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                                                               EXHIBIT 10(iii)47


                                   EXHIBIT A

                              THE IT GROUP, INC.
                                PROMISSORY NOTE

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[Amount of Loan]                                                Monroeville, PA

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Promissory Note that
are defined in the Program (as defined below) shall have the meanings specified
in the Program.

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned ("Borrower") hereby promises to pay to THE
IT GROUP, INC. (the "Company") the principal amount of ($___________), together
with interest (compounded semiannually) from the date hereof on the unpaid
balance of such principal amount at the rate set forth in Section 1 hereof on
______________ (the "Maturity Date"), less any amount of principal or interest
which has been paid by Borrower or forgiven by the Company in accordance with
Section 5 herein.

PROVIDED that such Maturity Date may be extended or accelerated pursuant to
Article 7 of the IT Group, Inc. Executive Stock Ownership Program (the
"Program") and as summarized in Sections 4 and 6 herein.  Payment of the
principal amount of this Promissory Note and interest thereon shall be made at
the office of the Company in Monroeville, Pennsylvania or at such other location
in the United States of America as shall be designated by the Company in writing
to Borrower.  Such payment shall be made in such coin or currency of the United
States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of
public and private debts.

This Promissory Note is being issued pursuant to the Program, for the purpose of
financing the purchase of certain shares of securities of the Company (the
"Purchased Shares") being acquired by Borrower in accordance with the Ownership
Guidelines as defined under the Program. Capitalized terms used but not
otherwise defined in this Promissory Note that are defined in the Program shall
have the meanings specified in the Program.

     1.   INTEREST. Interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal balance of
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this Promissory Note at the applicable federal rate of six and sixty-ninth
percent (6.69%) per annum, compounded semiannually.  Such interest shall be
payable only on the Maturity Date or upon acceleration of this Promissory Note
pursuant to Section 4 or 6 hereof

     2.   FULL RECOURSE. This Promissory Note shall be the personal obligation
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of Borrower and the Company shall be entitled to full recourse against Borrower
for performance and satisfaction of all obligations of Borrower hereunder.

     3.   COVENANTS OF BORROWER. Upon receipt of the proceeds of this Promissory
          ---------------------
Note, Borrower shall apply all such proceeds towards the purchase of the
Purchased Shares.
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                                   EXHIBIT A

                              THE IT GROUP, INC.
                                PROMISSORY NOTE

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     4.   VOLUNTARY PREPAYMENTS. Borrower may, at his option, prepay at any time
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all or any portion of the principal amount of this Promissory Note then
outstanding, together with any and all accrued interest thereon through the date
of such prepayment, without premium or penalty.

     5.   LOAN FORGIVENESS.
          ----------------

          5.1  Upon each March 24th, beginning _____________and ending
on________________, if Borrower is an employee of good standing with the Company
on each such date, the principal amount under this Promissory Note shall be
reduced by twenty-five percent (25%) and the entire amount of accrued interest
as of each ____________ shall be treated as forgiven by the Company. The Company
shall reimburse Borrower for any individual federal, state, and local tax
liability incurred by the Borrower as a result of the characterization of the
forgiveness of the principal and interest and tax reimbursement as compensation
required to be reported on Form W-2. To the extent practicable, this gross up
calculation is intended to cover the taxes on the forgiveness of any principal
and interest and the tax reimbursement.

          5.2  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the forgiveness of the principal
and accrued interest under this Promissory Note shall be subject to the
following events:

               (a)  Termination of Employment of Borrower. In the event
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Borrower's employment is terminated for Cause prior to the Maturity Date,
Borrower shall cease to be eligible to receive any forgiveness of principal and
accrued interest and tax reimbursements provided in Section 5.1 other than such
forgiveness previously credited under this Promissory Note and tax
reimbursements received before the Termination Date. In the event Borrower
terminates his or her employment with the Company and all affiliates voluntarily
(other than due to retirement, death or Permanent Disability) prior to the
Maturity Date, Borrower shall cease to be eligible to receive any forgiveness of
principal and accrued interest and tax reimbursements provided in Section 5.1
other than such forgiveness previously credited under this Promissory Note and
tax reimbursements received before the Termination Date. Subject to Section
6.2(d), in the event Borrower's employment is terminated involuntarily (other
than for Cause, retirement, death or disability) by the Company or an affiliate
prior to the Maturity Date, Borrower shall receive any forgiveness of principal
and accrued interest [and tax reimbursements] which would have occurred within
the six (6) months following the Termination Date had the Borrower remained an
employee of the Company during such six month period.

