GIOS and Blueprint Technologies to Provide Aspen Technology with Customized Training Services.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

NASHUA, N.H. & FALLS CHURCH, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 26, 2001

GIOS, a leading provider of software process consulting and education services, and Blueprint Technologies Inc., a leading provider of enterprise software solutions for the Global 2000, today announced that they have been selected to provide Aspen Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:AZPN) with training and mentoring services for software development.

Aspen Technology is the leading provider of value chain planning, design, and execution solutions for the process industries. GIOS and Blueprint, both Rational Unified Partners, will help Aspen Technology adopt unified software development processes with industry best practices that significantly enhance productivity and improve on-time delivery of products and services.

The project framework for Aspen Technology's new software development methodology is the Rational Unified Process. This framework, together with Rational's suite of software development tools, automates all aspects of software conceptualization, development, and management, including requirements gathering and specification, modeling, code development, version control, test and release.

GIOS and Blueprint will work with Aspen Technology to help the company master Rational's software development tools and implement the Rational Unified Process. With a focus on real-world application and just-in-time delivery, the two companies will combine customized Web-based training with ongoing Web and on-site mentoring and consulting.

"Aspen Technology has expanded rapidly, acquiring a broad range of companies with diverse software development methodologies and practices," said Rich Johnston, president of GIOS. "GIOS and Blueprint will help Aspen Technology adopt a unified methodology and processes based on RUP for their entire organization. Using Web-based training and just-in-time mentoring, we will help Aspen Technology implement RUP and gain proficiency with the Rational tool suite in a real-world setting that is optimized for the company's corporate culture and product line."

"Enhancing team members' capabilities is an essential part of staying competitive in today's technology industry," said Ralph Alexander, president and CEO of Blueprint Technologies. "Aspen Technology's employees can learn and implement best of breed software development practices no matter their location in the world while having minimal disruption to their project schedules. This advantage will help Aspen Technology stay ahead of the competition."

GIOS and Blueprint will offer just-in-time training courses that distill the detailed information offered in Rational's own 2-4 day training courses, simplifying and customizing the information for use at Aspen Technology. Included are courses on use case development, architecting distributed software systems, project management of iterative development (PMID), object oriented analysis and design (OOAD) and the Rational Unified Process. These courses, delivered via the Web, will enable Aspen Technology employees located in development centers in the United States and Europe to learn these techniques and processes in the most efficient way possible.

"Ongoing investment in personnel and processes is essential for maintaining best practices, achieving efficiency in cross-regional software development and delivering quality software products in a timely fashion," said Steve Williams, senior vice president of product development at Aspen Technology. "We look forward to working with GIOS and Blueprint to enhance and unify our software development processes. The companies' customized training and consulting program, together with flexible Web- and on-site delivery, will prove invaluable in helping us accelerate deployment of the Rational Unified Process and best practices throughout our worldwide organization."

About GIOS

GIOS, a Rational Unified Partner, is a leading provider of consulting and educational solutions that decrease product time-to-market and support costs, while improving the quality, predictability, and efficiency of an organization's software development process.

Founded in 1998, and headquartered in Nashua, N.H., GIOS provides complete solutions and integration for several state-of-the-art software development and support products, including those from Rational. GIOS services include QuickStrike process assessment, development environment rollouts, configuration management and tool training, new product process development and engineering turnaround. GIOS offers its services worldwide to a broad range of leading edge companies, including EMC, Northern Light, Thomson Financial and Massachusetts General Hospital. For more information on GIOS' educational and consulting services, contact GIOS at 157 Main Dunstable Road, Nashua, NH 03060. Phone [phone]. Or visit them on the Web at www.giosinc.com.

About Blueprint Technologies

Blueprint Technologies, a leader in enterprise software solutions helps organizations develop and deploy software for mission critical systems through a combination of frameworks, services and education. The Blueprint Solution Stacks allow customers to achieve quantifiable R.O.I. by linking enterprise and legacy applications, databases, business processes and workflows across enterprises. Blueprint's adaptation of the Rational Unified Process enables organizations to accelerate time to market while improving software quality and efficiency. Blueprint's software engineers have developed a range of software solutions for customers including: UPS, USDA, Janus Funds, Hughes Network Systems, Echostar and Celera Genomics. Founded in 1997, Blueprint Technologies is a privately held company headquartered in Falls Church, Va. More information about the company can be found at www.blueprinttech.com.

About Aspen Technology Inc.

Aspen Technology Inc. is the leading supplier of integrated software and solutions to the $6 trillion process industries. The company's ProfitAdvantage(TM) solution enables companies to identify and maximize profit opportunities throughout their entire value chain -- from the supply of raw materials, through the production of goods, to the delivery of final products to customers. The Aspen ProfitAdvantage solution encompasses engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and e-business collaboration technologies, providing the tools that enable manufacturers to design, optimize and execute business processes in real-time. Over 1,200 leading process companies already rely on AspenTech's 20 years of process industry experience to increase revenues, reduce costs and improve capital efficiency. AspenTech's customers include: Air Liquide, AstraZeneca, Bayer, BASF, BP, Chevron, Dow Chemical, DuPont, Equistar, Exxon Mobil, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Mitsubishi Chemical and Unilever. For more information, visit www.aspentech.com.