<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.56

                              Employment Agreement

This Employment Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as of the
7th day of August, 1998 ("Effective Date"), by and between System Software
Associates, Inc., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter the "Company"), and
Lorraine H. Fenton (hereinafter the "Employee").

WHEREAS, the Company desires that the Employee provide services for the benefit
of the Company (including, to the extent required, all subsidiary and related
companies of the Company; hereinafter collectively the "Affiliates") and the
Employee desires to accept such employment with the Company; and

WHEREAS, in the course of employment with the Company, the Employee will have
access to certain confidential information that relates to or will relate to the
business of the Company and its Affiliates, and the Company desires that any
such information not be disclosed to other parties or otherwise used for
unauthorized purposes.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above premises and the following terms
and mutual covenants, the parties agree as follows:

1.  EMPLOYMENT.  The Employee shall serve as Vice-President Research and
Development. The Employee hereby accepts such employment and position on the
terms contained herein.

2.  DUTIES AND EMPLOYEE LOYALTY.  The Employee shall work for the Company in a
full-time capacity and shall have the duties, responsibilities, powers and
authority customarily associated with the position of Vice-President Research
and Development, which duties shall include, but not be limited to,
responsibility for manufacturing and supporting products made by the Company,
together with such other duties and functions as are assigned from time to time
by the Employee's Manager. The Employee shall report to the Company's Chief
Executive Officer or his designee (hereinafter "Employee's Manager"). The
Employee shall devote her entire business time, attention, energy, knowledge,
and skill to the performance of duties for the Company and will use her best
efforts to promote the interests of the Company and its Affiliates.

The Employee expressly agrees that during the term of this Agreement, he shall
not engage, directly or indirectly, as a partner, officer, director,
stockholder, advisor, agent, employee, or in any other form or capacity, in any
other business similar to that of the Company. The foregoing notwithstanding,
nothing herein contained shall be deemed to prevent the Employee from investing
in the capital stock or other securities of any corporation whose stock or
securities are publicly owned or are regularly traded on any public exchange.
<PAGE>

3.  TERM OF EMPLOYMENT.  Unless sooner terminated as in accordance with
Paragraph 7, this Agreement shall be entered into commencing as of its Effective
Date (hereinafter the "Start Date") and shall thereafter continue until
expiration in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

4.  COMPENSATION.  For all services rendered by the Employee to the Company, the
Company shall pay to the Employee during her period of employment the following
compensation:

   Base Salary.  The Employee shall be entitled to an annual base salary of
   $300,000.00 (hereinafter "Base Salary"); said Base Salary to be made
   retroactive commencing as of July 1, 1998, payable in substantially equal
   installments in accordance with the Company's then current local payroll
   policy.

   Annual Incentive Bonus.  The Employee shall be entitled to participate in an
   annual bonus program which shall provide the Employee an opportunity to
   achieve a targeted annual bonus of up to $100,000.00, based on achievement of
   specified organizational and personal management objectives (hereinafter
   "Annual Incentive Bonus"). The Employee agrees that incentive bonus payments
   are not guaranteed income and are based upon actual performance and
   achievement of established objectives on a fiscal year or quarterly basis.
   The actual payment of earned incentive bonus payments shall be made by the
   Company on a periodic basis in accordance with the Company's then current
   payroll policy. Currently, such periodic payments coincide with the Company's
   fiscal quarters and fiscal year-end.

   Adjustments to Base Salary and Annual Incentive Bonus.  The Base Salary
   and/or Annual Incentive Bonus may be increased (but may not be reduced,
   unless there is a significant change in the Employee's duties and
   responsibilities) by the Employee's Manager. To that end, the Employee shall
   periodically receive a performance review in accordance with the Company's
   then existing policies. For informational purposes only, the Company's
   current policy provides for an annual performance review (which may or may
   not, at the Company's option, include an adjustment in the Employee's Base
   Salary and/or Annual Incentive Bonus).

   Additional Compensation.  The Employee is also eligible to be considered for
   participation, during the term of her employment, in such other compensation
   programs as may be available by the Company from time to time (commensurate
   with the Employee's position and compensation).