               (b)  Retirement of Borrower. In the event Borrower's employment
                    ----------------------
terminates on or after his or her Retirement Date prior to the Maturity Date,
for purposes of Section 1.6.1, the full remaining balance of the Promissory Note
including any accrued interest shall be fully forgiven notwithstanding such
termination of employment. Borrower shall be entitled to receive, upon such
retirement, all applicable tax reimbursements provided under Section 1.6.1.
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                                   EXHIBIT A

                              THE IT GROUP, INC.
                                PROMISSORY NOTE

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               (c)  Death or Disability of Borrower. In the event Borrower dies
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or becomes Permanently Disabled prior to the Maturity Date, for purposes of
Section 1.6.1, the full remaining balance of the Promissory Note including any
accrued interest shall be fully forgiven notwithstanding such death or
disability. Borrower or, if applicable, Borrower's estate, shall be entitled to
receive, upon such death or disability, all applicable tax reimbursements
provided under Section 1.6.1.

               (d)  Change of Control. In the event an involuntary termination
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of employment, other than for Cause, occurs within 24 months of a Change of
Control and prior to the Maturity Date, for purposes of Section 1.6.1, the full
remaining balance of the Promissory Note including any accrued interest shall be
fully forgiven notwithstanding such termination of employment. Borrower shall be
entitled to receive, upon such termination of employment, all applicable tax
reimbursements provided under Section 1.6.1.

     6.   ACCELERATION OF MATURITY DATE.
          -----------------------------

          6.1  The principal amount of this Promissory Note shall be due on the
Maturity Date unless maturity of this Promissory Note is accelerated in
accordance with Section 6.2 or Section 4 herein.

          6.2  In the event Borrower's employment is terminated for Cause prior
to the Maturity Date, any outstanding interest and principal under the
Promissory Note and not forgiven pursuant to Section 5 hereof shall become
immediately due and payable on the Termination Date. In the event Borrower
terminates his or her employment with the Company and all affiliates voluntarily
(other than due to retirement, death or Permanent Disability) prior to the
Maturity Date, any outstanding interest and principal under the Promissory Note
and not forgiven pursuant to Section 5 hereof shall become immediately due and
payable on the Termination Date. In the event Borrower's employment is
terminated involuntarily (other than for Cause, retirement, death or disability)
by the Company or an affiliate prior to the Maturity Date, any outstanding
interest and principal under the Promissory Note and not forgiven pursuant to
Section 5 hereof shall become due and payable on the Termination Date.

     7.   NOTICES. All notices and other communications required or permitted to
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be given under this Promissory Note shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given if delivered personally or by inter-office mail as follows,
if to the Company, Corporate Secretary, The IT Group, Inc., 2790 Mosside
Boulevard, Monroeville, PA 15146-2792; if to Borrower, at the address set forth
at the end of this Promissory Note, or to such other address as either party
shall have last designated by notice to the other party. All such notices and
communications shall be deemed to have been received on the earlier of the date
of receipt and the third business day after the date of mailing thereof.
<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT A

                              THE IT GROUP, INC.
                                PROMISSORY NOTE

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     8.   AMENDMENTS. No amendment of this Promissory Note shall be effective
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unless in writing and signed by Borrower and the Company.

     9.   WAIVER. Borrower, for himself and his legal representatives and
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successors, hereby expressly waives presentment, demand, notice, protest, and
all other demands or notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance,
endorsement, performance, default, or enforcement of this Promissory Note.

     10.  NO SET-OFF. This Promissory Note is not subject to set-off for any
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amounts for any reason other than as provided under Section 5 herein.

     11.  EFFECT OF DELAY OR OMISSION. No delay or omission of the Company in
          ---------------------------
exercising any right or remedy hereunder shall constitute a waiver of any such
right or remedy.

     12.  COSTS OF COLLECTION. Borrower will pay all costs and expenses of
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collection, including reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred or paid by the
Company in enforcing this Promissory Note or its rights under the Pledge
Agreement or the obligations hereby or thereby evidenced, to the extent
permitted by law.

     13.  GOVERNING LAW. This Promissory Note, shall be governed by and
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construed and enforced in accordance and with the laws of the State of Delaware,
without regard to the application of the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

     14.  HEADINGS. The section and paragraph headings hereof are for
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convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to construe or affect the
meaning of any of the provisions hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower has executed this Promissory Note as of the date
first above written.

THE IT GROUP, INC.                         BORROWER

By: _______________________________

Title: ____________________________        _____________________________________
                                           Street Address

                                           _____________________________________
                                           City, State and Zip Code

                                           Social Security #____________________