 functional organization chart of a mobile operator's Technology Development group. This setup is primarily based in tier-1 operators and beside TD it could be called Technology Academia/ Funding Link Standards Group Research Radio Standard Radio Radio Test Group Technologies Group Evaluation Transport Transport Technologies Transport Test Standard Group Evaluation Group Core/OSS Core/OSS Core/OSS Test Standard Group Technologies Group Evaluation Services Services Services Test Standard Group Evaluation Group Devices Device Standard Device Test Evaluation Group Group Figure 12.3 Operator's TD setup Technology Management and Product development, Technology R&D, Research and Standards, and SO on. We prefer to call it an Advanced Technology and Research organization since it primarily participates in SDOs, conduct trials of new technologies and products, and produce technology roadmaps. Briefly, the organization consists of a Standards Group that collaborates on industry standards and participates in different SDOs. The Research Group evaluates standards, technologies and products. The Lab team conducts trials of new technologies and standards and evaluates new software releases from the incumbent vendors. The organization also has links with academia and external funding organizations like US NSC (National Science Foundation) and European Commission, and SO on. The important element that needs to be noticed in the organization is one to one mapping of roles between the three groups. For example, the radio member of standards group participates in 3GPP TSG RAN working group and brings the developments to the radio research scientist. The radio research scientist analyzes the standards and the counterpart in the lab team trials (simulates) out radio standard. The key benefits of this organization are: Expediting time to market Reducing implementation risks Generating IPR Engaging academia Creating Subject Matter Experts. 12.4 New Product Development (NPD) According to PDMA (Product Development and Management Associat