   Grant of Stock Options.  In accordance with the Company's Long Term Incentive
   Plan, Employee has been granted 150,000 stock options in the Company's common
   stock. The strike price on these options will be $4.0625 per share; being the
   value of a share of the Company's common stock as of the close of market on
   August 4, 1998. The stock options will, subject to Paragraph 7, below, vest
   as follows: 1/5th (30,000 stock options) on the Start Date; the remaining
   4/5ths (120,000 stock options) in four equal annual installments (30,000
   stock options per installment) over
<PAGE>

   a four (4) year employment period beginning one year after the Start Date.
   The grant of such stock options, in accordance with the foregoing, will be
   memorialized in an option agreement pursuant to and in accordance with the
   Company's Long Term Incentive Plan.

   Deductions.  The Employee agrees that the Company shall withhold from any and
   all compensation required to be made to the Employee under this Agreement all
   federal, state, local and/or other taxes or payroll deductions which the
   Company determines are required to be withheld in accordance with applicable
   statutes and/or regulations from time to time in effect or as otherwise
   withheld pursuant to the consent or agreement of the Employee.

5.  BENEFITS.  During the term of this Agreement, the Employee shall be eligible
to participate in any life insurance, disability insurance, medical, dental, or
health insurance, vacation, savings, pension and retirement plans and other
benefit plans or programs as may be maintained by the Company for the benefit of
its employees (commensurate with the Employee's position and compensation).

6.  EXPENSES.  During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall promptly
reimburse the Employee for all reasonable and approved business expenses
incurred by him in connection with the performance of her duties to the Company,
upon substantiation of such expenses in accordance with the policies of the
Company in effect from time to time.

7.  TERMINATION.  The Employee's services shall terminate upon the first to
occur of the following events:

    Termination Without Cause. The Company expressly reserves the right to
    terminate the employment of the Employee hereunder other than for cause,
    disability or death, as provided for below. In the event that the Employee's
    employment shall have been so terminated by the Company other than for
    cause, death, or disability, the Employee shall be entitled to receive the
    equivalent of twelve (12) months Base Salary (as may have been adjusted from
    time to time during the term of this Agreement and in accordance with the
    terms hereof) (hereinafter "Severance Payment"). The Company will pay this
    Severance Payment on a lump sum basis within thirty (30) days of
    termination. In addition, in the event that the Employee's employment shall
    have been so terminated, the vesting period with respect to stock options
    granted to the Employee pursuant to Paragraph 4, above, shall accelerate so
    as to permit the Employee to exercise, in accordance with the terms of SSA's
    Long Term Incentive Plan, any such stock options which would have otherwise
    vested within a period of twenty-four (24) months after the Employee's
    effective date of termination of employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
    in the event that the Employees' employment is terminated by the Company as
    a result of a Change of Control (as defined below), the vesting period with
    respect to stock options granted to the Employee pursuant to Paragraph 4,
    above, shall accelerate as provided for below.
<PAGE>

   Voluntary Termination and Termination for Cause. The Employee's employment
   may be voluntarily terminated by him at any time by giving sixty (60) days
   written notice thereof to the Company (or such shorter period of time as may
   be agreed upon by the Company). Additionally, the Employee's employment may
   be terminated at any time for cause (as hereinafter defined), effective
   immediately upon the giving of written notice to the Employee.

   If at any time during the term of this Agreement: (a) the Employee shall have
   voluntarily terminated her employment with the Company; or (b) the Company
   shall have terminated the employment of the Employee for cause (as
   hereinafter defined), the Employee shall be entitled to receive only her Base
   Salary (as may have been adjusted from time to time during the term of this
   Agreement and in accordance with the terms hereof) up to the date of
   termination plus any accrued but unused vacation pay. The Employee shall also
   be entitled to any benefits mandated under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
   Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) or required under the terms of any life
   insurance or retirement plan, program, or agreement provided by the Company
   and to which the Employee is a party or in which the Employee is a
   participant, including, but not limited to, any short-term or long-term
   disability plan or program, if applicable.

