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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.14

 
          [Form of Agreement for Executives with Severance Agreement]


                     CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT


          THIS CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated
as of _________ __, 199_, by and between Sterling Software, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and ______________________________ (the
"Executive").

                                 WITNESSETH:

          WHEREAS, the Executive is a senior executive of the Company and is
expected to make major contributions to the profitability, growth and financial
strength of the Company;

          WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that, as is the case of most
companies, the possibility of a Change in Control exists;

          WHEREAS, the Company desires to assure itself of both present and
future continuity of management and desires to establish certain minimum
severance benefits for certain of its senior executives, including the
Executive, applicable in the event of a Change in Control; and

          WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide additional inducement for the
Executive to remain in the ongoing employ of the Company;

          NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:

          1.   Certain Defined Terms: In addition to terms defined elsewhere
               ---------------------
herein, the following terms have the following meanings when used in this
Agreement with initial capital letters:

               (a)    "Base Pay" means the Executive's annual base salary at a
          rate not less than the Executive's annual fixed or base compensation
          as in effect for the Executive immediately prior to the occurrence of
          a Change in Control or such higher rate as may be determined from time
          to time by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") or a
          committee thereof.

               (b)    "Change in Control" means the occurrence during the Term
          of any of the following events:

                      (i)   The Company is merged, consolidated or reorganized
               into or with another corporation or other legal person, and as a
               result of such merger, consolidation or reorganization less than
               two-thirds of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
               securities entitled to vote generally in the election of
               directors ("Voting Stock") of such corporation or person
               immediately after such transaction are held in the aggregate by
               the holders of Voting Stock of the Company immediately prior to
               such transaction;
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                      (ii)  The Company sells or otherwise transfers all or
          substantially all of its assets to another corporation or other legal
          person, and as a result of such sale or transfer less than two-thirds
          of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding Voting Stock of
          such corporation or person immediately after such sale or transfer is
          held in the aggregate by the holders of Voting Stock of the Company
          immediately prior to such sale or transfer;

                      (iii) There is a report filed on Schedule 13D or 
          Schedule 14D-1 (or any successor schedule, form or report), each as
          promulgated pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
          amended (the "Exchange Act"), disclosing that any person (as the term
          "person" is used in Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the
          Exchange Act) has become the beneficial owner (as the term "beneficial
          owner" is defined under Rule 13d-3 or any successor rule or regulation
          promulgated under the Exchange Act) of securities representing 20% or
          more of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding Voting Stock
          of the Company;

                      (iv)  The Company files a report or proxy statement with
          the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act
          disclosing in response to Form 8-K or Schedule 14A (or any successor
          schedule, form or report or item therein) that a change in control of
          the Company has occurred or will occur in the future pursuant to any
          then-existing contract or transaction; or

                      (v)   If, during any period of two consecutive years,
          individuals who at the beginning of any such period constitute the
          Directors of the Company cease for any reason to constitute at least a
          majority thereof; provided, however, that for purposes of this clause
          (v) each Director who is first elected, or first nominated for
          election by the Company's stockholders, by a vote of at least two-
          thirds of the Directors of the Company (or a committee thereof) then
          still in office who were Directors of the Company at the beginning of
          any such period will be deemed to have been a Director of the Company
          at the beginning of such period.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Sections 1(b)(iii) or 1(b)(iv),
unless otherwise determined in a specific case by majority vote of the Board, a
"Change in Control" shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of 
Section 1(b)(iii) or 1(b)(iv) solely because (A) the Company, (B) an entity in
which the Company directly or indirectly beneficially owns 50% or more of the
outstanding Voting Stock (a "Subsidiary"), or (C) any Company-sponsored employee
stock ownership plan or any other employee benefit plan of the Company or any
Subsidiary either files or becomes obligated to file a report or a proxy
statement under or in response to Schedule 13D, Schedule 14D-1, Form 8-K or
Schedule 14A (or any successor schedule, form or report or item therein) under
the Exchange Act disclosing beneficial ownership by it of shares of Voting Stock
of the Company, whether in excess of 20% or otherwise, or because the Company
reports that a change in control of the Company has occurred or will occur in
the future by reason of such beneficial ownership or any increase or decrease
thereof.


