giga information group

Giga Information Group

Giga Research &Advisory Services Proposal

Prepared for:

State of Minnesota Department of Administration

Office of TechnologyNovember 15, 2002

Lary WilliamsSenior Account Manager

763-413-9760 - p763-413-9832 - f

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Table of Contents

Part 1 – Letter of Transmittal

Part 2 – Table of Contents

Part 3 – Response to Proposal Content & Information (In accordance to Section 3)

Part 4 – Response to Mandatory Proposal Requirements (In accordance to Section 4)

Appendix

Giga Information Group Financial Statement

Sample Reports titled “eProject A Worthy Alternative to Microsoft” and “Secrets of an Effective E-Government Program Office”

Two Case Studies titled “Crain Case Study” and “Credit Union Case Study”

Giga Information Group Order Form referred as “Exhibit A”

Envelope with the title “Promotional Materials” on the front Please note that Giga Research Community in included in this envelope

© Proprietary and Confidential Information of Giga Information Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

SECTION 3 – Proposal Content & Format

I. SERVICE COMMITMENT

A. Expertise and experience

Giga Information Group's IT coverage is broad, spanning eight core research disciplines. While we are organized internally as outlined below, all clients have complete access to all Advisory content. Collaboration by analysts across these disciplines ensures consistent Giga positions and recommendations.(See reference to Giga Research Community in Appendix)

Giga provides coverage for each of the broad service areas and sub service areas, for which State of Minnesota requests comment in the RFP (i.e. Security, IT Trends/Strategy, Education/Training, Architecture, Application Development, Storage, Telecommunications, Project Management, Internet & Others). All of these offerings would be included in our single advisory service.

Giga does not track the specific number of research articles published per coverage area but we do track the overall number of documents published as an aggregate from the eight core research disciplines. As described in the Integrated Content section on page 17, Giga publishes articles titled Ideabytes, Planning Assumptions, Research Digest, Collaborative documents and GigaFlash. The following provides a breakdown of the publishing schedule and total articles written YTD through September 30, 2002:

Content Publishing Schedule # Articles Written YTD

Ideabytes Daily 2007Planning Assumptions Daily 363Research Digest Ten Times Annually 8Collaborative Monthly 9GigaFlash Weekly 39

Below, we have indicated the general research groupings Giga maintains for internal purposes with the specific services that would be included in each according to the State of Minnesota taxonomy. In addition, where relevant, we have attempted to provide a general statement of what each research competency entails.

Our core areas of coverage include:

A. Application DevelopmentCorporate application development and infrastructure groups are undergoing significant change, moving from a more exclusive focus on application development to one including application extension and integration, with primary goals of fast delivery and quality. Giga's research in this domain explores topics including development tools, agile application architectures, application platform consolidation, enterprise application integration (EAI) standards, Web Services and service-based development and integration, legacy renewal, collaborative development and agile processes, quality improvement, metrics and reuse.

Some of the analysts' coverage areas include:

Database Technologies and Strategies


Enterprise Application Integration Technologies

Integration Servers

J2EE & .NET

Life-Cycle Management Technologies (modeling, testing and software configuration management)

Web Development Tools

Web-to-Host and Legacy Application Mining Tools

XML

Coverage includes the following Service Topic Areas outlined in the State of Minnesota RFP:

IT Trends /Strategy Outsourcing trends State and local government technology related summaries and trends Industry software strategies Internet strategies, technologies and delivery Technology investment and procurement strategies

Architecture IT Standards Open systems standards and migration strategies Systems development methodologies Java, SOAP, XML and other open architecture development languages Enterprise Application Integration

Application Development Evaluation and measurement of IT effectiveness Data and database administration

Internet Portal technologies and associated application integration

B. Collaboration, Knowledge and Content ManagementThis discipline is experiencing dramatic shifts in direction. Giga's research in the area of Collaboration, Knowledge and Content Management considers business processes, strategy and key technology for effective communication throughout organizations.


Collaborative Computing

Digital Asset Management

Enterprise Portals


Knowledge Management

Office Suites

Search Engines

Web Content Management



Education/Training State technology infrastructure and educational network initiatives and trends K-12 Trends/Solutions Technology Trends in Higher Education E-Learning, Computer Based Training and other media based training

Storage Data Storage/SANS/Document Management/Knowledge Management

Internet Internet 2 Portal technologies and associated application integration

C. Communications and NetworkingIn the emerging world of global networks and the convergence of voice and data communications, network managers are rethinking their roles and responsibilities and becoming business-driven architects, and in some cases, they are becoming their own service providers to support the changing business. Giga's research in Communications and Networking includes both the wired and wireless enterprise and carrier infrastructure, messaging systems, virtual private networks, the new and exciting world of optical networks, policy management, routers, switches, as well as other services - including ATM, frame relay, ISDN and digital subscriber line (DSL).


2.5G and 3G Wireless Technologies

Broadband

E-Mail Systems

Global Telecommunications Services

Internet Service Providers


Internet VPNs

Load Balancing

Network Performance Management

Voice Services

Wireless LANs



Education/Training State technology infrastructure and educational network initiatives and trends

Architecture IT Standards Remote access and network technologies LAN Management

Telecommunications Telecommunications (voice/telephony, data, wireless communications, status of deployment of high

bandwidths in the Midwest and video)

Internet Internet 2 Portal technologies and associated application integration

D. Computing InfrastructuresThe computing infrastructure that supports the enterprise is rapidly evolving into a set of highly connected entities. Giga's research in the Computing Infrastructures discipline includes a variety of technologies: mainframes and servers, mainframe operating systems, systems management, disk drives, backup and recovery and hierarchical storage.


Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

Data Center Management

Desktop Operating Systems

IT Asset Management


Peripheral Devices

Processor Architectures

Server Platforms

Storage and Storage Management


Security Disaster Recovery

IT Trends /Strategy Outsourcing trends State and local government technology related summaries and trends Internet strategies, technologies and delivery Technology investment and procurement strategies

Architecture IT Standards Enterprise Architecture Open systems standards and migration strategies Systems development methodologies Transitional technology analysis

Application Development Data and database administration

Storage Data Storage/SANS/Document Management/Knowledge Management

Other Computing technology (cost effective use of technology in government and how to provide it)

E. Enterprise ApplicationsThe e-business experience is one area that is accelerating at leaps and bounds. With this rapid advance come the technological challenges of satisfying both the proprietor and the customer. And with the ubiquity of the Internet, globalization and internationalization are "buzz words" that need to be acknowledged. Whether it is business-to-business (B2B) or business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce, many factors come into play, including: electronic data interchange (EDI), business process integration (BPI), sell-side commerce servers, bill presentment and payment, e-procurement, financial management systems, sales force automation and customer support and service (CSS).


Commerce Software

Customer Relationship Management

E-Finance


Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software

Financial Management Systems

Human Resources Management Systems

Manufacturing Management Software

Packaged Applications

Supply Chain Management



Architecture IT Standards Enterprise Architecture Electronic commerce (Electronic Government Services) Enterprise Application Integration

Application Development Evaluation and measurement of IT effectiveness

Project Management Project estimating and forecasting Project Risk Management Standards Quality assurance and risk management for information systems Contract/Consultant Management Return on Investment

Other Office automation (virtual offerings) Self Service Related Technologies (Electronic Government Services) Service/Help Desk Customer Relationship Management

F. IT Management and ServicesMajor change initiatives, including total quality management (TQM), client/server and re-engineering, were supposed to fundamentally change the way IS operated, but the reality today is that IT management is mostly about speed and execution. Giga's research in the IT Management and Services discipline explores this trend and describes what companies are doing to improve execution. This area includes a plethora of topics: organizational structures, mergers and acquisitions, return-on-investment (ROI) techniques, consulting services, contract negotiation, IT outsourcing, business process outsourcing and the service providers (managed, application, etc.).



Application Service Providers (ASPs)

Global Issues

IT Services

Organizational Structures

Planning

Process and Project Management

Systems Integration and Outsourcing

Technology and Strategy Consulting

Total Economic Impact


IT Trends /Strategy Outsourcing trends State and local government technology related summaries and trends Technology investment and procurement strategies

Architecture IT Standards Enterprise Architecture Systems development methodologies Transitional technology analysis Enterprise Application Integration

Application Development Evaluation and measurement of IT effectiveness

Project Management Project Portfolio Management Project estimating and forecasting Project Risk Management Standards Project Management best practices tools Quality assurance and risk management for information systems Contract/Consultant Management Return on Investment (TCO and TEI) Benchmarking

Other Computing technology (cost effective use of technology in government and how to provide it) Oversight of large government system implementations, project management and risk assessment, contract

management, and how other states handle review of technology initiatives for state agencies. State Government and technology investments (realizing ROI, VOI, and trends)


G. Mobile EnterpriseThe Mobile Enterprise discipline focuses on the impact of mobile and wireless information technology on the enterprise. Mobile technologies have the potential to catalyze changes ranging from incremental productivity improvements to radical redefinition of business processes.


Laptops and Notebook Computers

Mobile and Wireless Application Development

Mobile Enterprise Management

Mobile Operating Systems

Mobile Synchronization

PDAs and Smartphone Devices


IT Trends /Strategy Outsourcing trends State and local government technology related summaries and trends Internet strategies, technologies and delivery Technology investment and procurement strategies

Education/Training State technology infrastructure and educational network initiatives and trends K – 12 Trends/Solutions Technology Trends in Higher Education E-Learning, Computer Based Training and other media based training

Architecture IT Standards Enterprise Architecture Remote access and network technologies

Telecommunications Telecommunications (voice/telephony, data, wireless communications, status of deployment of high

bandwidths in the Midwest and video)

Internet E-Learning Internet 2


H. SecurityThe Security area of coverage spans all facets of securing the enterprise, including the physical as well as technological realm. Research in this area includes authentication, data encryption, directory services, enterprise security and firewalls. Because protection from viruses, attacks and unauthorized intrusions has become extremely important, this discipline maintains significant coverage about these issues as well.


Authentication

Digital Certificates and PKI

Digital and Electronic Signatures

Firewalls

Internet Security

Intrusion Detection

Network Security

Single Sign-On


Security Emerging technology trends and timelines Disaster Recovery Information and Homeland Security

IT Trends /Strategy Outsourcing trends State and local government technology related summaries and trends Technology investment and procurement strategies

Project Management Project Risk Management Standards Quality assurance and risk management for information systems

Other HIPAA

Additional Services

Giga provides additional service offerings above and beyond the traditional Advisory Service and content in the eight core disciplines described previously.


GigaConsulting offers customized consulting relationships with analysts who provide relevant research and insight based on a deeper understanding of your IT environment. Our consulting option complements our comprehensive advisory offerings for those times when you need to move from general, industry and technology focused research to a more personalized, in-depth analysis within our broad scope of research.

Your IT Knowledge PartnerGiga analysts provide both vision and practical insights that can have significant impact on the return on investment you need - whether you're evaluating options and vendors for a new corporate architecture or developing new product launch plans. With GigaConsulting, you'll have access to senior analysts, not just general project consultants. Our analysts don't build systems or write lengthy reports. Instead, they help you leverage technology with proven techniques that deliver recommendations based on an unparalleled understanding of the entire IT industry.

