A system that implements a modular design by linking the system’s components together is less likely to fail. This is because it will be better able to withstand unanticipated shocks (e.g., Black Swans).

It’s no small accomplishment to drastically reduce costs and boost speeds. But modularization does more than that; it radically reduces risk—to such an extent that modularization may be the most effective way to “cut the tail,” as recommended in chapter 6. ([185](file:///Users/timj/Dropbox/Library/Book/How%20Big%20Things%20Get%20Done_Flyvbjerg_Gardner_2023.pdf))^[1]

#systems #modularity

See also:

• Modularity of a system affects resilience
• General resilience depends on diversity, modularity, and feedbacks
• Black Swan events are rare, impactful, and retrospectively predictable