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          (c)  "Employee Benefits" means the perquisites, benefits and service
credit for benefits as provided under any and all employee retirement income and
welfare benefit policies, plans, programs or arrangements in which Executive is
entitled to participate, including without limitation any stock option, stock
purchase, stock appreciation, savings, pension, 401(k), employee stock ownership
(ESOP), supplemental executive retirement, or other retirement income or welfare
benefit, deferred compensation, incentive compensation, group or other life,
health, medical/hospital or other insurance (whether funded by actual insurance
or self-insured by the Company), disability, salary continuation, expense
reimbursement, executive automobile, tax and financial planning, club
memberships, incentive travel, tax reimbursement and other employee benefit
policies, plans, programs or arrangements that may now exist or any equivalent
successor policies, plans, programs or arrangements that may be adopted
hereafter by the Company, providing perquisites, benefits and service credit for
benefits at least as great in the aggregate as are payable thereunder prior to a
Change in Control.

          (d)  "Incentive Pay" means (i) if calculated at any time commencing
one year after the date first set forth above, an annual amount equal to not
less than the highest aggregate annual bonus, incentive or other payments of
cash compensation, in addition to Base Pay, made or to be made in regard to
services rendered in any calendar year during the three calendar years (or such
lesser number of calendar years as this Agreement shall have been in effect)
immediately preceding the year in which the Change in Control occurred pursuant
to any bonus, incentive, profit-sharing, performance, discretionary pay or
similar agreement, policy, plan, program or arrangement (whether or not funded)
of the Company or any successor thereto, providing benefits at least as great as
the benefits payable thereunder prior to a Change in Control and (ii) if
calculated at any time prior to one year after the date first set forth above,
an amount equal to 100% of the aggregate of the budgeted annual bonus, incentive
or other budgeted payments of cash compensation, in addition to Base Pay, at
plan for such Executive.

          (e)  "Severance Period" means the period of time commencing on the
date of the first occurrence of a Change in Control and continuing until the
earliest of (i) the _____ anniversary of the occurrence of the Change in
Control, or (ii) the Executive's death; provided, however, that commencing on
each anniversary of the Change in Control, the Severance Period will
automatically be extended for an additional year unless, not later than 90
calendar days prior to such anniversary date, either the Company or the
Executive shall have given written notice to the other that the Severance Period
is not to be so extended.

          (f)  "Term" means the period commencing as of the date first set forth
above and expiring as of the later of (i) the close of business on 
December 31, 200_, or (ii) the expiration of the Severance Period; provided,
however, that (A) commencing on January 1, 199_ and each January 1 thereafter,
the Term of this Agreement will automatically be extended for an additional year
unless, not later than September 30 of the immediately preceding year, the
Company or the Executive shall have given notice that it or the Executive, as
the case may be, does not wish to have the Term extended and (B) subject to the
last sentence of Section 8, if, prior to a Change in Control, the Executive
ceases for any reason to be an employee of the

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          Company or any Subsidiary, thereupon without further action the Term
          shall be deemed to have expired and this Agreement will immediately
          terminate and be of no further effect.

          2.    Operation of Agreement:  This Agreement will be effective and
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binding immediately upon its execution, but, anything in this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding, this Agreement will not be operative unless and until
a Change in Control occurs. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control at any
time during the Term, without further action, this Agreement shall become
immediately operative.

          3.    Termination Following a Change in Control: (a) In the event of 
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the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Executive's employment may be
terminated by the Company during the Severance Period. If, during the Severance
Period, the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company or any
Subsidiary other than as a result of the Executive's death, the Executive will
be entitled to the benefits provided by Section 4 hereof.

                (a)   In the event of the occurrence of a Change in Control,
the Executive may terminate his or her employment with the Company during the
Severance Period with the right to severance compensation as provided in Section
4 upon the occurrence of one or more of the following events (regardless of
whether any other reason for such termination exists or has occurred, including
without limitation other employment):

                 (i)   Failure to elect or reelect or otherwise to maintain the
          Executive in the office of the Company which the Executive held
          immediately prior to a Change in Control, or the removal of the
          Executive as a Director of the Company (or any successor thereto) if
          the Executive shall have been a Director of the Company immediately
          prior to the Change in Control;