Consulting Benefits

Use our analysts to explore ways to minimize risk and maximize return for mission critical programs

Receive hard-hitting recommendations to support key projects within your IT strategy

Gain valuable insight and perspective on your toughest IT challenges through focused consulting sessions with our experienced analyst community

Leverage our collaborative research to address initiatives that cross multiple technology disciplines

Validate your key IT decisions on a strategic, tactical and practical level

How GigaConsulting WorksGiga Consulting consists of our standard Giga Advisory® service deliverables and a project deliverable designed for your specific requirements. Here are examples of how we may help:

Briefings: Our analysts help train your IT executive or technical staff through executive awareness sessions or a user group session, or on technology trends that are relevant to your core business needs.

Audits and Assessments: As part of your scheduled planning cycle, or when a specific activity is in process (e.g., a new product marketing plan), our analysts can perform business, technology or organization audits of your enterprise. Our analysts provide you with feedback specific to your unique IT business plan, technology rollout project plan, or organizational restructuring plan.Second Opinions: We can offer objective interpretations and recommendations on any research findings or recommendations that pertain to your most important decisions. You'll gain a well-informed and objective perspective to help you verify information and form the basis for your conclusions.

We Also Offer Special Consulting Packages

Quarterly Technology Briefings are available to you on the technology topic of your choice. Briefings are presented by one of our analysts in an hour-long formal presentation with a follow-up strategy or review session.

Keynote Presentations are delivered to you on your site by one of our senior analysts. Keynotes are usually 60-90 minutes in length, always focused on the topic of your choice, and can be tailored to meet the particular needs of your audience.


Request for Proposal (RFP) Support is a comprehensive package to help you successfully complete the phases of defining, writing and submitting an RFP - and selecting the best solution for your company.

Custom InfoTels are private, 60-minute video- or teleconferences on the topic of your choice. Led by one of our senior analysts, InfoTels are customized to your audience, no matter what the size, in any number of locations.

TechTels are private, 60-minute audio teleconferences on popular technology issues. Clients can choose from more than 100 TechTel™ presentations.

Structured Projects are brief, well-defined engagements that leverage Giga's considerable experiences in assisting other clients. Current topics include Organization Design, Strategic Planning, and Security Architecture.

All GigaConsulting service agreements begin with membership to our Giga Advisory service

Total Economic Impact™ (TEI™) is a methodology that allows technology vendors and IT organizations to demonstrate the value of technology investments and to communicate that value in business terms. TEI's analytical technique expands traditional cost analysis to include benefits and flexibility, filtering all three factors through risk analysis.

TEI offers the Enterprise

Project Case Study — Giga analysts can help you to measure and communicate the overall value of your next IT initiative by conducting a TEI project case study for your organization.

Theory and Practice Training — Giga analysts can transfer TEI knowledge and principles to your team, preparing them to implement the TEI methodology within your organization.

Security Action ReportCard™ can measure the effectiveness and operational efficiency of your company's Security Readiness on three fronts: Process and Policy, Physical Security and Technical Security. Once the assessment is complete, you are prepared to make decisions on whether to accept, assign or mitigate the risks uncovered. And Giga analysts will provide actionable recommendations for ensuring your company's security practices are coherent, functional and efficient.

Process and Policy — The best technology and products in the world won't protect your company if intelligent processes and policies have not been adopted. Giga analysts relate business process to deploying, managing and maintaining Security solutions.

Physical Security — This assessment provides an impartial, high-level overview of the current state of your company's Physical Security controls and processes.


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Technical Security — Giga analysts provide the unbiased, standards-based assessment that you need in order to make intelligent decisions regarding the technology that secures your corporate assets.

Web Site ScoreCard™ is a market-proven, fact-based methodology that provides you with objective analysis and actionable recommendations for measuring, managing and improving the effectiveness of your public or intranet site. It leverages the practical experience and superior research of Giga's analysts to ensure that your company's public or intranet site is meeting the needs of your business.

The Web Site ScoreCard is comprised of three offerings: Audit, Policy & Process Review, and Remote Usability Testing.

Each of the three offerings was developed for both the Intranet and Public Site.

ForSITE™ is an Executive IT Professional (CIO) based service that helps you manage the convergence of dynamic new technologies with the business strategy of your organization. From the moment you become a ForSITE member, you have your own personal advisory team working with you. Giga Information Group® builds relationships with you and your organization and provides you with a fast start to finding IT strategies and solutions. ForSITE resources include the best minds in the IT business — the extensive Giga analyst community, industry experts and thought leaders — who provide vision and insight. ForSITE also introduces you to a network of senior IT executives from around the world who are facing, or have already faced many of the issues and decisions that you are. Our members have found the sharing of ideas and experiences among their peers to be invaluable as they make technology decisions critical to the success of their companies.

B. Research methods & qualifications

ABOUT GIGA INFORMATION GROUPGiga Information Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: GIGX) is a leading business advisor that helps companies and institutions reach and maintain elite business status through a combination of objective research, advice and continuous technology coaching. Giga’s integrated suites of offerings help clients make strategic decisions about the technologies, people and processes they need to excel in the new digital economy. Emphasizing close interaction between analysts, advisors and clients, Giga delivers support with the speed and scope necessary for business.

The company began providing services in March 1995 and now has a global client base encompassing more than 1,400 organizations making it the fastest growing company in the IT advisory industry's history. Giga’s enterprise clients include companies that use, sell and invest in technology.


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Giga Information Group’s business expertise stems from two equally valuable sources. The first is the vast knowledge and experience within the Giga research organization itself. The second is Giga’s own experience as a successful business that employs interactive technologies to improve value to the customer as well as for Giga’s own research and business processes.

Giga’s view of business is more than just an electronic link in a supply chain or another Web site on the Internet - and even more than the new enabling technologies and business models being presented today. Giga approaches business with clients as a source of strategic advantage; one that incorporates all of the new technologies, processes and practices leading to an interconnected organization, and one that will allow one Charter Communications to completely outdistance another.

With this, Giga’s management realized that an IT advisory model based on business was crucial in a market that demands the kind of technology integration made possible by the Internet. Accordingly, they developed an integrated advisory offering that could be delivered and supported via the Web and that helps clients make informed decisions about business technologies and strategies through rapid access to comprehensive and experience-based analysis and advice.

Finally, the inherent dynamics of a digital economy increasingly compel clients to seek information and analysis at the most favorable price-performance ratio possible. As the first and only business advisor to offer a single advisory service model, Giga Information Group can add more coverage areas without creating new, costly services, thus dramatically increasing clients' value for their research dollars.

Company GrowthSince launching its services in March of 1995, Giga Information Group's global client base has grown to encompass more than 1,400 organizations and 120,000 licensed users, making it the fastest growing company in the IT advisory industry's history. Its enterprise clients include companies that use, sell and invest in technology.

Giga Information Group finished 2001 with $69.8 million in revenues, compared to $68.7 million of revenues in 2000. In September 2000, Boston Business Journal ranked Giga Information Group the 19th fastest growing publicly held company in Massachusetts, based on revenue growth from 1996 to 1999.Eighty Percent of Giga’s revenue comes from the research model with twenty percent from consulting and other sources, i.e. conferences, etcetera.

OrganizationGiga Information Group Inc. March 17, 1995, is located at; 139 Main Street, 5th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02142, Tel 1(617) 577-4900, Fax 1 (617) 577-4901, e-mail: [email protected]

LocationsIn the United States, Giga Information Group is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and hasoffices in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. Our global reach includes Austria, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Israel and the United Kingdom. Our European partner, GigaGroup, covers Belgium,France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. In Latin America, Giga has representation in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Panama, and we are represented in the Asia-Pacific region in Australia,Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and Singapore.



Experienced AnalystsWith an enviable year-over-year analyst retention rate of 92.3%, Giga's analysts boast an average 17 years experience each in the technology field. Some of the positions previously held by our analysts include Chief Information Officer, Director of Information Systems, Director of Application Development, Director of Product Development, Director of eBusiness Strategies, Director of eCommerce/Web Infrastructures, Senior Systems Architect, Senior Applications Architect and Senior Operations Specialist – Storage. This high level of experience enables our analysts to also act as consultants and advisors, ensuring you get the best, most comprehensive assistance with the issues you must address. Giga currently employs 282 people worldwide. Turn over has been approximately 20% in past 3 years due to primarily to the .com culture that lured many away. The percentage has been much lower this past year with a slowing economy. Still we have increased the level of analyst to over 100.(See reference to Giga Research Community 2002 in Appendix)

Principle Officers are:Jon Andrews Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Vicky Lynch Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer Raymond M. Sessler Chief Information Officer Daniel Mahoney Senior Vice President, Research Jean-Michel Six Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Marketing Robert Soran Senior Vice President, Research, Europe Sandra Casey Buford Vice President, Human Resources Lloyd Bunting Vice President, Sales

Research MethodologyGiga Advisory is your single integrated source to help you address all your strategic, tactical and practical IT challenges and issues. For one fixed subscription fee, you can have unlimited access to Giga Information Group’s suite of knowledge resources, as well as direct and focused interaction with both our own research organization and other clients. Giga Advisory’s single-service model and unified research process gives you high-impact advice and solutions, even when your needs cross multiple technology disciplines.

Our growing knowledge base offers up-to-date, action-oriented research findings for unparalleled advice and support. We treat each unit of research as part of a living process, so that it grows in value and relevance as additional perspectives are provided and as market conditions evolve. Our collaborative model brings together seasoned specialists who actively track major technology trends and serve as a valuable, responsive, decision-support resource. The result? You are able to make better, more informed decisions.

Giga Information Group’s collaborative research model distinguishes us within the industry. Our analysts work within an environment that encourages interaction amongst our analyst community and our clients. We organize our analyst community to mirror your IT organization and speak to the interdependencies of technologies and the complexities of systems within your organization. The advantage to our clients is that Giga helps to identify the optimal configuration of technologies and practices to meet your unique requirements.

In contrast, traditional advisory firms are organized to mirror the IT vendor marketplace, i.e. stove piped service offerings. These firms focus on identifying the winners and losers among the various technologies. As new products and technologies evolve, the traditional advisory firms add new “services” or refine existing services into multiple services, which are then sold to the client at additional cost. These services are established as P&L centers, which creates a disincentive for internal collaboration as the various services compete for advisory dollars. In contrast, as Giga adds new IT coverage areas, we add them to your existing service at no additional charge (IT coverage areas below). The advantage to our clients is that Giga’s service continuously increases in value over the life of the contract.


Another of Giga’s strengths within the IT advisory industry is our ability to provide quick, customized response to your inquiries. Giga’s inquiry responses are tailored to your specific question, rather than responding with research already available to you through GigaWeb. The advantage to Giga clients is that you can depend on our inquiry capability to consistently deliver relevant, timely and actionable advice.

The flexible, single-service offering that gives you access to one central advisory service with multiple competencies, from IT trends and application development to enterprise resource planning and security. Our approach gives strategic and practical Technology recommendations. By providing unlimited access to all of our content and industry leading analysts, Giga Advisory helps you make better-informed business and technical decisions across multiple disciplines for one affordable fee.

