Which type of innovation involves changing the configuration while keeping the technology components the same?

Architectural innovation refers to modifying the overall system architecture while retaining the core technology components. This type of innovation typically involves reconfiguration of existing technologies to improve performance, usability, or efficiency within an established framework. By altering how components work together, while relying on the same underlying technology, an organization can create new functionalities or enhance user experience without developing entirely new technologies.

For example, if a company takes the same components from a previous product and rearranges them in a new manner to integrate better or to meet new market demands, it embodies architectural innovation. This approach allows for significant improvement or adaptation without the need for a complete redesign of the technology itself.

In contrast, other types of innovation, such as modular, configurational, and process innovation, focus on different aspects. Modular innovation involves changes at the level of individual components while keeping the overall system architecture intact. Configurational innovation is not a widely recognized classification in innovation theory. Process innovation relates more to improvements in the methods of production or delivery rather than the technological or architectural aspects of the products themselves. Thus, architectural innovation is the most accurate answer in this context.