• Established on January 1, 1985
• Research and development organization owned by seven RBOCs
• Number of employees: 6 000
• Bellcore staff:
  Applied Research: 6%
  Software Systems: 45%
  Professional Services: 26%
  Customer Solutions: 11%

The Bellcore Mission describes the company primarily as a solutions company supported by world-class applied research: Bellcore provides compelling business value by managing the complex delivery of network solutions to carriers, suppliers, end-users, and governments.

Technical areas:

• Research
• Development
• Marketing
• Sales

Promotion ladders:

• Technical: Member of Technical Staff (MTS), Distinguished Member of Technical Staff (DMTS), AT&T or Bellcore Fellow, Chief Scientist
• Management: Director, Department Head, Assistant Vice President, President

Fast track:

• Pipeline Development Program

• Information sources:
  telephone directories, directories of service, guide to purchasing, corporate personnel practices, committees, company news, salary reviews

• Getting started:
  working hours, job classifications, the role of applied research

• How to get things done:
  expense vouchers, publication policy, release procedures, purchasing

• Who can help:
  your manager, your division secretary, patent attorney, occupancy planner, advisory groups (AGAR), affirmative action

• Support services:
  computing, machine shops, library, graphic arts, stockroom, travel

• Personnel services:
  clubs (MH Canoe club), educational opportunities, employee benefits, medical

• Professional matters:
  research calendar, conference attendance, merit and salary review, riding the waves, teaching, writing a book

• Conducted annually
• Your input: written report of your accomplishments of the year (``I am great'' report)
• Laboratory-wide meeting to rate all the members of a laboratory
• Feedback meeting: leave it with clear understanding of your standing with management
• Salary review

Riding the Waves:

• Merit review is the key feature of (Bellcore) research environment:
  Research results are expected more frequently in AR than at a university (no need to write grants, all necessary equipment provided, no teaching, no committees responsibilities)

• Relevance and creativity:
  recognized by peers, your management, other managers, customers. Choose projects that are relevant to company needs and choose project that you like.

• Impact:
  It is sine qua non of applied research. Ask yourself a question ``so what'' regarding your research results. Choose projects that are visible.

• Start with your local environment: peers and managers
  Do not stop there!
  Make yourself visible: be active in the professional societies, panels, conference committees