Giga seeks to convey relevant and action-oriented information and analyses, as well as practical advice, to its clients through a spectrum of delivery mechanisms, including:

Integrated Research Content

IdeaBytes™ – Relevant and valuable nuggets of knowledge gleaned by analysts in their day-to-day activities and put in context through their experience and expertise to provide direct advice on timely topics. Every day our analysts talk to clients and vendors, respond to inquiries, attend briefings and conferences, read the trade press and news and develop insight into the issues and technologies IT managers grapple with. IdeaBytes filter these inputs into short, directed research that can be digested quickly and put into action.

Planning Assumptions – Strategic, structured research documents produced through original qualitative analysis by one or more Giga analysts. Planning Assumptions follow a formal structure that presents Giga's position, in-depth proof to support that position (including graphs, charts, etc.), an alternative view presenting the “next most likely scenario” that could result if certain assumptions were made in different ways, as well as clear findings, recommendations and references to other Giga and non-Giga sources.

Research Digest – A magazine published 10 times annually compiling the best of Giga's research from throughout the year. This unique collection consists of a cover article that focuses on a timely big-picture IT issue, summaries of recent Planning Assumptions, selected IdeaBytes and an index of all IdeaBytes published the previous month.

GigaFLASH – A weekly newsletter designed to quickly update you on the latest research published by our analysts. It addresses hot technology trends and their impact on the industry through short, focused, high-level abstracts.

GigaCollaborations – A big picture analyses synthesizing ideas that cross markets, industries and disciplines to provide valuable insight into the IT universe. Members from multiple coverage areas in the Giga research community come together weekly to discuss breaking news, current issues, trends and concerns in the industry, each bringing their respective expertise to the table. GigaCollaborations consist of a summary document with pointers to a number of other Giga documents published on different aspects of the issue discussed.

Superior Inquiry Response – The breakneck pace of today's IT environment has brought new meaning to the axiom of business, “timing is everything.” Now, more than ever, you rely as much on the timeliness of information as the quality. Giga Information Group has built an inquiry response system that responds to the urgent nature of your requests for information.

Giga tracks response service levels and posts them to GigWeb. Here are some statistics for 2002 YTD:


* 14,100 Inquiries have been responded to and closed by Giga Analysts so far in 2002 of which, 13.8 % were Urgent (99% of those On Time), 25.9 % Standard (95.9% of those On Time) and 60.4 % Custom (94.4% of those On Time).

Customer Care Services – Giga’s Knowledge Center is made up of a group of highly skilled customer service associates who assist clients with questions about research-related inquiries. Giga’s Client Care Services consists of knowledgeable customer service associates who provide training and answer questions about all of Giga’s resources.

Customized Delivery – Tailor your access to Giga’s research according to the specific needs of your enterprise. Select our Internet-based electronic search engine (GigaWeb), a Lotus Notes-based solution (GigaNotes®) or your intranet (IntraGiga).

C. Uniqueness of service

What makes Giga stand out?

How we do researchWe begin with experience: we hire experts whose "time in grade" has given them a breadth of experience to see patterns that are less visible and relationships that are less obvious. We then place these experts in a culture of collaboration, where the emphasis is on connections among different subjects and specialists. This combination produces an unparalleled quality of advice, not only superior by traditional measures but also able to guide real world implementation of complex systems.What this means for our customers is that Giga research is relevant, pragmatic, and personal: it's specifically designed and delivered to support everyday decisions facing IT managers and executives.Giga's advice is…

RELEVANTUnlike traditional research institutions, where deep specialization drives research, we make solving customer issues our preeminent focus at Giga. The interdisciplinary perspective of our analyst teams, and the collaborative culture we've built around it, enable us to synthesize several viewpoints quickly and thoroughly and then render advice - even when customer inquiries touch on multiple subjects. After we've published our research, and customers make implementation decisions, they typically come to us with new inquiries. This ongoing cycle of inquiry and response creates advice that's directly relevant to customer needs - especially in the area of complex, real-world systems, where relevant advice is required.

PRAGMATICOur analysts' performance is also measured against a set of pragmatic values that mirror our customers' business needs. We define several categories of business values where Giga advice has the potential to affect our customers' bottom line: managing assets, efficient operations, informed negotiation, best practice, and decision verification, among others. The result? Our customers translate Giga advice directly into decisions that maximize profits and minimize liabilities.

PERSONALOrganizations don't buy advice; individuals do. Giga advice is personal, designed to address our customers' individual key issues - questions that must be answered for the customer to perform well. In addition to regular teleconferences and meetings, we provide access to our research through GigaWeb®, industry leading, highly personalized Web interface. We defend the position, even while presenting an alternative view (the next most likely scenario), and then we conclude with our findings and recommendations. If necessary we respond to new information, reassess our hypothesis based on market changes, and update the position.

Conclusion


In order for all of this to be truly useful to our clients, Giga must be objective in everything that we do. As a result, there are strict codes of ethical behavior that our analysts follow. They must expose all relationships that might introduce bias, and credit all information sources, always documenting the source of facts and conjecture. With uncompromising ethics, customer-focused research processes, broad interdisciplinary skills, a collaborative culture and value-driven advice, Giga offers a highly effective alternative to traditional research. We believe, as do our customers, that we're the research organization best equipped to meet the challenges of the Information Age.


D. Independence and bias

Giga employs a structured and consistent research methodology. The goal of Giga research is to form original judgments and recommendations to support client decision-making. Research topics are determined in part by examination of customer’s needs, which are identified by analysts through direct discussions with clients. Giga’s methodology enables it to rapidly analyze IT markets, technologies, vendors, products and user issues. Analysts conduct informal research by surveying Giga’s client base and interviewing vendors, consultants and other sources. These activities are supplemented with searches of numerous trade, financial and other third-party source materials complied by Giga’s research center. Giga believes its analysts form original judgments and recommendations by applying their professional experiences to their review of these combined materials. To ensure research quality and consistency, all research is reviewed on an ongoing basis by Giga’s research management team, in conjunction with several senior analysts who are designated research leaders.

Giga Information Group Inc. is in the business of providing objective analysis and findings on information technology (IT) products, technologies, issues, vendors, and markets. As such, Giga recognizes its special influence in the marketplace and its professional responsibility to avoid bias and conflicts of interest between itself and the IT vendors, users, and investors it serves. Accordingly, Giga has adopted the following principles to ensure that its research and the opinions contained therein are in fact objective and not biased by conflicts of interest.

Giga's Vendor-Relationship Principles:

1. Giga is organizationally committed to addressing the subjects of its research with fairness in both its verbal and documented findings.

2. Giga shall organizationally separate any commercial relationships with vendors from its findings with respect to such vendors by adhering to the following guidelines:

Giga shall not in any way tie its findings or its research coverage to the absence or presence of a commercial relationship.

Giga shall not withhold research coverage due to the absence of a commercial relationship.

Research personnel shall not be influenced by sales or management personnel with the intent of directing or influencing specific research findings for financial gain.

To the extent that any special Giga products or services are developed which are sponsored by vendors either directly or indirectly, such sponsorship shall be disclosed explicitly in a fashion physically proximate to the research.

3. Giga shall assure the objectivity of its research by adhering to the following principles:

Giga shall estimate some form of probability associated with its findings.

Giga shall present alternative points of view to its own.

Giga shall be available to discuss concerns regarding alleged bias or factual misstatements


E. Personnel to be assigned

Giga realizes that strong account management support is critical in providing superior value to our advisory clients such as State of Minnesota. With this thought in mind, Giga has developed the following client support structure for State of Minnesota that is unequaled in the IT advisory industry:

- Giga Senior Account Manager, a mature individual with extensive IT experience has been assigned to cover all of State of Minnesota to insure consistency of support, terms and conditions, pricing and a single point of contact for all account management and technical issues across State of Minnesota.

- Giga Field Analyst, an experienced IT professional who provides an exclusive support offer from Giga. The Field Analyst is a senior IT professional whom acts as a liaison between the various American Express IT professionals and the Giga analyst community. The Field Analyst role is to become aware ofThe key IT issues and initiatives within the various State of Minnesota IT organizations and to insure these Groups are gaining value from the Giga research and Giga analysts.

- Giga Client Relations Specialist, is assigned to State of Minnesota in order to provide the highest level of customer support. The CRS is a resource to the client and is there to assist with getting started, training,use of GigaWeb, as well as linking clients to the appropriate analysts and content. The CRS is there to provide awareness of Giga to State of Minnesota and help in finding value.

- Giga Knowledge Center, Giga’s Knowledge Center consists of highly knowledgeable customer service associates who tract customer inquiries, direct customers to the appropriate analyst or source of information, and assist customers with questions, comments and concerns. Giga’s unique “Instant Response” inquiry support methodology protects out client’s timetables.

- Giga Client Care Services Group, Giga’s Client Care Services Group is in addition to the KnowledgeCenter associates and they work with the Client Relations Specialist to provide direct support to State of Minnesota in the following ways: Welcome Call Campaign - Once a new client is entered in to the database (assigned a username and

Password) they will receive a call welcoming him/her to Giga. Our goal is to insure a smooth clientInstallation, verify passwords, train customers how to log on and provide the new user with any assistance they immediately require.

Low Usage Campaign - One way to insure our clients are receiving the value expected of Giga is to maintain user awareness of our service. We will continue to monitor usage and call those users who have not made reasonable use of the service over a period of time. The purpose of the call is to remind the user of the services available and determine if we can be of any help in their taking advantage of the information available.

In summary, Giga’s unique, industry standard setting research model, innovative and state of the art research delivery vehicles and unmatched client support, positions Giga as today’s best choice to provide IT advisory support to State of Minnesota.

F. Financial stability

See Giga Information Group’s Financial Statement in Appendix


II. REFERENCES

Reference 1:

Alberta Government

They have a 350 seat-license, 1000 SUs, 3 ForSITE Members, 1 Council Member and about $60K in AC. The deal totals around $270K. There are about 22,000 licenses (or employees) for their size of government.

Jim OscroftManager, Services, Contracts & LicensesAlberta Innovation & Science10365 - 97 Street, 8th FloorEdmonton, AB T5J 3W7(P) 780-427-9529 (F) [email protected]

Reference 2:

Ontario Government

Many Clusters comprise the Ontario Government contract. It is a distributed model. Approximately 13 members, 123 users and 1100 Service Units. Giga Advisory & Project Consulting.

Chris RenaudEconomics & Business [email protected]

Paul ScaleeGovernment BrancheGov Head of Office or Corp. Chief of [email protected]

Reference 3:

State of Indiana

Giga Advisory contract comprising of approximately 2 members and 5 users around $41,000.

Jerry Cameron (Enterprise Architect & Application Dev)Department of Family & Social Services


[email protected]

Reference 4:

State of Wisconsin

Giga Advisory and some Project Consulting of approximately 1 member and 130 users around $79,000.

Jody McCann (Provides research guidance on technology trends)Department of Electronic [email protected]

Frank Ace (IT Strategy for Justice Dpt and affiliates)Department of JusticeDeputy Secretary/[email protected]

Reference 5:

Universtiy of IL

Giga Advisory, Advisory Consulting and Project Consulting. The contract is comprised of 1 member and 6 users totaling approximately $43,000.

