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                                                                      EXHIBIT 24

                  INFORMATION RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned constitutes and
appoints Thomas W. Wilson, Gary M. Hill and Monica M. Weed, and each of them,
his/her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and re-substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1998 of Information Resources, Inc., together with any and
all amendments to such Annual Report, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agent of either of them, or their substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


Dated: March 29, 1999


                                              /s/ JAMES G. ANDRESS         
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             James G. Andress, Director

                                              /s/ GERALD J. ESKIN          
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Gerald J. Eskin, Director

                                              /s/ EDWIN E. EPSTEIN          
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Edwin E. Epstein, Director

                                              /s/ GIAN M. FULGONI          
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Gian M. Fulgoni, Director

                                              /s/ JOHN D.C. LITTLE          
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             John D.C. Little, Director

                                              /s/ LEONARD M. LODISH         
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Leonard M. Lodish, Director

                                              /s/ EDWARD E. LUCENTE         
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Edward E. Lucente, Director

                                              /s/ EDITH W. MARTIN          
                                             ----------------------------------
                                              Edith W. Martin, Director

                                              /s/ JEFFREY P. STAMEN         
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Jeffrey P. Stamen, Director

                                              /s/ GLEN L. URBAN         
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Glen L. Urban, Director