   For purposes of this Agreement, the Employee shall be deemed terminated "for
   cause" if the Company terminates the Employee after the Employee: (a) shall
   have been formally indicted (or the equivalent thereof) for any felony
   including, but not limited to, a felony involving fraud, theft,
   misappropriation, dishonesty, or embezzlement; (b) shall have committed
   intentional acts of gross misconduct that materially impair the goodwill or
   business of the Company or cause material damage to its property, goodwill,
   or business; or (c) shall have refused to, or willfully failed to, perform
   her material duties, provided, however, that no termination under this
   subparagraph (c) shall be effective unless the Employee does not cure such
   refusal or failure to the Company's satisfaction as soon as practicable after
   the Company gives the Employee written notice identifying such refusal or
   failure (and, in any event, within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of
   such written notice). No act or failure to act on the part of the Employee
   shall be considered "willful" unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by
   the Employee in bad faith or without reasonable belief that her action or
   omission was in the best interests of the Company.

   Termination Due to Disability.  This Agreement and any termination of
   employment as a result of a disability shall be subject to the disability
   policy as established by the Company from time to time.

   Termination Due to Death.  In the event of the Employee's death during the
   term of this Agreement, the Employee's employment hereunder shall immediately
   terminate and, in such event, the Employee's estate shall be entitled to
   receive the Employee's Base Salary (as may have been adjusted from time to
   time during the term of this Agreement and in accordance with the terms
   hereof) to the last day of the month during which the Employee's death shall
   have occurred and such
<PAGE>

   additional benefits, if any, as may be provided by any insurance or other
   benefits to which the Employee may have participated in or otherwise became
   entitled to during her period of employment, as established or maintained by
   the Company for its employees from time to time.

   Termination Due to Change of Control. The Employee's employment may be
   terminated by him by written notice for a Good Reason (as hereinafter
   defined) by giving ninety (90) days written notice thereof to the Company (or
   such shorter period of time as may be agreed upon by the Company), at any
   time within one hundred eighty (180) days following a Change of Control (as
   defined below). In such event, the Employee shall be entitled to receive the
   Severance Payment as described above. The Company will pay the Severance
   Payment on a lump sum basis within thirty (30) days of termination.

   In the event that the Employee's employment shall have been terminated by him
   in accordance with the foregoing or by the Company due to a Change of
   Control, the vesting period with respect to all stock options granted to the
   Employee pursuant to Paragraph 4, above, shall accelerate so as to permit the
   Employee to exercise, in accordance with the terms of SSA's Long Term
   Incentive Plan, all stock options which would have otherwise vested in
   accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

   The term "Good Reason" shall mean either: (a) the elimination of the
   Employee's position or a material diminution in the Employee's authority,
   functions, duties or responsibilities, which has occurred as a result of a
   Change of Control (as hereinafter defined); or (b) a failure by the Company
   to either reaffirm the Employee's current position with the Company or offer
   the Employee a comparable position at the same or greater compensation level
   within thirty (30) days following a Change of Control (as defined below).

   The term "Change of Control" shall mean a material change in the management
   structure of the Company which has occurred as a result of either: (a) a sale
   of a controlling interest of the Company to a third party; (b) a sale of the
   Company to a third party of all or substantially all of the Company's stock
   or assets; or (c) a merger of the Company with another unrelated entity.

   Treatment of Annual Incentive Bonus Upon Termination. In the event of
   termination of the employment of the Employee for any reason, the Employee
   shall be entitled to receive any Annual Incentive Bonus or other compensation
   (other than Base Salary) in respect of the fiscal quarter of the Company in
   which the termination shall take place; the specific amount of the Annual
   Incentive Bonus and/or additional compensation to be paid to the Executive to
   be: (a) prorated based upon the earlier of the effective date of the
   Employee's termination of employment or the date the Employee ceases to
   perform services on behalf of the Company; and (b) dependent upon the
   Company's achievement of the underlying bonus program to which the Annual
   Incentive Bonus and/or other compensation relates. In addition, in the event
   that at the time of her termination, the Employee is due, but has not yet
   received, payment of any Annual Incentive Bonus, or portion thereof, or other
   compensation
<PAGE>

   (other than Base Salary), such amount(s) shall be paid to Employee in
   accordance with the Company's payroll policy from time to time in effect.