Mike Lyon (Auditing & Program Mgmt.)Dir of Admin & [email protected]

Reference 6:

State of Ohio

Giga Advisory, Briefing days, Advisory Consutling. 500 users approximately $390,000.

Michael Gluck (Contract Adminstrator)Management AnalystOH Department of Administrative [email protected]



III. SERVICE TOPIC AREAS

SecurityEmerging technology trends and timelinesDisaster Recovery Information and Homeland Security

IT Trends/StrategyOutsourcing trendsState and local government technology related summaries and trends Industry software strategies Internet strategies, technologies and deliveryTechnology investment and procurement strategies

Education/Training State technology infrastructure and educational network initiatives and trendsK-12 Trends/SolutionsTechnology Trends in Higher EducationE-Learning, Computer Based Training and other media based training

Architecture IT Standards Enterprise Architecture Open systems standards and migration strategies Systems development methodologies Electronic commerce (Electronic Government Services) Remote access and network technologies Java, SOAP, XML and other open architecture development languages Transitional technology analysis LAN Management Enterprise Application Integration

Application DevelopmentEvaluation and measurement of IT effectivenessData and database administration

StorageData Storage/SANS/Document Management/Knowledge Management

Telecommunications Telecommunications (voice/telephony, data, wireless communications, status of deployment of

high bandwidths in the Midwest, and video)

Project ManagementProject Portfolio ManagementProject estimating and forecastingProject Risk Management standardsProject Management best practices toolsQuality assurance and risk management for information systemsContract/Consultant Management


Return on Investment (TCO)Benchmarking

InternetE-Learning Internet 2Portal technologies and associated application integration

Other Office automation (virtual offerings) Computing technology (cost effective use of technology in government and how to provide it) Self Service Related Technologies (Electronic Government Services) Oversight of large government system implementations, project management and risk

assessment, contract management, and how other states handle review of technology initiatives for state agencies

State Government and technology investments (realizing ROI, VOI, and trends)HIPAAService/Help DeskCustomer Relationship Management


A. First Service Topic Area Description

See Response in Section 3. 1. A Expertise and experience

B. Second Service Topic Area Description


C. Last Service Area Description


IV. SERVICE LOGISTICS

A. Maintain current and periodic updates

Giga Information Group provides our clients access to our Advisory Services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The research methodology Giga is founded on allows our clients to gain access to any one of our analysts for inquiry interaction in a timely and very responsive manner. As mentioned in the State of Minnesota support structure section, the Knowledge Center manages an “Instant Response” inquiry process that allows us to track inquiries from beginning to end.

Response times are tracked in three ways: Urgent - response in less than 24 hours (Giga is maintaining a 99% service level in 2002) Standard – response in less than 48 hours (Giga is maintaining a 95% service level in 2002) Custom – response times are negotiated with clients (Giga is maintaining a 94% service level in 2002)

Giga also updates the research information on our web site every fifteen minutes in order to provide the most time and relevant information. As described in the Integrated Content section on page 14, Giga publishes articles titled Ideabytes, Planning Assumptions, Research Digest, Collaborative documents and GigaFlash. The following provides a breakdown of the publishing schedule and total articles written YTD through September 30, 2002:



In addition, the implementation of a support plan for the State of Minnesota will automatically bring a focused approach to the delivery of Giga’s services, which will allow the account team to manage analyst inquiries and document the value that was derived from the interaction.


As indicated in the description of the support structure for State of Minnesota, Giga will assign both a Field Analyst and a Client Relations Specialist to the State of Minnesota account. This level is exclusive to only a small percentage of Giga clients and will be extremely valuable in managing the demand from inquiries.

Giga also utilizes a tool managed by our Knowledge Center to control and link inquiry privileges on a per User basis depending on the State of Minnesota requirements. This will allow the flow of inquiries to be aligned with the specific initiatives of the IT professionals at the State of Minnesota that the Giga account team is working with.

Combining these resources and tools with a strong support plan managed by experienced Giga veterans will allow the State of Minnesota to realize the true value that can be leveraged from our Advisory Services.

B. Custom research reports

Giga Information Group will determine the most appropriate and agreeable method to support any specific custom or ad-hoc research request. The formats for the standard Giga research reports were described in the Integrated Content section on page 17. All other formats such as Word or Excel, as example, can be utilized at the client’s request and can be delivered and any method including e-mail, facsimile or any other electronic means required.

C. Documents

Giga Information Group will provide the State of Minnesota with one copy of all bulletins, reports, studies, newsletters and other written reports whether published regularly or prepared upon request. Limited copying privileges will be granted once the specific requirements are understood. The general terms and conditions regarding this issue are detailed below.

GigaWeb Terms of Use

Users: All Users must be authorized to use GigaWeb by both Giga and a Client of Giga. Users must be employees, consultants, or independent contractors of the Client. Users who are consultants or independent contractors of Client agree to use the Materials and Services exclusively for the benefit of Client. Users must maintain and protect the confidentiality of such password(s).

Licenses: Users are permitted, in the ordinary course of business for the Client, to make one or more written copies of any Materials for use if (i) such copying does not provide any person who is not a User with a substantial substitute for the rights of a User or for the purchase of or subscription to a service or product offered by Giga or one of its information providers; and (ii) such copied Materials retain any and all copyright notices, trademark legends and other proprietary rights notices. For more extensive copying, please contact Giga for permission.

Using GigaWeb

General Use Restrictions: The GigaWeb Services, Materials, and Giga Network are to be used for the Client's benefit and internal use only and may not be disclosed, disseminated or distributed to any other party, except as Giga agrees otherwise in writing. User agrees not to circumvent any encryption or


otherwise gain access to the GigaWeb, Materials, or Network for which he or she has not been expressly granted the appropriate rights of access by Giga.

Investment Advice/Services: The Materials and/or Services provided by Giga or through the Giga Network under this Agreement are not intended to be used for the purpose of, or as a basis for, making investment decisions or recommendations with respect to securities of any company or industry and Giga assumes no liability for decisions made, in whole or in part, on the basis of any information contained in the Materials or included as part of the Services.

Content of Uploaded Material: User represents and agrees that any information, content or other materials provided or transmitted by User to Giga or uploaded by User onto GigaWeb or other related system will not (i) violate any local, state, federal or other law or regulation, or (ii) contain any libelous, defamatory disparaging, pornographic or obscene content.

Proprietary Rights: Ownership of all copyrights and other proprietary rights in the Services, Materials, and Network are retained by Giga, its licensors, and third party information providers.

Giga Information Group Copyright and Usage Guidelines

© 2001/2002 Giga Information GroupAll rights reserved. Reproduction or redistribution in any form without the prior permission of Giga Information Group is expressly prohibited. This information is provided on an “as is” basis and without express or implied warranties. Although this information is believed to be accurate at the time of publication, Giga Information Group cannot and does not warrant the accuracy, completeness or suitability of this information or that the information is correct.

Policies and Guidelines for Use of Giga Information Group Copyrighted Materials

Giga Information Group and its numerous affiliates publish research about information technology (“IT”) issues. This research is provided through a variety of methods, including the Web, printed reports, newsletters, CD-ROMS, audio cassette tapes, audio/video conferences, facsimile transmissions, e-mail, executive briefing and industry conference presentations, etc. (“research”). This document discusses appropriate use of Giga content, including:

1. 1. Copyright2. 2. Fair Use3. 3. Legal and Financial Use4. 4. Approval for Use5. 5. Reprints or Subscriptions6. 6. Contacts for Questions

1. Copyright All information provided by Giga Information Group, in any form, is proprietary to Giga Information Group and is protected by U.S. and worldwide laws governing intellectual property. All such information published by Giga Information Group or presented by its employees is copyright protected, inclusive of material appearing in a hard-copy format, electronically or on our Web site. Since law does not require a copyright notice, the omission of the copyright notice by Giga Information Group does not invalidate copyright protection, and it does not indicate that Giga Information Group authorizes the reproduction of such proprietary material.

The United States Copyright Act gives the owner of a copyright the exclusive right to reproduce the copyrighted work, to prepare derivative works based upon the copyrighted work, to distribute copies and to display the work publicly. These rights apply to information that is purchased by our clients and information that Giga Information


Group may choose to provide at no charge. Giga content includes certain trademarks and service marks owned by Giga Information Group and other content providers, including their respective logos. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content.

Violation of Giga Information Group’s copyright may permit Giga Information Group to recover actual damages, statutory damages, punitive damages and attorneys’ fees through actions in U.S., international and foreign courts. Giga Information Group will prosecute violators.

2. Fair Use Fair use is a privilege that allows clients and nonclients a limited number of reproductions of copyrighted information without the specific consent of Giga Information Group in specific limited situations. Such use may be permitted if the reproduction is for educational, personal or noncommercial use, where the copying or printing does not have a negative impact upon the market for the copyrighted work, or is not for commercial or vendor marketing use. An example of fair use is a quote used with proper attribution by an accredited member of the press with permission of the analyst or Giga’s Director of Public Relations. Please note that references to Giga Information Group are considered to be the equivalent to, in substance and impact, quotations of Giga Information Group research. Violation of Fair UseAny use that compromises Giga Information Group’s objectivity and research integrity, such as but not limited to:

1. 1. Reproducing complete reports for archives, files or otherwise perhaps to avoid purchasing a reprint

2. 2. Scanning or otherwise importing publications into an electronic storage/retrieval system

3. 3. Broad distribution of publications to other units of the organization through electronic data transmission systems such as e-mail

4. 4. Distribution of publications to external organizations via hard copy or electronically such as via e-mail

5. 5. Distribution to company sales people who could use it for discussions with customers or prospects, or in proposals

6. 6. Posting documents on an Internet or intranet site without exception approval

7. 7. Placing research content on a Web site other than Giga Information Group’s; content always resides on our Web site and approval must be granted for an external link to our site

8. 8. Using analyst quotes, research or excerpts from research in public relations, marketing or sales campaigns

9. 9. Creating Giga-attributed quotes for marketing, public relations or sales campaigns or documents

10. 10. Use of Giga Information Group research in legal or financial documents; we do not allow the use of any of our research in any legal documents, e.g., SEC filings, patent filings, expert testimony, etc.

Internal PresentationsGiga Information Group considers “fair use” to be the limited reproduction of Giga Information Group research for use in a presentation to individual employees within the same company. If the research involves the use of graphs and charts, we request that the content is reproduced exactly as it appears without modifications with attribution to Giga Information Group. Employees who receive any of the limited number of copies of these presentations should be informed that it is not for external use or distribution outside their organization.


3. Legal and Financial UseGiga research is provided as general background and is not intended as legal or financial advice. Giga Information Group, Inc. cannot and does not provide legal or financial advice. Readers are advised to consult their attorney or qualified financial advisor for legal and/or financial advice related to this information.

4. Approval for UseGiga Information Group considers “fair use” to be the limited reproduction of Giga Information Group research for limited internal use in discussions and for educational purposes but not including sales or marketing groups who interact with external customers. All reproductions should include appropriate attribution and contain a statement that Giga Information Group owns the copyright in the material. If copies are needed for external use, we ask that you purchase reprints.