                 (ii)  (A) A significant adverse change in the nature or scope
          of the authorities, powers, functions, responsibilities or duties
          attached to the position which the Executive held immediately prior to
          the Change in Control, (B) a reduction in the aggregate amount of the
          Executive's Base Pay and Incentive Pay, or (C) the termination or
          denial of the Executive's rights to Employee Benefits or a reduction
          in the scope or value thereof, any of which is not remedied by the
          Company within 10 calendar days after receipt by the Company of
          written notice from the Executive of such change, reduction or
          termination, as the case may be;

                 (iii) A determination by the Executive (which determination
          will be conclusive and binding upon the parties hereto provided it has
          been made in good faith and in all events will be presumed to have
          been made in good faith unless otherwise shown by the Company by clear
          and convincing evidence) that a change in circumstances has occurred
          following a Change in Control, including, without limitation, a change
          in the scope of the business or other activities for which the
          Executive was responsible immediately prior to the Change in Control,
          which has rendered the Executive substantially unable to carry out,
          has substantially hindered Executive's performance of, or has caused
          Executive to suffer a substantial reduction in, any of the
          authorities, powers, functions, responsibilities or duties attached to
          the position held by the Executive immediately prior to the Change in
          Control, which situation is not remedied within


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          10 calendar days after written notice to the Company from the
          Executive of such determination;

                 (iv)  The liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation or
          reorganization of the Company or transfer of all or substantially all
          of its business and/or assets, unless the successor or successors (by
          liquidation, merger, consolidation, reorganization, transfer or
          otherwise) to which all or substantially all of its business and/or
          assets have been transferred (directly or by operation of law) assumed
          all duties and obligations of the Company under this Agreement
          pursuant to Section 10(a);

                 (v)   The Company relocates its principal executive offices, or
          requires the Executive to have his principal location of work changed,
          to any location which is in excess of 25 miles from the location
          thereof immediately prior to the Change in Control, or requires the
          Executive to travel away from his office in the course of discharging
          his responsibilities or duties hereunder at least 20% more (in terms
          of aggregate days in any calendar year or in any calendar quarter when
          annualized for purposes of comparison to any prior year) than was
          required of Executive in any of the three full years immediately prior
          to the Change in Control without, in either case, his prior written
          consent; or

                 (vi)  Without limiting the generality or effect of the
          foregoing, any material breach of this Agreement by the Company or any
          successor thereto.

              (b)      A termination by the Company pursuant to Section 3(a) or
by the Executive pursuant to Section 3(b) will not affect any rights which the
Executive may have pursuant to any agreement, policy, plan, program or
arrangement of the Company providing Employee Benefits, which rights shall be
governed by the terms thereof. The Company and the Executive are parties to a
Severance Agreement, dated as of __________ __, 199_ (as such agreement may be
amended from time to time, the "Severance Agreement"). Notwithstanding anything
contained in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event the Executive's
employment with the Company is terminated under circumstances in which the
Executive would otherwise be entitled to receive payments and benefits under
both this Agreement and the Severance Agreement, the Executive shall have the
right to elect to receive payments and benefits under either this Agreement or
the Severance Agreement, but not both (except that the Executive may in all
events receive all payments and benefits to which he or she is entitled under
the Severance Agreement during the period between the Termination Date and the
Election Date (as such terms are defined below)). Within five business days
following the date of the termination of the Executive's employment with the
Company under the circumstances described in the preceding sentence (the
"Termination Date"), which shall be the effective date of such termination if
the termination is pursuant to Section 3(a) or such other date that may be
specified by the Executive if the termination is pursuant to Section 3(b), the
Company shall provide the Executive, in writing, a reasonably detailed
determination of the payments and other benefits under each of this Agreement
and the Severance Agreement. Executive shall make the election provided for in
this Section 3(c) by providing the Company written notice thereof within 30 days
after the Executive's receipt of the written determination referred to in the
preceding sentence; provided, however, that if such election is not so made
within such 30-day period, the Executive shall be irrevocably deemed to have
elected to 

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receive payments and benefits under this Agreement (the date on which such
election is so made or deemed to have been made being the "Election Date").
 
