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                                                                  EXHIBIT 4.1(B)


                        MISSION CRITICAL SOFTWARE, INC.
                           1999 DIRECTOR OPTION PLAN

     1.   Purposes of the Plan.  The purposes of this 1999 Director Option Plan
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are to attract and retain the best available personnel for service as Outside
Directors (as defined herein) of the Company, to provide additional incentive to
the Outside Directors of the Company to serve as Directors, and to encourage
their continued service on the Board.

     All options granted hereunder shall be nonstatutory stock options.

     2.   Definitions.  As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:
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          (a)  "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
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          (b)  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
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          (c)  "Common Stock" means the common stock of the Company.
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          (d)  "Company" means Mission Critical Software, Inc.
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          (e)  "Director" means a member of the Board.
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          (f)  "Disability" means total and permanent disability as defined in
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section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

          (g)  "Employee" means any person, including officers and Directors,
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employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. The payment
of a Director's fee by the Company shall not be sufficient in and of itself to
constitute "employment" by the Company.

          (h)  "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
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amended.

          (i)  "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the value of Common
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Stock determined as follows:

               (i)  If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock
exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq
National Market or The Nasdaq SmallCap Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its
Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the
closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system for
the last market trading day prior to the time of determination as reported in
The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems
reliable;

               (ii) If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized
securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of
a Share of Common Stock shall
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be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock for
the last market trading day prior to the time of determination, as reported in
The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable; or

               (iii)  In the absence of an established market for the Common
Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the
Board.

          (j)  "Inside Director" means a Director who is an Employee.
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          (k)  "Option" means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.
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          (l)  "Optioned Stock" means the Common Stock subject to an Option.
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          (m)  "Optionee"  means a Director who holds an Option.
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          (n)  "Outside Director" means a Director who is not an Employee of
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the Company.

          (o)  "Parent" means a "parent corporation," whether now or hereafter
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existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

          (p)  "Plan" means this 1999 Director Option Plan.
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          (q)  "Share" means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in
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accordance with Section 10 of the Plan.

          (r)  "Subsidiary" means a "subsidiary corporation," whether now or
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hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986.

     3.   Stock Subject to the Plan.  Subject to the provisions of Section 10 of
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the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be optioned and sold
under the Plan is 250,000 Shares (the "Pool") (the Shares may be authorized, but
unissued, or reacquired Common Stock), together with an annual increase to the
number of shares reserved thereunder on the first day of the Company's fiscal
year, beginning with July 1, 2000, equal to the lesser of (i) 250,000 Shares,
(ii) 2% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock on the last day of each prior
fiscal year or (ii) such amount as determined by the Board of Directors.

          If an Option expires or becomes unexercisable without having been
exercised in full, the unpurchased Shares which were subject thereto shall
become available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has
terminated). Shares that have actually been issued under the Plan shall not be
returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future distribution
under the Plan.

     4.   Administration and Grants of Options under the Plan.
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          (a)  Procedure for Grants.  All grants of Options to Outside Directors
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under this Plan shall be automatic and nondiscretionary and shall be made
strictly in accordance with the following provisions:

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               (i)    No person shall have any discretion to select which
Outside Directors shall be granted Options or to determine the number of Shares
to be covered by Options.

               (ii)   Each Outside Director who becomes an Outside Director
after the effective date of the Company's initial public offering shall be
automatically granted an Option to purchase 37,500 Shares (post-split) (such
Option shall each be known as a "First Option") on the date on which such person
first becomes an Outside Director, whether through election by the stockholders
of the Company or appointment by the Board to fill a vacancy; provided, however,
that an Inside Director who ceases to be an Inside Director but who remains a
Director shall not receive a First Option.

               (iii)  Each Outside Director shall be automatically granted an
Option to purchase 12,500 Shares (a "Subsequent Option") at the next meeting of
the Board of Directors following the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in each year
commencing with the 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders provided he or she is
then an Outside Director and if as of such date, he or she shall have served on
the Board for at least the preceding six (6) months.

               (iv)   Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (ii) and
(iii) hereof, any exercise of an Option granted before the Company has obtained
stockholder approval of the Plan in accordance with Section 16 hereof shall be
conditioned upon obtaining such stockholder approval of the Plan in accordance
with Section 16 hereof.

               (v)    The terms of a First Option granted hereunder shall be as
follows:

                      (A)  the term of the First Option shall be ten (10) years.

                      (B)  the First Option shall be exercisable only while the
Outside Director remains a Director of the Company, except as set forth in
Sections 8 and 10 hereof.