If a desired use of Giga Information Group material is not covered under “Fair Use” then a request for Giga Information Group approval is required. Requests to quote, excerpt, reproduce or redistribute Giga Information Group materials should be submitted to: Christina Thirkell, Public Relations Manager, [email protected]; (617) 577-4965.

Information needed with request:If you request approval as set forth above, Giga Information Group will need to review the usage context of the desired quote or excerpt in your materials. A copy of the research from which the quote was extracted should accompany your request. Clearly indicate the location of quote in both documents. Expected turnaround time is 24 to 36 hours.

Giga Information Group does not grant approval to reuse:

Quotations that contain statements of endorsement about a specific company or product Quotations that are out of context that could impair our reputation for objectivity

The commercial use of the Giga Information Group (or Giga) name or proprietary information in advertising or other promotional efforts is prohibited because it may suggest to the consuming public that Giga Information Group is sponsoring or endorsing a product or is affiliated with the product. As such, the commercial use of the Giga Information Group name, trademark, logo and excerpts from its materials in connection with the advertising or other commercial efforts to promote the sale of products or services is prohibited.

ExceptionsA client may purchase reprints of research that has specifically been written about its organization, its product, service or line of business and distribute it to its clients and prospects in its original, complete form as part of a proposal, for distribution at a conference, etc.

5. Reprints or SubscriptionsGiga Information Group sells reprints of its research. Clients may provide purchased reprints in their entirety, at no charge, to their internal associates, clients or potential clients. Requests for reprints should be directed to:Amariet KarahalisMarketing Production [email protected](781) 792-2601 6. Contact for QuestionsFor questions about current policies and about specific circumstances, please contact:Christina ThirkellPublic Relations Manager




[email protected](617) 577-4965

Giga Information Group reserves the right to change its policies or explanations of its policies at any time, without notice. These explanations and polices are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute a waiver with respect to any of Giga Information Group’s rights, all of which are specifically reserved.

D. Schedule of services

Giga Information Group provides subscribed clients with 24x7 access to our on-line research. Giga also updates the research information on our web site every fifteen minutes in order to provide the most timely and relevant information. As described in the Integrated Content section on page 17, Giga publishes articles titled Ideabytes, Planning Assumptions, Research Digest, Collaborative documents and GigaFlash. The following provides a breakdown of the publishing schedule and total articles written YTD through September 30, 2002:



In addition to the witten content, Giga Information Group hosts a series of events throughout the year targeted at providing business and IT professionals with access to thought leaders who are on the cutting-edge of the most current business and IT issues.

GigaWorld IT Forum lies at the heart of Giga's conference offerings. Now in its 6th year, this flagship event offers over 75 in-depth sessions, presented in a variety of formats, around the most pressing issues facing senior level IT executives today. Sessions include Keynotes from major industry players, analyst presentations and briefings, executive exchanges, and key vendor panels. Attendees can customize their agenda to meet their individual needs. Designed as an information exchange event, the GigaWorld IT Forum brings together CEOs, CIOs and CTOs for informative discussions, personalized 1:1 meetings with key Giga analysts and plenty of opportunity to network with business and technology peers.

The Emerging Technology Showcase conference is a unique forum showcasing innovative IT solutions for both new and established companies. The conference, produced as a multi-act play, features participating companies demonstrating their products to an audience of IT executives, Venture Capitalists and investment bankers. Attendees collaborate with analysts and CIOs to identify winning technologies that will have a major impact on the industry in the months beyond the conference.

Briefings are analyst presentations followed by question and answer sessions that are held in cities across the United States, Latin American, and Europe and India. Briefings give Giga clients and visiting IT professionals the opportunity to meet our analysts, discuss research and network with other attendees.

GigaTels® are informative, interactive hour-long audio teleconferences that include a presentation by a Giga analyst on a selected topic followed by an open forum for questions and discussion. GigaTels provide a vehicle for communication between attendees and analysts, cultivate discussion about published research and


http://www.gigaweb.com/events/0,2227,strComp%253Dgigatels,00.html


provide catalysts for further research. The GigaTel schedule is pubslished on our web site and is scheduled out two months in advance.

How to Maximize Your Giga Subscription A live audio teleconference designed to help clients maximize their subscription to its full potential. The format includes navigating through GigaWeb, searching/utilizing content, how to use the analyst inquiry service and other offerings and events.

A TechTel™ is a live, hour-long teleconference with a Giga analyst on a topic that was previously presented in a GigaTel. The topic is refreshed and presented privately to your organization. There is no limit on the number who can participate. The interactive format includes a 45-minute presentation and a 15-minute question/answer period with the Giga analyst.The listing of more than 100 TechTel topics changes constantly, due to customer inquiries, market fluctuations and technology innovations.

InfoTels allows GigaConsulting™ clients to select almost any topic and discuss it by telephone or video with a senior Giga analyst. The session is tailored to the client's specific issues and challenges to offer increased value and relevance. Contact Client Care Services at (781) 792-2600 or your account manager for more information.

Giga will support the State of Minnesota with three customized presentations on the topic of your choice within the calendar year. The cost of this effort is detailed in the pricing section and is negotiable.

V. SERVICES SUMMARY

A. Information deployment

GigaWeb® (www.gigaweb.com)Giga Information Group was the first advisory firm to deliver original research over the Internet, and continues to improve upon its content delivery mechanism and decision support system. Recognized as the advisory industry’s most efficient and usable Web-based delivery vehicle, GigaWeb provides access to all Giga research and analysis, without restrictions. Leading business and IT decision-makers rely upon GigaWeb (www.gigaweb.com) for access to the entire Giga knowledge base; their immediate access to Giga’s objective, pragmatic information is fundamental to swift decision-making. Giga is currently providing The State of Minnesota with a Giga logo icon that will bring any The State of Minnesota employee to a page that provides instructions for setting up Ids for continued direct access to GigaWeb.

Sensible advice; dynamic salonsSuccessful business decisions depend upon the rapid assimilation and adaptation of technological information and innovations. With GigaWeb, advice is available online anywhere, anytime for prompt resolution. The entire Giga knowledge base of research of over 200 business and IT topics can be easily navigated to deliver the research that is most beneficial to you.Central to senior-level decision-making are the Knowledge Salons that focus on a specific business IT topic. A Giga senior analyst who drives each Salon is responsible for advancing the topic and keeping the content fresh. In addition to continually updated content and Knowledge Salons, GigaWeb fosters direct interaction with Giga analysts with frequent surveys and omnipresent comment sections. GigaWeb user input often serves as a catalyst for new research topics and market concerns.


http://www.gigaweb.com/mktg/techtel/

Easy navigationBecause the entire Giga knowledge warehouse is accessible on GigaWeb, rather than selected technology-based units, users rely on GigaWeb’s efficient browsing and searching tools for prompt discovery. Users can browse more than 200 business and IT topics covered within the eight research areas:• Application Development• Collaboration, Knowledge and Content Management• Communication and Networking• Computing Infrastructures• Enterprise Applications• IT Management & Services• Mobile Enterprise• Security

Personalized home page – “My Giga”Further enabling swift access to the Giga knowledge base, each GigaWeb home page can be personalized with research and events based on selected interests. Bookmarking is simple, enabling users to immediately view pertinent research and events when they return to the site. These shortcuts facilitate frequent use and empower quick-yet-sound decision-making.

Powerful search engine and agentsFundamental to GigaWeb is “Search,” an option in which users can easily examine all of Giga’s research and events to find the content they are looking for. Giga research can be narrowly sifted by a variety of criteria, such as type of research, time range, and Giga analyst. Augmenting GigaWeb’s powerful search engine is the automatic saved searches that notify users of new, relevant content – called GigaBots. GigaBots enable users to save search results and request e-mail notification of new search results, delivering the most up-to-date information automatically, and effortlessly. In addition, users can set Category GigaBots to be notified when research is published on a specific topic.

Giga Information Group provides clients with 24x7 access to our on-line research. Giga also updates the research information on our web site every fifteen minutes in order to provide the most time and relevant information. As described in the Integrated Content section on page 14, Giga publishes articles titled Ideabytes, Planning Assumptions, Research Digest, Collaborative documents and GigaFlash. The following provides a breakdown of the publishing schedule and total articles written YTD through September 30, 2002:



GigaTels® are informative, interactive hour-long audio teleconferences that include a presentation by a Giga analyst on a selected topic followed by an open forum for questions and discussion. GigaTels provide a vehicle for communication between attendees and analysts, cultivate discussion about published research and provide catalysts for further research. The GigaTel schedule is pubslished on our web site and is scheduled out two months in advance.

B. Personal appearances


http://www.gigaweb.com/events/0,2227,strComp%253Dgigatels,00.html

Giga Information Group will accommodate personal appearance upon request and delivered according to availability of the appropriate Giga resources. Cost for such activities will be customized and negotiated once scoped.

C. Services unique to government & higher education

Giga Information Group currently employs analysts who have had direct experience in these fields. One of these analysts came to Giga from the education world of K-12 education and administration, higher education, instruction and statewide and federal work on program development and funding. Giga has extensive expertise in the e-learning field in K-12, corporate, higher education and government and work with customers helping them determine needs, develop programs, identify appropriate technology and choose the most appropriate vendors. We also have extensive expertise in technology development within government and in outsourcing, contract negotiations, procurement and asset management.

D. Locally provided service

Giga Information Group will provide local briefings on a variable schedule. These briefings are analyst presentations followed by question and answer sessions that are held in cities across the United States, Latin American, and Europe and India. Briefings give Giga clients and visiting IT professionals the opportunity to meet our analysts, discuss research and network with other attendees.

The local Senior Account Manager assigned to work with the State of Minnesota will have the ability to customize briefings and the topics that are presented during these briefings. These event will be publicized directly by the Senior Account Manager via personal meetings, telephone and e-mail campaigns.

Giga has participated in several recent briefings sponsored by efm, Inc. These briefings were help in Minneapolis at the City Center Marriott and Giga presented on the topics of Organizational Design, Emerging Technology Adoption, Technology Innovation and Trends in Enterprise Architecture.

Giga has also participated in events sponsored by efm, Inc in Kansas, Iowa and Wisconsin.

Giga also regularly schedules conferences in Chicago.

E. Frequency of contact

Giga Advisory is the Giga flagship research service. Its unique, single-service plan eliminates the frustration of having to choose among numerous services. Members can access Giga’s integrated, original research and a suite of other deliverables via GigaWeb or by requesting hard copies, and may choose other delivery options including IntraGiga and GigaNotes®. Offered at a superior price-performance ratio, Giga’s flexible, unified approach provides affordable solutions for companies of all sizes.