          4.    Severance Compensation:  (a) If, following the occurrence of a
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Change in Control, the Company terminates the Executive's employment during the
Severance Period pursuant to Section 3(a) (other than as a result of the
Executive's death), or if the Executive terminates his employment during the
Severance Period pursuant to Section 3(b), the Company will:

                  (i)  pay to the Executive, within five business days after the
         Termination Date (or, in the event that the circumstance described in
         Section 3(c) hereof is applicable, within five business days after the
         Election Date), a lump sum payment (the "Severance Payment") in an
         amount equal to _____ times the sum of (A) Base Pay (at the highest
         rate in effect for any period prior to the Termination Date), plus (B)
         Incentive Pay (determined in accordance with the standard set forth in
         Section 1(d)); provided however, that Severance Payment shall be
         reduced by the aggregate amount of all cash payments, if any,
         previously received by the Executive pursuant to his or her Severance
         Agreement prior to the Election Date.

                  (ii) (A) for _____ months following the Termination Date (the
         "Continuation Period"), arrange at its sole expense, to provide the
         Executive with Employee Benefits that are benefits under welfare plans
         (as that term is used in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
         1974, as amended ("ERISA")) substantially similar to those which the
         Executive was receiving or entitled to receive immediately prior to the
         Termination Date, and (B) such Continuation Period will be considered
         service with the Company for the purpose of determining service credits
         and benefits due and payable to the Executive under the Company's
         retirement income, supplemental executive retirement and other benefit
         plans of the Company applicable to the Executive, his dependents or his
         beneficiaries immediately prior to the Termination Date. If and to the
         extent that any benefit described in subsection (A) or (B) of this
         Section 4(a)(ii) is not or cannot be paid or provided under ERISA or
         any other applicable law or regulation or under any policy, plan,
         program or arrangement of the Company, then the Company will itself pay
         or provide for the payment to the Executive, his dependents and
         beneficiaries, of such Employee Benefits. Without otherwise limiting
         the purposes or effect of Section 5, Employee Benefits otherwise
         receivable by the Executive pursuant to subsection (A) of this Section
         4(a)(ii) will be reduced to the extent comparable welfare benefits are
         actually received by the Executive from another employer during the
         Continuation Period following the Executive's Termination Date, and any
         such benefits actually received by the Executive shall be reported by
         the Executive to the Company. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence,
         in the event that the Executive is required to pay any amounts in
         connection with the receipt of such welfare benefits, the Company will
         be obligated to promptly reimburse the Executive for the amounts paid
         by the Executive to receive such benefits.

                (b)    Without limiting the rights of the Executive at law or in
equity, if the Company fails to make any payment or provide any benefit required
to be made or provided hereunder on a timely basis, the Company will pay
interest on the amount or value thereof at an annualized rate of interest equal
to the so-called composite "prime rate" as quoted from time to time during the
relevant


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period in the Southwest Edition of The Wall Street Journal. Such interest will
                                   -----------------------
be payable as it accrues on demand. Any change in such prime rate will be
effective on and as of the date of such change.
 
                (c)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to
the contrary, the parties' respective rights and obligations under this Section
4 and under Sections 5 and 7 will survive any termination or expiration of this
Agreement or the termination of the Executive's employment following a Change in
Control for any reason whatsoever.

          5.    Certain Additional Payments by the Company:  (a) Anything in
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this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that this Agreement
shall become operative and it shall be determined (as hereafter provided) that
all or any portion of any payment or distribution by the Company or any of its
affiliates to or for the benefit of the Executive pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement or otherwise, including under any stock option or other agreement,
plan, policy, program or arrangement (a "Payment"), would be subject to the
excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code") (or any successor provision thereto), by reason of being
considered "contingent on a change in ownership or control" of the Company,
within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code (or any successor provision
thereto), or to any similar tax imposed by state or local law, or any interest
or penalties with respect to such tax (such tax or taxes, together with any such
interest and penalties, being hereafter collectively referred to as the "Excise
Tax"), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment or
payments (collectively, a "Gross-Up Payment"); provided, however, that no Gross-
Up Payment shall be made with respect to the Excise Tax, if any, attributable to
(i) any incentive stock option, as defined by Section 422 of the Code ("ISO")
granted prior to the execution of this Agreement, or (ii) any stock appreciation
or similar right, whether or not limited, granted in tandem with an ISO
described in clause (i). The Gross-Up Payment shall be in an amount such that,
after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties
imposed with respect to such taxes), including any Excise Tax imposed upon the
Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal
to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payment.