   Payment Contingencies: Payment to the Employee of the Severance Payment,
   together with any other amounts to be paid to the Employee pursuant to this
   Paragraph 7, is contingent upon: (a) the Employee signing an agreement that
   releases the Company from actions, suits, claims, proceedings and demands
   related to the period of employment and/or the termination of employment; (b)
   the Company being permitted to offset from the severance pay hereunder any
   salary paid to the Employee during the ninety (90) day notice period (or such
   shorter period of time as may be provided for herein or otherwise agreed upon
   by the Company) if the Employee performs no services during such notice
   period; (c) the Employee returning, in good condition, all property belonging
   to Company; and (d) the Employee remaining in compliance with her obligations
   of confidentiality including, without limitation, the Employee's adherence to
   the restrictions placed upon her subsequent employment opportunities pursuant
   to Paragraph 8, below.

8.  EMPLOYEE CONFIDENTIALITY OBLIGATIONS.  The Employee acknowledges and agrees
that solely by virtue of her employment by, and relationship with the Company,
he will acquire confidential information relating to the Company and its
Affiliates; such confidential information includes, but is not limited to: (a)
any financial business, planning, operations, services, potential services,
products, potential products, technical information and/or know-how, formulas,
production, purchasing, marketing, sales, personnel, customer, broker, supplier,
or other information of the Company or Affiliates; (b) any papers, data,
records, processes, methods, techniques, systems, models, samples, devices,
equipment, compilations, invoices, customer lists, or documents of the Company
or Affiliates; (c) any confidential information or trade secrets of any third
party provided to the Company in confidence or subject to other use of
disclosure restrictions or limitations; and (d) any other information, written,
oral, or electronic, whether existing now or at some time in the future, whether
pertaining to current or future developments, which pertains to the Company's or
Affiliate's affairs or interests or with whom or how the Company or Affiliates
conduct business (hereinafter collectively "Information").

The Employee further acknowledges and agrees that in consideration of the terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement, including, without limitation, the
compensation to be paid to the Employee hereunder, the Employee shall sign and
abide by the terms and conditions of the Employee Confidentiality Agreement,
attached hereto and deemed a part hereof (hereinafter "Employee Confidentiality
Agreement"), including, without limitation, the restriction on the Employee's
subsequent employment opportunities as set forth in Section 4 thereof. In
addition, the Employee acknowledges and agrees that the restrictions contained
in Section 4 of the Employee Confidentiality Agreement are necessary and
reasonable in order to protect the Company in the conduct of its business and
will not prevent the Employee from earning a comparable livelihood following the
termination of her employment with the Company. The Employee further agrees that
for a minimum period of one (1) year following the termination of her employment
with the Company, he shall disclose the existence and terms of the Employee
Confidentiality
<PAGE>

Agreement to each subsequent employer and hereby consents to and the Company is
hereby given permission to disclose the existence and terms of the Employee
Confidentiality Agreement to any such subsequent employer.

The Information described in this Paragraph 8 shall be deemed to be included in
the definition of "Proprietary Information" as set forth in the Employee
Confidentiality Agreement and shall be subject to the terms and conditions
contained therein.

9.  ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS.  The Company and the Employee further agree as
follows:

   Assignment.  The Employee acknowledges that the services to be rendered by
   him are unique and personal. Accordingly, the Employee may not assign any of
   her rights or delegate any of her duties or obligations under this Agreement.
   The rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall inure to
   the benefit of and shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of the
   Company.

   Notices.  All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and
   deemed effectively given upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the United
   States mails, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to
   the other party hereto.

   Entire Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between
   the parties, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating
   to the subject matter hereof. If any provision of this Agreement shall be
   found invalid or unenforceable for any reason, in whole or in part, then such
   provision shall be deemed modified, restricted, or reformulated to the extent
   and in the manner necessary to render the same valid and enforceable, or
   shall be deemed excised from this Agreement, as the case may require, and
   this Agreement shall be construed and enforced to the maximum extent
   permitted by law, as if such provision had been originally incorporated
   herein as so modified, restricted, or reformulated or as if such provision
   had not been originally incorporated herein, as the case may be.

   Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written
   instrument executed by both the Company and the Employee.

   Headings.  The paragraph and subparagraph headings used in this Agreement are
   for convenience only and shall not be deemed to be considered a construction
   of the provisions hereof.

   Immigration and Reform Control Act of 1986.  This Agreement is contingent
   upon submission by the Employee of the appropriate documentation for
   verification in compliance with the Immigration and Reform Control Act of
   1986, as amended.

   Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed,
   interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of
   Illinois.
<PAGE>

THE EMPLOYEE HAS READ AND FULLY UNDERSTANDS THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH
IN THIS AGREEMENT, HAS HAD TIME TO REFLECT ON AND CONSIDER THE BENEFITS AND
CONSEQUENCES OF ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, AND HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
REVIEW THE TERMS HEREOF WITH AN ATTORNEY OR OTHER REPRESENTATIVE, IF HE SO
CHOOSES.

THIS AGREEMENT IS CONTINGENT UPON THE EMPLOYEE'S SIGNED ACCEPTANCE OF SAME NO
LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. (CENTRAL STANDARD TIME) ON _______________________.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first written at the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.


SYSTEM SOFTWARE ASSOCIATES, INC.

By: /s/ Kirk Isaacson
  -------------------

Typed or Printed Name: Kirk Isaacson, V.P. & General Counsel
                       -------------------------------------


EMPLOYEE:

By: /s/ Lorraine Fenton
    -------------------

Typed or Printed Name: Lorraine H. Fenton
                       ------------------
<PAGE>

                       EMPLOYEE CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT


This Agreement is made and entered into as of the 7th day of August, 1998, by
and between System Software Associates, Inc., a Delaware corporation with its
principal place of business at 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60661
("SSA") and Lorraine Fenton ("EMPLOYEE").

WHEREAS, SSA has expended considerable time, effort and resources in the
development of certain proprietary information, which must be maintained as
confidential in order to ensure the success of SSA's business;

WHEREAS, EMPLOYEE has access to such information; and

WHEREAS, each of SSA's other employees has been or shall be obligated to
maintain the secrecy of such proprietary information as a condition of his/her
continued employment by SSA.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and promises contained herein,
and of EMPLOYEE's continued employment by SSA, the compensation and benefits
received by EMPLOYEE from SSA and the access given EMPLOYEE to the aforesaid
information, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.  DEFINITIONS.  As used herein, the term "PROPRIETARY INFORMATION" means any
and all information, oral or written, that is not generally known by persons not
employed by or parties to contracts with SSA, including but not limited to:

  (a) inventions, designs, discoveries, works of authorship, improvements or
      ideas developed or otherwise possessed by SSA;

  (b) SSA's proprietary software, consisting of computer programs in source or
      object code and all related documentation and training materials,
      including all upgrades, updates, improvements and modifications thereof
      and including programs and documentation in incomplete stages of design or
      research and development;

  (c) the subject matter of SSA's patents, design patents, copyrights, trade
      secrets, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade dress, manuals,
      operating instructions and other industrial property to the extent that
      such information is unavailable to the public and/or is in incomplete
      stages of design or research and development;

  (d) SSA's business operations, including marketing, research and product
      development plans and strategies which have been or are being considered;

  (e) SSA's pricing information and pricing methods; and

  (f) SSA's lists of past, existing or potential clients and customers.

2.   OWNERSHIP OF PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
<PAGE>

  (a) EMPLOYEE acknowledges that SSA is the owner of the PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
      and agrees not to contest any such ownership rights of SSA, either during
      or after EMPLOYEE's employment with SSA.

  (b) Subject to Paragraph 2(c) EMPLOYEE agrees to assign to SSA at any time
      during and after EMPLOYEE's employment with SSA, promptly at SSA's request
      and without additional compensation, all of EMPLOYEE's right, title and
      interest in and to any and all inventions, designs, discoveries, works of
      authorship, improvements, or software in or to which EMPLOYEE may acquire
      rights in whole or in part as a result of his/her employment by SSA, and
      to sign such documents and do such acts as may be reasonably necessary to
      accomplish such assignment.

  (c) Pursuant to the Illinois Employees' Patent Act, Public Act 83-493, the
      parties agree that Paragraph 2(b) shall not apply to an invention for
      which no equipment, supplies, facility or trade secret information of SSA
      was used and which was developed entirely on EMPLOYEE's own time, unless
      the invention (i) relates to the business of SSA or to SSA's actual or
      demonstrably anticipated research or development; or (ii) results from any
      work performed by EMPLOYEE for SSA.

