Contact: Gary M. Cole

Marin Research

(415)-461-9784

email: gary@marinres.com

http://www.marinres.com

Orlando, Fla. January 26, 1998 -- Marin Research introduces Project Gateway Version 5, the next generation of its Domino® based Project Repository system. The Project Gateway series was originally introduced in 1994 and currently has over 10,000 licensed users.

The Project Gateway 5 System consists of a central repository for active project information and four specialized application subsystems that form a fully integrated suite. The subsystems automatically exchange data with each other through a network of agents. The system is fully Web enabled and supports security throughout. It provides two-way data synchronization with desktop project scheduling applications for both Notes and Web users.

Repository Center, the core of the Project Gateway 5 system, now provides "Deliverables", a top down mechanism for defining management objectives and reporting status. This facility helps manage complex sets of work such as Year 2000 compliance, new product releases, and major systems developments which may involve many projects and external events. Another significant new feature, "Dashboards", provides a concise executive level picture of goals and performance that summarizes thousands of individual work details. Repository Center can now be coupled with the Notes Calendering and Scheduling facility so that meeting changes can modify project schedules. Repository Center also contains a complete production quality Timesheet facility supporting both Notes and Web users, document and issues management, agent based graphics, automatic reminders and a host of other features for project work management.

Request Center, the new workflow based request management subsystem, supports organizations managing maintenance projects, installations, customer service and similar work. Requests can be created and routed for estimating, approval and scheduling within this subsystem. The scheduled work is transferred automatically into the repository and two way status tracking keeps the requesters up to date on the progress of their work.

Metrics Center is another new, significant subsystem targeted at organizations trying to improve predictability as well as productivity. The metrics system sends questionnaires to the involved parties when work packages are completed. The results of these inquiries, along with actual measurements and original targets, are put through a quality assurance process and tabulated in the metrics subsystem. Easy to use query buttons let both Notes and Web users get estimates based upon real experience to calibrate schedules and provide reliable statistics for performance improvement.

Costing Center is a new subsystem that provides a secure environment for calculating project costs using multiple charge codes, split billing, and multiple labor rates in a flexible and easily customized environment.

Archive is an agent-operated subsystem for moving completed work, issues, documents, and status from Repository Center to a permanent archive. The archive preserves the structure of the original information so that it can be easily accessed.

Project Gateway combines People, Projects, Deliverables, and Knowledge management perspectives in a single integrated information system to serve an entire project community.

• It supports People with to-do lists, timesheets, automatic reminders and ready access to issues and documents so that they can be most productive.
• It supports the Project management process by providing two way integration with specialized planning tools, automated project status dashboards, agent generated graphics, reminders and flexible costing.
• It supports the accomplishment of major management initiatives using a structured hierarchy of Deliverables for planning and reporting. Each deliverable defines a specific result with assigned responsibilities, budgets, and status. Deliverables can be dynamically linked to project events and estimates.
• Additionally, it supports the collection and use of organizational Knowledge. TaskHelp(tm) links work items directly with corporate methodology and training materials. Agents interview participants and tabulate performance metrics for estimating support and process improvement.

Project Gateway is the leading application for project and program management using the Notes platform. The software integrates a broad range of project planning tools including Microsoft Project® 98 (and previous versions), ABT Project Workbench®, Primavera P3®, SureTrak®, Scitor Project Scheduler®, Time Line®, and Open Plan® into a practical management information system. Server based agents provide automatic reminders, document tracking, interproject dependency monitoring and produce charts of project commitments and progress.

The full Project Gateway 5 system requires a Domino 4.5 or later server on any platform. A subset of the system is available for Notes 4.1 operation. Certain web functions require an Intel NT server. Participants may use any Notes 4.x client or Javascript compatible browsers. Users who synchronize data with external project planning tools require a MS Windows(r) desktop.

Customers may choose to purchase just the Project Gateway 5 Repository Center system starting at $895 for 5 users or the complete Project Gateway 5 Suite starting at $3895. A 1000 user license costs $89,995. Prices outside of North America are higher. Customers under maintenance agreements will receive the new version automatically. Evaluation copies are available.

Marin Research specializes in project management technology and services. Its principal product, Project Gateway, is marketed worldwide. Project Gateway is localized in Japanese and sold in Japan by Kubota Systems Inc.