                (a)    Subject to the provisions of Section 5(f), all
determinations required to be made under this Section 5, including whether an
Excise Tax is payable by the Executive and the amount of such Excise Tax and
whether a Gross-Up Payment is required to be paid by the Company to the
Executive and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment, if any, shall be made by a
nationally recognized accounting firm (the "Accounting Firm") selected by the
Executive in his sole discretion. The Executive shall direct the Accounting Firm
to submit its determination and detailed supporting calculations to both the
Company and the Executive within 30 calendar days after the Termination Date, if
applicable, and any such other time or times as may be requested by the Company
or the Executive. If the Accounting Firm determines that any Excise Tax is
payable by the Executive, the Company shall pay the required Gross-Up Payment to
the Executive within five business days after receipt of such determination and
calculations with respect to any Payment to the Executive. If the Accounting
Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it shall, at the
same time as it makes such determination, furnish the Company and the Executive
a written opinion to the effect that the Executive has substantial authority not
to report any Excise Tax on his federal, state or local income or other tax
return. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the
Code (or any successor provision thereto) and the possibility of similar
uncertainty regarding applicable 


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state or local tax law at the time of any determination by the Accounting Firm
hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not have been made
by the Company should have been made (an "Underpayment"), consistent with the
calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the Company
exhausts or fails to pursue its remedies pursuant to Section 5(f) and the
Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the
Executive shall direct the Accounting Firm to determine the amount of the
Underpayment that has occurred and to submit its determination and detailed
supporting calculations to both the Company and the Executive as promptly as
possible. Any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to, or for
the benefit of, the Executive within five business days after receipt of such
determination and calculations.

                (b)    The Company and the Executive shall each provide the
Accounting Firm access to and copies of any books, records and documents in the
possession of the Company or the Executive, as the case may be, reasonably
requested by the Accounting Firm, and otherwise cooperate with the Accounting
Firm in connection with the preparation and issuance of the determinations and
calculations contemplated by this Section 5. Any determination by the Accounting
Firm as to the amount of the Gross-Up Payment shall be binding upon the Company
and the Executive.

                (c)    The federal, state and local income or other tax returns
filed by the Executive shall be prepared and filed on a consistent basis with
the determination of the Accounting Firm with respect to the Excise Tax payable
by the Executive. The Executive shall make proper payment of the amount of any
Excise Payment, and at the request of the Company, provide to the Company true
and correct copies (with any amendments) of his federal income tax return as
filed with the Internal Revenue Service and corresponding state and local tax
returns, if relevant, as filed with the applicable taxing authority, and such
other documents reasonably requested by the Company, evidencing such payment. If
prior to the filing of the Executive's federal income tax return, or
corresponding state or local tax return, if relevant, the Accounting Firm
determines that the amount of the Gross-Up Payment should be reduced, the
Executive shall within five business days pay to the Company the amount of such
reduction.

                (d)    The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm for its
services in connection with the determinations and calculations contemplated by
this Section 5 shall be borne by the Company. If such fees and expenses are
initially paid by the Executive, the Company shall reimburse the Executive the
full amount of such fees and expenses within five business days after receipt
from the Executive of a statement therefor and reasonable evidence of his
payment thereof.

                (e)    The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any
claim by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority that, if
successful, would require the payment by the Company of a Gross-Up Payment. Such
notification shall be given as promptly as practicable but no later than 10
business days after the Executive actually receives notice of such claim and the
Executive shall further apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and the
date on which such claim is requested to be paid (in each case, to the extent
known by the Executive). The Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the
earlier of (i) the expiration of the 30-calendar-day period following the date
on which he gives such notice to the Company and (ii) the date that any payment
of amount with respect to such claim is due. If the Company notifies the
Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such 


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period that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive, subject to the
provisions of Section 5(h) of this Agreement, shall:

                  (i)   provide the Company with any written records or
     documents in his possession relating to such claim reasonably requested by
     the Company;

                  (ii)  take such action in connection with contesting such
     claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time,
     including without limitation accepting legal representation with respect to
     such claim by an attorney competent in respect of the subject matter and
     reasonably selected by the Company;

                  (iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order
effectively to contest such claim; and