  (d) EMPLOYEE acknowledges that any computer programs, documentation or other
      copyrightable works created in whole or in part by EMPLOYEE during his
      employment with SSA shall be considered "works made for hire" under the
      U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. 101 and shall become part of the PROPRIETARY
      INFORMATION.

3.  NONDISCLOSURE OF PROPRIETARY INFORMATION.  EMPLOYEE agrees to hold the
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION in the strictest confidence, both during and after
EMPLOYEE's employment relationship with SSA.  To this end, EMPLOYEE shall:

  (a) not make, or permit or cause to be made copies of the PROPRIETARY
      INFORMATION, except as necessary to carry out EMPLOYEE's duties as
      prescribed by SSA;

  (b) not disclose or reveal the PROPRIETARY INFORMATION, or any portion
      thereof, to any person except other SSA employees who have signed
      nondisclosure agreements with SSA;

  (c) take all reasonable precautions to prevent the inadvertent disclosure of
      the PROPRIETARY INFORMATION to any unauthorized person;

  (d) not transport or cause to be transported the PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
      outside the premise of SSA, except as necessary to carry out EMPLOYEE's
      duties as prescribed by SSA; and

  (e) not without SSA's authorization participate directly or indirectly in the
      development, marketing, sale, licensing or other exploitation of software
      products or services which embody or are derived from the PROPRIETARY
      INFORMATION.
<PAGE>

EMPLOYEE expressly agrees that disclosures prohibited hereby include, without
limitation, disclosure of similarities or possible similarities between the
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION and the work product of another person or company.

4.  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.  Upon termination of his/her employment for any
reason whatsoever, EMPLOYEE shall deliver to SSA all written or printed
documents, all tapes, disks and other electronic media and all other tangible
property in EMPLOYEE's possession which contain any PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. For
the period of one year after such termination, EMPLOYEE shall not, directly or
indirectly (including without limitation as an officer, director, employer,
employee, advisor, consultant or investor) (i) hire or solicit the employment or
services of any person who is an employee of SSA, or (ii) engage in the
development, production, distribution, sale, licensing, or marketing of software
products directly competitive with SSA's software products including without
limitation software designed to run on IBM AS/400, IBM RS/6000, HP9000 computers
or their successors. If the foregoing covenant is held to be more restrictive
than permitted by applicable law, the objectionable restriction shall be
construed as being limited to the maximum restriction permitted.

5.  NOTICE OF PATENT AND COPYRIGHT APPLICATIONS.  During the period of one year
after the termination of his/her employment relationship with SSA, EMPLOYEE
shall notify SSA of all patents and copyrights applied for by EMPLOYEE and to
provide SSA with a description of such patents and copyrights sufficient to
enable SSA to determine whether the works over which they are claimed relate to,
or are derived from, the PROPRIETARY INFORMATION.

6.  INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.  EMPLOYEE acknowledges and agrees that in the event of
any breach or threatened breach by EMPLOYEE of any of the provisions of this
Agreement, damages shall be an inadequate remedy and SSA shall be entitled to
injunctive and otherwise equitable relief. SSA's rights under this provision are
in addition to all rights otherwise available to it at law or in equity.

7.  SEVERABILITY.  In the event that any provision hereof is found invalid or
unenforceable pursuant to a judicial decree or decision, the invalidity and
unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the other provisions of this
Agreement and all such other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
It is expressly agreed that the existence of any claim or cause of action of
EMPLOYEE against SSA, whether or not predicated on this Agreement, shall not
constitute a defense to the enforcement of this Agreement by SSA.

8.  WAIVER.  No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any rights or
obligations of either party hereunder shall be effective unless pursuant to a
written instrument signed by the party or parties making such a waiver, and such
waiver shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific
purpose stated therein.

9.  GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement and any controversy arising hereunder shall
be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of
Illinois.
<PAGE>

EMPLOYEE states that he has freely and voluntarily entered into this Agreement,
and that he has read and understood each and every provision hereof. EMPLOYEE
acknowledges receiving a fully executed copy of this Agreement. Signed this 7th
day of August, 1998.


SYSTEM SOFTWARE ASSOCIATES, INC.              EMPLOYEE

By: /s/ Kirk Isaacson                         /s/ Lorraine Fenton
    -----------------                         -------------------

Title: VP and General Counsel
       ----------------------