<PAGE>


                                                                      EXHIBIT 24

                  INFORMATION RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned constitutes and
appoints Joseph P. Durrett 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, 2002 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 20, 2003

                                         /S/ JOSEPH P. DURRETT
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Joseph P. Durrett, Director

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

                                         /S/ WILLIAM B. CONNELL
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         William B. Connell, Director

                                         /S/ BRUCE A. GESCHEIDER
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Bruce A. Gescheider, Director

                                         /S/ EILEEN A. KAMERICK
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Eileen A. Kamerick, Director

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

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

                                         /S/ RAYMOND H. VAN WAGENER, JR.
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Raymond H. Van Wagener, Jr., Director

                                         /S/ THOMAS W. WILSON, JR.
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Thomas W. Wilson, Jr., Director