                  (iv)  permit the Company to participate in any proceedings
     relating to such claim;

provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and
expenses (including interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such
contest and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Executive, on an after-tax
basis, for and against any Excise Tax or income tax, including interest and
penalties with respect thereto, imposed as a result of such representation and
payment of costs and expenses.  Without limiting the foregoing provisions of
this Section 5(f), the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection
with the contest of any claim contemplated by this Section 5(f) and, at its sole
option, may pursue or forego any and all administrative appeals, proceedings,
hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim
(provided, however, that the Executive may participate therein at his own cost
and expense) and may, at its option, either direct the Executive to pay the tax
claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and
the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any
administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more
appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided, however, that if the
Company directs the  Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund, the
Company shall advance the amount of such payment to the Executive on an
interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an
after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income or other tax, including interest
or penalties with respect thereto, imposed with respect to such advance; and
provided further, however, that any extension of the statute of limitations
relating to payment of taxes for the taxable year of the Executive with respect
to which the contested amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such
contested amount.  Furthermore, the Company's control of any such contested
claim shall be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would
be payable hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest,
as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or
any other taxing authority.

           (f)  If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by
the Company pursuant to Section 5(f), the Executive receives any refund with
respect to such claim, the Executive shall (subject to the Company's complying
with the requirements of Section 5(f)) promptly pay to the Company the amount of
such refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after any taxes
applicable thereto). If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount
advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 5(f), a determination is made that
the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund 


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with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify the Executive in
writing of its intent to contest such denial or refund prior to the expiration
of 30 calendar days after such determination, then such advance shall be
forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and the amount of any such
advance shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment
required to be paid by the Company to the Executive pursuant to this Section 5.

          (h)  Any information provided by Executive to the Company under this
Section 5 shall be treated confidentially by the Company and will not be
provided by the Company to any other person than the Company's professional
advisors without Executive's prior written consent except as required by law.

     6.   No Mitigation Obligation:  The Company hereby acknowledges that it
          ------------------------    
will be difficult and may be impossible for the Executive to find reasonably
comparable employment within a reasonable time period following the Termination
Date.  In addition, the Company acknowledges that its severance pay plans and
policies applicable in general to its salaried employees typically do not
provide for mitigation, offset or reduction of any severance payments received
thereunder.  Accordingly, the payment of the severance compensation by the
Company to the Executive in accordance with the terms of this Agreement is
hereby acknowledged by the Company to be reasonable, and the Executive will not
be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Agreement
by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor will any profits, income, earnings
or other benefits from any source whatsoever create any mitigation, offset,
reduction or any other obligation on the part of the Executive hereunder or
otherwise, except as expressly provided in the last two sentences of Section
4(a)(ii).

     7.   Legal Fees and Expenses:  It is the intent of the Company that the
          -----------------------
Executive not be required to incur legal fees and the related expenses
associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Executive's rights
under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense
thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to
the Executive hereunder.  Accordingly, if it should appear to the Executive that
the Company has failed to comply with any of its obligations under this
Agreement or in the event that the Company or any other person takes or
threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or
institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to
recover from, the Executive the benefits provided or intended to be provided to
the Executive hereunder, the Company irrevocably  authorizes the Executive from
time to time to retain counsel of Executive's choice, at the expense of the
Company as hereafter provided, to advise and represent the Executive in
connection with any such interpretation, enforcement or defense, including
without limitation the initiation or defense of any litigation or other legal
action, whether by or against the Company or any Director, officer, stockholder
or other person affiliated with the Company, in any jurisdiction.
Notwithstanding any existing or prior attorney-client relationship between the
Company and such counsel, the Company irrevocably consents to the Executive's
entering into an attorney-client relationship with such counsel, and in that
connection the Company and the Executive agree that a confidential relationship
shall exist between the Executive and such counsel.  Without respect to whether
the Executive prevails, in whole or in part, in connection with any of the
foregoing, the Company will pay and be solely financially responsible for any
and all attorneys' and related fees and expenses incurred by the Executive in
connection with any of the foregoing.


                                     -10-
<PAGE>
 
     8.   Employment Rights:  Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement
          -----------------
will create any right or duty on the part of the Company or the Executive to
have the Executive remain in the employment of the Company or any Subsidiary
prior to or following any Change in Control.  Any event or occurrence described
in Section 3(b)(i), (ii), (v) or (vi) hereof following the commencement of a
discussion with a third person that ultimately results in a Change in Control
shall be deemed to have occurred after a Change in Control for the purposes of
this Agreement.

