Define "Investing in improving structure" - Of code? of system architecture? of teams and of company? Define "is x better than y" - are we talking about compar

Define "Investing in improving structure" - Of code? of system architecture? of teams and of company? Define "is x better than y" - are we talking about comparing two different activities, or is the question about different ways to name the same subject? Is it better because it's a more productive activity, or because "if you do y, you'll also get x as a side-effect" ? I'm sorry, without much clearer phrasing, the question is hopelessly ill-posed to me. Can't answer something that could mean anything.