Which concept describes a standalone unit separate from the rest of the organization that is responsible for developing and initiating a major innovation?

• A. New Venture Team
• B. Skunkworks
• C. Critic
• D. Inventor

Answer: (A)

An independent internal venture designed to pursue a major new opportunity within the company. This is what a New Venture Team is: a standalone, cross-functional unit with its own resources and decision authority that develops and initiates a major innovation separate from day-to-day operations. It operates with entrepreneurial autonomy to move concepts toward market quickly, often under executive sponsorship and with a defined lifecycle. Skunkworks can be autonomous and fast, but it’s typically a secretive project within the organization rather than a formal standalone venture aimed at launching a new business line. An inventor is an individual creator, not a multi-person unit, and a critic is a role focused on evaluating ideas. Therefore, the best fit is the New Venture Team.