     9.   Withholding of Taxes:  The Company may withhold from any amounts
          -------------------- 
payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as the
Company is required to withhold pursuant to any law or government regulation or
ruling.

     10.  Successors and Binding Agreement:  (a) The Company will require any
          --------------------------------
successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation,
reorganization or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or
assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the
Executive, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same
manner and to the same extent the Company would be required to perform if no
such succession had taken place.  This Agreement will be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of the Company and any successor to the Company, including
without limitation any persons acquiring directly or indirectly all or
substantially all of the business or assets of the Company whether by purchase,
merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise (and such  successor shall
thereafter be deemed the "Company" for the purposes of this Agreement), but will
not otherwise be assignable, transferable or delegable by the Company.

          (a)  This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees and legatees.

          (b)  This Agreement is personal in nature and neither of the parties
hereto shall, without the consent of the other, assign, transfer or delegate
this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder except as expressly
provided in Sections 10(a) and 10(b). Without limiting the generality or effect
of the foregoing, the Executive's right to receive payments hereunder will not
be assignable, transferable or delegable, whether by pledge, creation of a
security interest, or otherwise, other than by a transfer by Executive's will or
by the laws of descent and distribution and, in the event of any attempted
assignment or transfer contrary to this Section 10(c), the Company shall have no
liability to pay any amount so attempted to be assigned, transferred or
delegated.

     11.  Notices:  For all purposes of this Agreement (except as otherwise
          -------
expressly provided in this Agreement with respect to notice periods), all
communications, including without limitation notices, consents, requests or
approvals, required or permitted to be given hereunder will be in writing and
will be deemed to have been duly given when hand delivered or dispatched by
electronic facsimile transmission (with receipt thereof orally confirmed), or
ten business days after having been mailed by United States registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or five business days
after having been sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service such
as Federal Express, UPS, or Purolator, addressed to the Company at 8080 North
Central Expressway, Suite 


                                     -11-
<PAGE>
 
1100, Dallas, Texas 75206 (to the attention of the President of the Company) and
to the Executive at the Company's address, with a copy to the Executive at his
or her principal residence, or to such other address as any party may have
furnished to the other in writing and in accordance herewith, except that
notices of changes of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

     12.  Governing Law:  The validity, interpretation, construction and
          -------------
performance of this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance
with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the
principles of conflict of laws of such State.

     13.  Validity:  If any provision of this Agreement or the application of
          -------- 
any provision hereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid,
unenforceable or otherwise illegal, the remainder of this Agreement and the
application of  such provision to any other person or circumstances will not be
affected, and the provision so held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise
illegal will be reformed to the extent (and only to the extent) necessary to
make it enforceable, valid or legal.

     14.  Miscellaneous:  No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived
          -------------
or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in
writing signed by the Executive and the Company.  No waiver by either party
hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto or compliance with
any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party
will be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the
same or at any prior or subsequent time.  No agreements or representations, oral
or otherwise, expressed or implied with respect to the subject matter hereof
have been made by either party which are not set forth expressly in this
Agreement.  References to Sections are to references to Sections of this
Agreement.

     15.  Counterparts:  This Agreement may be executed in one or more
          ------------ 
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same agreement.

     16.  Termination of Prior Agreements.  The [title of agreement] between
          ------------------------------- 
Executive and Sterling Software, dated _______________, as amended to the date
hereof (the "Prior Agreement"), shall terminate automatically and shall
thereafter be of no further force or effect; provided, however, that if this
Agreement is held wholly invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal, the
preceding clause shall have no effect and the Prior Agreement shall be deemed to
have continued at all times in force and effect.  Subject to the foregoing
proviso, this Agreement supersedes all prior agreements, arrangements and
understandings with respect to the subject matter hereof.


                                     -12-
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered as of the date first above written.


                                   STERLING SOFTWARE, INC.



                                   By
                                     -----------------------------------
                                     Sterling L. Williams
                                     President &
                                     Chief Executive Officer


                                     -----------------------------------
                                                 [Executive]


                                     -13-