Giga Advisory Members Receive • Unlimited phone and e-mail inquiry to all Giga’s analysts Twenty-four hour access to extensive research via a personal Virtual Office on GigaWeb Unlimited access to audio teleconferences Preferred status and discounts at Giga Events, including GigaWorld IT Forum Giga’s commitment to a high ethical standard of objectivity in all research Superior Inquiry Response System


Giga Advisory Users Receive • limited phone and e-mail inquiry to all Giga’s analysts (Service Units required)Twenty-four hour access to extensive research via a personal Virtual Office on GigaWeb Limited access to audio teleconferences (Service Units required)Discounts at Giga Events, including GigaWorld IT ForumGiga’s commitment to a high ethical standard of objectivity in all research Superior Inquiry Response System

InquiryGiga Advisory’s inquiry service is intended to complement Giga’s written research in an integrated way. Inquiry is your opportunity to “pick the analyst’s brain” about something that the analyst has written. You may be looking for additional information, applicability or clarification about the research, or you may want to see if anything has changed since the research was published, or to challenge the analyst’s findings or recommendations. Whatever the case, Giga offers unparalleled response capability that strives to deliver advice and recommendations according to your timetable. We provide a single point of contact for inquiry support, the Giga Knowledge Center, which is dedicated to connecting you with Giga analysts and ensuring a response time that fits your needs.

Inquiry Response - You have just finished reading an IdeaByte or Planning Assumption and have questions about our research. Contact the Knowledge Center and an associate will categorize the topic of your inquiry and transfer you to an appropriate analyst. Giga’s analysts are trained diagnosticians who will quickly assess your request and determine the best way to fulfill it. Based on your needs, the analyst will commit to delivering your answer according to one of the fulfillment levels described below. Whether you receive an answer immediately or decide it requires further analysis or investigation, you’re on your way to a solution.

Response – Call the Knowledge Center. An associate will establish immediate contact with the appropriate analyst, who will use all efforts to address your specific inquiry and fulfill your request within 24 hours.

Superior Inquiry Response – The breakneck pace of today's IT environment has brought new meaning to the axiom of business, “timing is everything.” Now, more than ever, you rely as much on the timeliness of information as the quality. Giga Information Group has built an inquiry response system that responds to the urgent nature of your requests for information.

Giga tracks response service levels and posts them to GigWeb. Here are some statistics for 2002 YTD:

* 14,100 Inquiries have been responded to and closed by Giga Analysts so far in 2002 of which, 13.8 % were Urgent (99% of those On Time), 25.9 % Standard (95.9% of those On Time) and 60.4 % Custom (94.4% of those On Time).

F. Research and data collection




G. Pricing methodology

Giga Advisory is a single integrated source to help you address all your strategic, tactical and practical IT challenges and issues. For one fixed subscription fee, you can have unlimited access to Giga Information Group’s suite of knowledge resources, as well as direct and focused interaction with both our own research organization and other clients. Giga Advisory’s single-service model and unified research process gives you high-impact advice and solutions, even when your needs cross multiple technology disciplines.

The pricing methodology Giga utilizes to support this model is simply determined by the number of individuals accessing our suite of knowledge resources and the level of access these indivudals are licensed for.

Giga Advisory is the Giga flagship research service. Its unique, single-service plan eliminates the frustration of having to choose among numerous services. Members can access Giga’s integrated, original research and a suite of other deliverables via GigaWeb or by requesting hard copies, and may choose other delivery options including IntraGiga and GigaNotes®. Offered at a superior price-performance ratio, Giga’s flexible, unified approach provides affordable solutions for companies of all sizes.

Giga Advisory Members Receive • Unlimited phone and e-mail inquiry to all Giga’s analysts Twenty-four hour access to extensive research via a personal Virtual Office on GigaWeb Unlimited access to audio teleconferences Preferred status and discounts at Giga Events, including GigaWorld IT Forum Giga’s commitment to a high ethical standard of objectivity in all research Superior Inquiry Response System

Giga Advisory Users Receive • limited phone and e-mail inquiry to all Giga’s analysts (Service Units required)Twenty-four hour access to extensive research via a personal Virtual Office on GigaWeb Limited access to audio teleconferences (Service Units required)Discounts at Giga Events, including GigaWorld IT ForumGiga’s commitment to a high ethical standard of objectivity in all research Superior Inquiry Response System

The detailed listing of the pricing for each level of access and discount levels are provided in Section VI. COSTS.

H. Real time and short notice commitment

Giga Information Group will make every reasonable attempt to satisfy any short term or urgent research request the state may request. Support for this type of effort is described in Section V. E. Frequency of Contact.


I. Services at no added costs

Giga Information Group provides access to our entire suite of knowledge resources for all subscribed members and Users.

J. Dependability and accuracy

Giga Information Group does not make predictions, unlike some of other advisory firms. Our analysts do not prognosticate, they provide actionable practical advice to users of IT, and IT vendors. There are other firms who use crystal balls to determine the future, we do not, and therefore we don’t track the “results” to see if our predictions are correct.

When we do talk about the future it may be in terms of the sizes of markets, etc. in the future, but only in general sense in order to provide our clients with general trends information. Those are easily tracked, but are generalizations and positioned as such.



Research Meeting Process Giga Information Group has implemented a multitude of control and corrective loops to provide the highest analysis quality and reliability for our client base. Once a week all research analysts – despite their location across North America and Europe – are required to participate in the Research Meeting. (All other Giga personnel, including sales members, are free to join as listeners.)

The Research Meeting has four main goals:1. Discuss the hottest trends2. Improve collaboration and the exchange of opinions3. Raise the quality of Giga research4. Continuously train the analysts

Each analyst is required to send in a suggested piece of research prior to the meeting with an abstract about the research issue, findings and recommendations. The entire abstracts are sent to all analysts prior to the meeting, so


that everybody is informed about the work and views of all analysts. The research material published after this meeting reflects the common understanding of the issues addressed.

Our experience shows that the cross-disciplinary collaboration and consultation between analysts with different expertise is rapidly increasing, since clients need solutions, not partial views. To support this collaboration, Giga has invested heavily in internal technology to support collaboration, including videoconferencing, intranets, ubiquitous paging and global e-mail (both fixed and mobile) connectivity for all employees.

Attributes and Goals of Quality Giga ResearchGiga research deliverables are highly structured, content-rich, value-added documents that provide objective analysis, guidance and predictions about the IT industry. Giga research is:

Relevant Meaningful and action-oriented Timely Succinct Clearly organized and grammatically clear “Added value” vs. “reporting” Consistent

Our goal is to provide research that helps our clients do the following: Manage assets: strategies for managing a technology portfolio Negotiate: tactics for negotiating with vendors Operate efficiently: ideas about how to do more with less Learn: knowledge transfer Explore: alternative views and opinions for aggressive users seeking a competitive technical edge Navigate: reduce the complexity of a maze of options Gain perspective: insight about vendors and technologies Verify information: second opinions to make sure you are on the right track Develop best practices: learn how other companies have been successful Make decisions: sound advice about which decisions to make and actions to take that will nurture an

business

K. Two sample reports

See sample reports titled “eProject A Worthy Alternative to Microsoft” and “Secrets of an Effective E-Governemnt Program Office” in Appendix

L. Website access

How to use the Service: 1. Login - go to www.gigaweb.com and enter your User Name and Password on the top left static bar and click

"CLIENT LOG-IN" (the first time through it will go through a set-up wizard to confirm contact information, areas of interest etc. You can also have your system remember your ID & Pwd by clicking on the “Remember Me” button. Next time you come in, all you need to do is click on “CLIENT LOG-IN”)

For this trial for the State of Minnesota RFP please use the following log-on Ids:


http://www.gigaweb.com/

Username: gustafsonsPassword: s1000

2. To search for information , click on "ADVANCED SEARCH” just under the SEARCH box in the top right hand corner. First, set your default search parameters – I usually suggest Boolean Logic in the “Search Using” box; Relevancy in the “Sort by” box, 25 or 50 for the “Display” box; Six months in the “Search Within” box (depending on the time sensitivity of your key areas of interest); click “SELECT ALL” in the “Content Sources” boxes and then click on “Save Preferences.” These are now your default search settings. You are now ready to search - enter the key words to look for (you can search using Boolean logic – i.e. "windows 2000 NEAR15 security") and hit “Search Now” for the results. Tip – take a quick scan of the “SEARCH TIPS” section on the left static bar to optimize your search.

3. Set up “Gigabots” - (our intelligent search agents) on topics and areas of interest. As simple as performing a search on a topic as per #2 above and when you are happy with the search results, simply hit “Save as Gigabot” then follow the instructions to save it. Tip – make sure you click “Email Notification - Yes” - this will automatically send you an email when something new is written and will allow you to hot-link to it from your email.

Your Giga Account Team and Who to Call:1. Giga Knowledge Center (1-888-577-GIGA) This is our central Call Center for customer support and has

people standing by to answer "how to..." questions, I forgot my password, or registration for GigaTels etc. 2. Lary Williams – 763-413-9760 (Direct). Lary is the Senior Account Manager who is responsible for the

overall satisfaction and value for the services and support Giga Information Group provides.3. Glenn Chernyak – 312-283-6180(Direct) 312-375-8561(Cellular). Glenn is your Client Relationship

Specialist and is responsible for any questions or concerns that you may have. He can also help you find specific research or information that you are looking for. In addition to the knowledge center, he is available to add value to your experience with Giga.

M. On-demand / ad-hoc access

The Giga Information Group Knowledge Center can be reached at 888-577-4442.

N. Decision making process example

See Two Case Studies titled “Crain Case Study” and “Credit Union Case Study” in Appendix

O. Three – Five year strategic direction

Giga Information group will continue to provide our signature personal, practical, and actionable advice on technology for our clients. We intend to enhance our offerings in a few different ways.

1. We intend to continue to develop our focus on what technology advances can mean to our clients involved in vertical industries, like Government, finance, and health care.

2. We intend to expand our focus on creating communities of individuals in our client set who can share experiences with each other and provide support groups for individuals in specific job descriptions.


3. We intend to continue to provide access for our clients to our senior analysts with a single phone call or email inquiry request.

4. We intend to continue to enhance the collaborative practices that we have always followed, in order to provide holistic advice to our clients.

Giga’s focus in the coming years is to provide relationships with individuals, not with companies. We will continue our in depth analysis of technology and business functions, and enhance that to focus on the following areas in way that it is easy for our clients to obtain information on:

1. What does a specific technology mean to your business2. What are the Best Practices in how to do the specific task that you are trying to do3. What do you need to know in order to make that technology or process effective in your business (e.g. how

do you make the decision)4. What are the important measurements that you must know before buying something or measuring its

success5. What are the emerging technologies that you need to know about and how do we feel that they will effect

your business.

P. Partnerships

Giga Information Group does not have any structured partnerships or affiliations with any other firm or service provider.

Q. Education on delivery system changes/updates

Giga realizes that strong account management support is critical in providing superior value to our advisory clients such as the State of Minnesota. With this thought in mind, Giga has developed the following client support structure for the State of Minnesota and will communicate all changes regarding the updates to our delivery methods and provide the necessary education and training. The team is described in Section 3. I. E. Personnel to be assigned.Giga will also provide the following structured support on a corporate level:

- Giga Client Care Services Group, Giga’s Client Care Services Group is in addition to the KnowledgeCenter associates and they work with the Client Relations Specialist to provide direct support to The State of Minnesota in the following ways: Welcome Call Campaign - Once a new client is entered in to the database (assigned a username and

Password) they will receive a call welcoming him/her to Giga. Our goal is to insure a smooth clientInstallation, verify passwords, train customers how to log on and provide the new user with any assistance they immediately require.

