Cambridge Technology Partners announces Rapid Process Implementation; New services strategy integrates business renewal and technology for innovative solutions in rapid time frames.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 21, 1996--Cambridge Technology Partners (Nasdaq: CATP), today announced the introduction of a new management consulting and systems integration services strategy, Rapid Process Implementation (RPI). Cambridge's RPI model re-engineers the re-engineering process by closing the gap between strategy and implementation and revitalizes clients' business operations.

RPI provides clients with three major benefits: integration of strategic management consulting and IT systems development; elimination of the financial risks typically involved in traditional consulting and systems integration engagements; and assimilation of new technology-enabled business solutions in unprecedented time frames.

"Until now, there has been a major disconnect between traditional business process re-engineering and application deployment, frequently resulting in unsuccessful deployments because the best business case was not identified," said James K. Sims, president and CEO of Cambridge Technology Partners. "As a result of our successful merger with Axiom, both companies are working together as one team to enable both strategic business decisions and technology decisions be made in parallel throughout the client engagement. This enables the four divisions of the business system -- process, organization, people, and technology -- be developed in rapid time frames and ensures that the resulting solution will provide long-term strategic value."

The RPI methodology is fueled by the new Rapid Business Renewal (RBR) methodology developed by Axiom Management Consulting, which Cambridge acquired in October 1995, and the successful integration of RBR with Cambridge's Rapid Application Deployment (RAD) services. RPI becomes the core of Cambridge Rapid Solutions Services (CRSS), a comprehensive suite of Cambridge services that comprises the full range of Cambridge's consulting, implementation, and educational expertise.

RPI helps Cambridge clients to achieve market leadership more successfully in an age of unrelenting business change. By enabling more effective ways of conducting business, particularly in the areas of customer management, RPI will help clients focus on productivity and profitable growth rather than simply cutting costs. "RPI provides clients with a single source for both the creation and implementation of new business operations," said Mike Korchinsky, president of Axiom. "At every stage of the client engagement, RPI focuses on four essential components -- people, process, organization, and technology -- to ensure long-term value and competitive advantage. RPI greatly reduces the financial risks for clients and ensures a rapid engagement time frame, sometimes in as little as six to twelve months."

Cambridge's RPI services strategy was founded on three basic conclusions about traditional management consulting and systems integration approaches:

-- the traditional pricing model of systems integration and management consulting based on time and materials is flawed

-- process-driven systems development is ineffective when management consulting and systems development are disconnected

-- simply automating existing processes diminishes the long-term value of the system

"The old model of systems integration is dying rapidly for two primary reasons: it is too slow for today's accelerated business environment, and it fails to balance management consulting with rapid application development," said Stan Lepeak, program director for the META Group, Stamford, Conn. "Traditional systems integration approaches management consulting and technology implementation as two distinct entities, creating a gap in which new processes cannot be realized through IT solutions. Cambridge's RPI model removes the disconnect between strategy and implementation through a continuous multi-faceted process that results in systems that create sustainable value for the client." "We've grown at an unprecedented rate by using a consensus-based systems development methodology, yet the processes we implemented were often defined by someone else," Sims said. "Now, with our RPI strategy, we hope to lead the market into the next era of business solutions, and further differentiate our services from the old-fashioned consulting formula."

In addition to RPI, the new CRSS suite of services includes Enterprise Consulting Services, such as IT strategy and network consulting; Educational Services, such as technology training, empowerment, and change management; The Management Lab, such as the popular Lycea seminars for CIOs; and specialized Domain services, such as customer management systems (electronic commerce), and knowledge management systems (Intranet services).

Axiom Management Consulting, formed in 1988 and acquired by Cambridge Technology Partners in 1995, is an innovator in the field of business operations change. The firm helps clients master today's complex and fast-changing business environment for competitive advantage by identifying, designing and implementing original solutions to business problems. Axiom gears growth-oriented change efforts to take place in six to 12 months, approximately half the time of traditional consulting projects. The firm offers a fixed time/fixed price for project completion, thus sharing with clients the risk associated with change, and guaranteeing unprecedented commitment to successful on-time, on-budget project delivery.

Founded in 1991, Cambridge Technology Partners is one of the fastest growing companies in the systems integration industry, with a proven track record of developing and deploying client/server distributed applications to more than 500 organizations worldwide. Working within a unique fixed time/fixed price model, Cambridge's systems development expertise also includes package implementation and educational services. Cambridge has had revenue growth at an average of 60 percent per year, and has expanded to 20 offices globally. CTP currently has more than 1,200 employees. -0-

Cambridge news on the Web: http://www.ctp.com Axiom news on the Web: http://www.axiom.com

CONTACT: Colleen Irish

Cambridge Technology Partners

617-374-8705, [e-mail]

or

Doug Black/Michael Bayer

Miller/Shandwick Technologies

617-536-0470, [e-mail]