Low Usage Campaign - One way to insure our clients are receiving the value expected of Giga is to maintain user awareness of our service. We will continue to monitor usage and call those users who have not made reasonable use of the service over a period of time. The purpose of the call is to remind the user of the services available and determine if we can be of any help in their taking advantage of the information available.

How to Maximize Your Giga Subscription A live audio teleconference designed to help clients maximize their subscription to its full potential. The format includes navigating through GigaWeb, searching/utilizing content, how


to use the analyst inquiry service and other offerings and events.

IV. COSTS

A. Detailed costs and description of services

Giga Information Group offers the State of Minnesota all of the following deliverables for the listed costs. An Enterprise contract can be negotiated once the specific requirements are determined. As well, each agency may be able to negotiate a contract individually as well. The following pricing schedule will be used for both the State of Minnesota Enterprise and individual agencies.

Giga Advisory Deliverables

1) Giga Advisory Members Receive • Unlimited phone and e-mail inquiry to all Giga’s analysts Twenty-four hour access to extensive research via a personal Virtual Office on GigaWeb Unlimited access to GigaTel audio teleconferences Preferred status and discounts at Giga Events, including GigaWorld IT Forum Giga’s commitment to a high ethical standard of objectivity in all research Superior Inquiry Response System

Membership Pricing# of Members

1-3 $14,400/per4-6 $11,700/per Conference Ticket not Included7-10 $ 9,000/per Conference Ticket not Included11-20 $7,200/per Conference Ticket not Included21+ $5,400/per Conference Ticket not Included

2) Giga Advisory Users Receive • limited phone and e-mail inquiry to all Giga’s analysts (Service Units required). Twenty-four hour access to extensive research via a personal Virtual Office on GigaWeb Limited access to GigaTel audio teleconferences (Service Units required)Discounts at Giga Events, including GigaWorld IT ForumGiga’s commitment to a high ethical standard of objectivity in all research Superior Inquiry Response System

User Pricing# of Users

1-3 $2,430/per4-20 $1,620/per21-50 $1,350/per


Site License Pricing for GigaWeb/IntraGiga

GigaWeb IntraGiga 50 User Minimum 500 user minimum

Users GigaWeb IntraGiga

50 $46,620 NA100 $59,310 NA200 $97,200 NA500 $170,100 $170,100600 $174,960 $174,960800 $179,820 $179,8201000 $182,250 $182,250

Site License Requirements:

GigaWeb Site LicenseRequires a minimum of one member; $43,200 in Contract AVIntraGiga Site LicenseRequires a minimum of one member; $135,000 in Contract AVInitial implementation: 12 Months Right to Audit: Client agrees and grants permission to Giga to audit the Client’s log files, specifically any files pertaining to the access to the server on which the IntraGiga Deliverable exists at the Client location(s) to determine usage patterns with respect to actual numbers of individuals accessing the Deliverable. Giga agrees to provide Client advance notice of seven (7) working days prior to the audit. In the event that Client has exceeded the approved number of seats accessing this Deliverable, Client will be assessed the applicable additional fee per person. Invoicing covering this additional fee shall be due and payable to Giga with payment terms of net 30 of invoice receipt.

3) GigaTels® GigaTels® are informative, interactive hour-long audio teleconferences that include a presentation by a Giga analyst on a selected topic followed by an open forum for questions and discussion. GigaTels provide a vehicle for communication between attendees and analysts, cultivate discussion about published research and provide catalysts for further research. Check the GigaTels schedule regularly on GigaWeb (www.gigaweb.com). Unlimited GigaTel PricingUnlimited GigaTel packages must include at least 1 membership. Pricing depends on the number of Users within each account and applies as follows. Individual “per User” pricing is not available for Unlimited GigaTels. If the actual number of Users in an account is less than the maximum of one of the ranges listed below, the price remains as listed. For example: If you have 7 Users within an account it falls within the 1-15 category and should be charged $13,500. Unlimited GigaTel Packages are a yearly (12 months) offering.

# of Giga Users


http://www.gigaweb.com/

1 – 15 $13,500/per year16 – 30 $18,000/per year31 – 50 $22,500/per year51 – 100 $27,000/per year101 – 200 $31,500/per year201 – 350 $36,000/per year351 – 500 $40,500/per year501 – 1000 $49,500/per year

4) Giga Service UnitsService Unit packages are sold with a minimum of 60 Service Units. No Service Unit configurations can be sold below this minimum threshold. It is up to the customer to determine SU usage rights, privileges and restrictions. The Giga Knowledge Center will not enforce individual customer usage policy. Service Unit Packages are a yearly (12 months) offering and adhere to a “use it or lose it” policy.

Service Unit Pricing

Service Unit Packages Cost Service Unit Utilization Service Unit Utilization60 Service Units $6,300 Consulting Day (VP)1 70 SU’s Urgent Inquiry 10 SU’s125 Service Units $12,600 Consulting DayError:

Reference source not found

60 SU’s Inquiry 8 SU’s

300 Service Units $25,200 InfoTel 30 SU’s One Day Conference 6 SU’s500 Service Units $37,800 TechTel 20 SU’s GigaTel 3 SU’s1000 Service Units $75,600 GWITF (US or Europe) 18 SU’s GigaTel CD 3 SU’s1500 Service Units $112,500 Conference 13 SU’s GigaTel Hardcopy 4 SU’s

All other Giga Service & Engagment Based Offerings and Deliverables

1) Giga Consulting

There are two types of Giga Consulting.1. Advisory Consulting (AC) – Consulting for one (1) or more days which may span a period of one (1) to

twelve (12) months.2. Project Consulting (PC) – Consulting (with a defined start and end date) which requires a written

deliverable that is more than a summary of a meeting or presentation.

1


Advisory Consulting (AC) PricingAdvisory Consulting is done when the client wants to engage a Giga analyst specifically to gain the benefit of the analyst’s expertise. Pricing is dependent on the number of consulting days provided based on the scope of the engagement and the requested deliverables.

Analyst Cost CommentsDirector (& below) $5,400/day Plus T&E expenses

Vice President (& above) $7,200/day Plus T&E expenses

Sample AC Engagements

Technology Briefings – Giga analysts help train a client’s IT executive or technical staff through executive awareness sessions, user group sessions, or on technology trends that are relevant to the client’s core business needs. Each briefing includes:

Analyst preparation time Travel time ½ day on-site

Travel expenses are not included and are separately charged to the client.

Keynote Presentations – Each Keynote presentation is 60 to 90 minutes in duration. Pricing does not include preparation time, travel time or expenses associated with travel/delivery of the presentation. Overall pricing is dependent on the number of days and/or presentations requested by the client.

TechTel – Live, interactive audio teleconference with a Giga analyst. The topics are chosen from a list of topics on GigaWeb, all of which have been previously delivered. The presentation is refreshed. The format is a 45 minute presentation with a 15 minute Q&A session to follow. Price: $2,250 or 20 Service Units. TechTels are scheduled and confirmed through the Knowledge Center.

InfoTel – A private video or audio teleconference including a presentation by a Giga analyst on a topic selected by the client. An open forum for questions follows the presentation.Price: $3,250 or 30 Service Units.InfoTels are scheduled through the Knowledge Center with the assistance of the Account Manager. The Knowledge Center coordinates with the appropriate analyst.

Audits and Assessments – As part of a client’s scheduled planning cycle, or when a specific activity is in process (e.g. a new product marketing plan), Giga analysts can perform business, technology or organization audits of the enterprise. For example: Giga analysts provide feedback specific to the client’s business plans which may include IT business plan, technology rollout project plan, or organizational restructure plans. The size and scope of the project and Giga's level of involvement will determine duration and cost.

Second Opinion – Giga can offer objective interpretations and recommendations on any research findings or recommendations to help the client verify information and form conclusions. The size and scope of the project and Giga's level of involvement will determine duration and cost.

Request for Proposal (RFP) Support – Giga analysts work with the client to define the scope and size of projects, to develop RFP’s for vendors and to objectively assess vendor capabilities during the review process. The size and scope of the project and Giga's level of involvement will determine duration and cost.


Project Consulting (PC) PricingProject Consulting engagements encompass a specific, committed deliverable for the client. Pricing is dependent on the duration of engagement, scope, and the requested deliverables.

Sample PC Engagements

IT Organizational AssessmentIT Service Vendor Scorecard

2) Total Economic Impact (TEI)

Pricing SummaryDeliverable Cost CommentsTEI Theory and Practice Training

$40,000 + Options Plus T&E expenses

TEI Project Case Study $36,000 + Options Plus T&E expensesTEI Trial $12,000 Plus T&E expensesTEI RPA Windows 2000 $12,000

TEI Theory and Practice Training Price: Minimum of $40,000 plus one (1) Giga Advisory Membership, plus T&E expenses.

The following items are included with this offering: TEI Theory Training (1 day) TEI Practice Training using Giga’s TEI Web tool (1 day) Annual License to use Giga’s TEI Web tool

Options: Additional TEI Web tool licenses# of Seats Cost per Seat

1 – 4 $15,000 each5 – 9 $13,000 each

10 – 15 $10,000 each

TEI Project Case StudyPrice: Minimum of $36,000 plus T&E expenses. No Giga Advisory Membership is required. Advisory Consulting done during a TEI engagement is priced at the normal rates.

Deliverable Cost CommentsMinimum Offering $36,000 Plus T&E expensesAvailable Options: Full Discovery $18,000 Plus T&E expenses Validation $12,000 Plus T&E expenses


Custom Report $6,000Additional copies of bound report:

$150 each

Plus T&E expenses

Additional Scenarios $12,000 each Plus T&E expenses

TEI Trial Two-day workshop which will familiarize the State or individual agancy with the TEI methodology and help them to understand the basic application of the TEI methodology to their product, service or project.

Deliverable Cost Comments2-day workshop $12,000 Plus T&E expenses

TEI RPA Windows 2000Access for 90 days to a web-based tool that helps the client with a Windows 2000 Platform investment decision.

Deliverable Cost90-day license to web-based tool for use by a maximum of five (5) employees $12,000

3) Security Action ReportCard™

There are three specific types of assessments available:1. Technical Assessment2. Process & Policies Assessment3. Physical Assessment

Price: $75,000 eachTravel expenses are additional and billed separately.Volume Discounts:15% discount on second assessment for same client; and a further 15% discount on the third assessment if purchased together.

4) Web Site ScoreCard (WSSC)

Minimum initial WSSC contract is $20,000.

WSSC is considered a project-based sale and requires a negotiated start and end date based upon workload and resource availability. Note: If the project has distinct phases (e.g., the entire study will be redone at a separate point in time) each phase must be identified and priced separately in the proposal and Statement of Work.


WSSC Audit The WSSC Audit will be customized to meet the State’s or agencies’ needs according to Category and Site Pricing Formula parameters and restrictions.

The composite best practice scores are provided without additional charges.

Public Web Site Audit Configuration TableCategory

Fill in Client’s

Name Here

Fill in Competitor’s Name Here



Pricing / Site

Usability X X X X $4,000General Information

X X X X $2,000

Customer Support

X X X X $2,000

Account Management

X X X X $2,000

Transaction X X X X $2,000Marketing X X X X $2,000Site Visibility X X X X $2,000Use of Technology

X $4,000

Public Site Audit Sample ConfigurationThe sample configuration consists of six (6) Categories on two (2) of the Client’s sites and two (2) Competitor sites and one (1) Category on two (2) Client sites onlywith a refresh on one (1) site only:

Engagement PriceOne-time Assessment $69,000

6 Month Re-assessment $18,000Total $87,000 Plus T & E

Calculations from above sample configurationOne-time Assessment:

Category Number of Sites Price / Site PriceUsability 4 $4,000 $16,000

General Information 4 $2,000 $8,000Transaction 4 $2,000 $8,000

Account Management 4 $2,000 $8,000Customer Support 4 $2,000 $8,000

Marketing 4 $2,000 $8,000Use of Technology 2 $4,000 $8,000

Sub-Total $64,000Additional Client Sites 1 $5,000 $5,000

Total $69,000 Plus T & E

6 Month Re-assessment on one (1) of the Client Sites:Category Number of Sites Price / Site PriceUsability 1 $4,000 $4,000

General Information 1 $2,000 $2,000


Transaction 1 $2,000 $2,000Account Management 1 $2,000 $2,000

Customer Support 1 $2,000 $2,000Marketing 1 $2,000 $2,000

Use of Technology 1 $4,000 $4,000Total $18,000 Plus T & E

Intranet Audit Configuration Table

CategoryFill in Client’s Main Site Here

Fill in Additional Client Site Here, e.g.,

HR

Fill in Additional Client Site Here,

e.g., ITPricing/Site

Home Page Structure X X X $2,000Site Usability X X X $4,000Accessibility X X X $6,000Corporate Communications

X $6,000

Human Resources X $6,000Employee Technical Support (IT)

X $6,000

Collaboration and Community Development

X$6,000

e-Learning X X $6,000

There is an additional $5,000 analysis and recommendation preparation and delivery fee for each site.

WSSC Policy and Process ReviewPrice for Standard Package: $35,000

Standard Package Includes: Pre-Workshop review and preparation Policy and Process Reference Set (Document) 2-day Workshop Follow-up telephone and email support and advice Additional support/facilitation days can be added at the standard Giga Consulting rate of $7,000 per day

WSSC Remote Usability Testing WSSC Usability Testing should be customized to meet the Client’s needs. Pricing for the WSSC Usability Testing is calculated from the parameters in tables below. The scope of Usability Testing engagements should be approved by the Project Manager, Amanda Kahlow, or WSSC Vice President, Steven Telleen, prior to delivering price quotes and delivery dates to clients.

Remote Usability Testing Sample Configuration Table

Variables Sample ConfigurationNumber of sites 1


Number of test objectives 7Number of tests (~5-8 objectives per test) 1Number of test participants 100Recruiting Method

Pre-recruited panel testers ($4 per tester) Custom recruited testers (custom pricing

incurred) Client email lists (no additional fees) Site Intercept (no additional fees)

Pre-recruited testers

Co-browsing Option YesNumber of testers included in co-browsing 20Tester Incentive fee $50 per testerTotal $41,488

5) ForSITE™

ForSITE Deliverables (For the Senior IT Executive - Only)

The ForSITE Relationship TeamAs a ForSITE member, you have exclusive access to the Relationship Team. They build a profile of your organization, your industry, and key issues that challenge you. Team members are research experts who are continuously in one-to-one contact with IT industry leaders, Giga analysts and ForSITE members. The Relationship Team uses these and other resources to discuss technology and business convergence, analyze which trends are fads and which have lasting power, and investigate other issues that impact your organization. With this cumulative information and expertise, team members proactively provide valuable insight and advice specific to your individual needs.

Relationship Team Anton Hios Vice President, ForSITERay Bender Research Advisor, ForSITE (Austin, TX) Carl Bohlin Program Specialist, ForSITE

Giga Advisory® MembershipForSITE gives you unlimited access to our flagship Giga Advisory® decision-support services. Offerings include GigaWeb® (www.gigaweb.com), a powerful, interactive, Internet-based tool that is a customized knowledge management engineer. Our research is driven by your inquiries, ensuring the information you find is of the highest strategic relevance to your individual challenges.

ForSITE ReportsYou receive exclusive ForSITE reports that are aligned with your interests and concerns. Comprehensive articles provide you with strategy, tactics, advice, frameworks, appropriate practices and knowledge about industry issues and trends. Research reports also include career-specific subjects, ranging from leadership tactics to the changing role of the IT executive.


ForSITE Executive SummariesA series of e-mailings capture key senior-level research reports that are relevant to your areas of interest. Research is based on member inquiries, analyst collaborations, industry issues and market events. Topics are timely and to the point.

GigaTelsPrivate GigaTel audio teleconferences include a presentation on ForSITE-related issues by a Giga analyst, followed by an open forum for questions and discussion. You and other ForSITE participants have an opportunity to learn extensively about critical issues, then discuss them in context with your own situation.

ForSITE EventsThese premiere events feature Giga analysts and thought leaders discussing IT issues, challenges and solutions. Intimate discussion sessions focus on timely and topical industry issues. Sessions are designed to facilitate an active exchange of insights and ideas among ForSITE members. Limited in size, sessions provide an ideal forum for sharing information.

VIP Status at Giga Events As a ForSITE participant, you receive special VIP status along with invitations to special ForSITE activities at Giga World IT Forum, Giga's flagship annual conference.

ForSITE™ Pricing

Deliverable CostForSITE Membership $20,000 per member

6) Event Pricing

Note: Pricing does NOT include cost of attendees’ lodging.

Standard Orbit Conference Pricing Including Summit

Conference Location

Cost Service Units

US Conferences $1195 13

GigaWorld IT Forum

Conference Location

Cost Service Units

US $1495 18


ETS and Power

Conference Cost Service UnitsETS $975 10

Power $950 Does not apply

Early Bird RegistrationsRegistrations received prior to the date specified in conference collateral (typically six (6) to seven (7) weeks prior to the conference) will receive the following discounts.

US Conferences $150

PaymentsPayment in the form of a Giga Conference Ticket, Service Units, company check or credit card is due prior to the conference. Payment will be taken at the conference for all outstanding conference fees prior to allowing attendee to enter the conference.

Cancellations and SubstitutionsRegistrations may be cancelled without penalty up to ten (10) business days before the start of the conference. Cancellations made after that date are subject to a $350 cancellation fee. Substitutions may be made at any time up to the start of the conference. Nonattendance will incur the full conference fee.

Team Registration DiscountsWhen five (5) colleagues from the same company register for a conference at the same time with payment, the fifth colleague may attend free. Subsequent cancellation of any paying member of the team will result in a charge for the free attendee.

Money Back GuaranteeIf attendees are not completely satisfied with a Giga conference, they should notify Giga in writing within two (2) weeks of the conference and the full registration fee will be refunded.

Conference Ticket Usage PolicyMember clients can use the conference ticket they receive with their paid subscription to attend any Giga event during the term of their subscription. In all cases, the ticket must be used during the subscription year within which it was issued. Tickets received during one subscription year cannot be rolled over and used in subsequent subscription years.

7) Other Pricing

Reprints and ReplaysThe Giga Order Form covers the legal requirements for reprints and replays of Giga research.


Please Note: Client shall publish, post or distribute each Deliverable in its entirety, without modification, extraction or reformatting, and shall include the following copyright notice: “Used with permission © 2002 Giga Information Group, Inc. All rights reserved.”

Hardcopy Reprints# of Hardcopies PA’s GIB’s Research Digest

Analyst Presentations

1 – 100 $14.40 per copy $7.20 per copy $76.50 per single issue $9 per copy101 – 1000 $3.60 per copy $1.80 per copy $49.50 per single issue $2.70 per copy

1000+ $1.80 per copy $.90 per copy $31.50 per single issue $.90 per copy

GigaTel CD’s and Transcripts# Requested GigaTel CDs GigaTel Transcripts

1 – 50 $166.50 per CD $292.50 per copy51 – 100 $36 per CD $72 per copy101 – 200 $31.50 per CD $63 per copy

201+ $27 per CD $49.50 per copy

Electronic Posting of Reprints and ReplaysPosting Method

PA’s (pdf)

GIB’s (pdf)

GigaTels (audio file) GigaTel

TranscriptsResearch

DigestAnalyst

PresentationsInternal

(posted on Intranet)

$1,800 per PA

$900 per GIB

$3,600 per audio file

$2,250 per transcript

$4,500 per single issue

$1,350 per presentation

External(posted on Web site)

$4,500 per PA

$2,250 per GIB





Secured Extranet posting

$2,700 per PA

$1,350 per GIB





Email Distribution of ReprintsEmail distribution pricing is based on the estimated number of email recipients.Added to these prices are the appropriate charges for posting a document on an Intranet, an external Web site, or a Secured Extranet listed above.

# of Recipients PA’s GIB’s Research Digest

GigaTel Transcripts

Analyst Presentations

1 – 100 $21.60 per PA $10.80 per GIB $115.20 per $67.50 per $13.50 per


single issue transcript presentation101 – 1000 $5.40 per PA $2.70 per GIB $74.70 per

single issue$45 per transcript $4.50 per

presentation1000+ $2.70 per PA $1.80 per GIB $47.70 per

single issue$27 per transcript $1.80 per

presentation

B. What costs include

All of the costs listed in Section 3. VI. A. Detailed costs and description of services includes all applicable pricing

C. Scope and limitations

All limitations are detailed in Section 3. VI A. Detailed costs and description of services.

D. Enterprise rates

Enterprise and volume rates and costs are detailed in Section 3. VI. A. Detailed costs and description of services.

Any aggregation of services above and beyond the volume rates listed may be negotiable.

E. Additional costs/kinds of service

The costs for every service offering from Giga Information Group and events sponsored by Giga Information Group are detailed in Section 3. IV. A. Detailed costs and description of services.

F. Best/lowest price

Giga Information Group offers the best/lowest costs according to the overall volume of services subscribed to by any given client. The detailed costs for these volumes are provided in Section 3. IV. A. Detailed costs and description of services.

G. Reports

Giga will provide the State of Minnesota and each agency with detailed usage reports on a monthly basis. The report documents the actual usage by each State of Minnesota user with an ID and Password to GigaWeb over whatever period is requested. This report will document each search performed on GigaWeb, each research document retrieved, each inquiry requested and responded to and each GigaTel ordered.


Appendix

Giga Information Group Financial Statement

Sample Reports titled “eProject A Worthy Alternative to Microsoft” and “Secrets of an Effective E-Government Program Office”

Two Case Studies titled “Crain Case Study” and “Credit Union Case Study”

Giga Information Group Order Form referred as “Exhibit A”

Envelope with the title “Promotional Materials” on the front Please note that Giga Research Community in included in this envelope


giga information group

Technology

giga research community

collaborative development

gigas research

proposal content information

application extension

research competency

servicebased development

content management