                      (C)  the exercise price per Share shall be 100% of the
Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant of the First Option.

                      (D)  subject to Section 10 hereof, the First Option shall
become exercisable cumulatively with respect to 1/3 of the Shares subject to the
First Option on the anniversary of the date of grant, and as to 1/36th of the
First Option at the end of each month thereafter, so that the First Option shall
be fully exercisable three years after its date of grant, provided that the
Optionee continues to serve as a Director on such dates.

               (vi)   The terms of a Subsequent Option granted hereunder shall
be as follows:

                      (A)  the term of the Subsequent Option shall be ten (10)
years.

                      (B)  the Subsequent Option shall be exercisable only while
the Outside Director remains a Director of the Company, except as set forth in
Sections 8 and 10 hereof.

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                      (C)  the exercise price per Share shall be 100% of the
Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant of the Subsequent Option.

                      (D)  subject to Section 10 hereof, the Subsequent Option
shall become exercisable cumulatively with respect to 1/2 of the Shares subject
to the Subsequent Option on the anniversary of the date of grant, and as to
1/24th of the Subsequent Option at the end of each month thereafter, so that the
Subsequent Option shall be fully exercisable two years after its date of grant,
provided that the Optionee continues to serve as a Director on such dates.

               (vii)  In the event that any Option granted under the Plan would
cause the number of Shares subject to outstanding Options plus the number of
Shares previously purchased under Options to exceed the Pool, then the remaining
Shares available for Option grant shall be granted under Options to the Outside
Directors on a pro rata basis. No further grants shall be made until such time,
if any, as additional Shares become available for grant under the Plan through
action of the Board or the stockholders to increase the number of Shares which
may be issued under the Plan or through cancellation or expiration of Options
previously granted hereunder.

     5.   Eligibility.  Options may be granted only to Outside Directors.  All
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Options shall be automatically granted in accordance with the terms set forth in
Section 4 hereof.

          The Plan shall not confer upon any Optionee any right with respect to
continuation of service as a Director or nomination to serve as a Director, nor
shall it interfere in any way with any rights which the Director or the Company
may have to terminate the Director's relationship with the Company at any time.

     6.   Term of Plan.  The Plan shall become effective upon the later to
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occur of the effective date of the Company's initial public offering of its
Common Stock that is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or
its approval by the stockholders of the Company as described in Section 16 of
the Plan. It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner
terminated under Section 11 of the Plan.

     7.   Form of Consideration.  The consideration to be paid for the Shares
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to be issued upon exercise of an Option, including the method of payment, shall
consist of (i) cash, (ii) check, (iii) other shares which (x) in the case of
Shares acquired upon exercise of an option, have been owned by the Optionee for
more than six (6) months on the date of surrender, and (y) have a Fair Market
Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the
Shares as to which said Option shall be exercised, (iv) consideration received
by the Company under a cashless exercise program implemented by the Company in
connection with the Plan, or (v) any combination of the foregoing methods of
payment.

     8.   Exercise of Option.
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          (a)  Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder. Any Option
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granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times as are set forth in Section
4 hereof; provided, however,

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that no Options shall be exercisable until stockholder approval of the Plan in
accordance with Section 16 hereof has been obtained.

          An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

          An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice of such
exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the
Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and full payment for the
Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised has been received by the
Company. Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment
allowable under Section 7 of the Plan. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the
appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer
agent of the Company) of the stock certificate evidencing such Shares, no right
to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist
with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option.
A share certificate for the number of Shares so acquired shall be issued to the
Optionee as soon as practicable after exercise of the Option. No adjustment
shall be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior
to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 10 of
the Plan.

          Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the
number of Shares which thereafter may be available, both for purposes of the
Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the
Option is exercised.

          (b)  Termination of Continuous Status as a Director.  Subject to
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Section 10 hereof, in the event an Optionee's status as a Director terminates
(other than upon the Optionee's death or Disability), the Optionee may exercise
his or her Option, but only within three (3) months following the date of such
termination, and only to the extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise
it on the date of such termination (but in no event later than the expiration of
its ten (10) year term). To the extent that the Optionee was not entitled to
exercise an Option on the date of such termination, and to the extent that the
Optionee does not exercise such Option (to the extent otherwise so entitled)
within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

          (c)  Disability of Optionee.  In the event Optionee's status as a
               ----------------------
Director terminates as a result of Disability, the Optionee may exercise his or
her Option, but only within twelve (12) months following the date of such
termination, and only to the extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise
it on the date of such termination (but in no event later than the expiration of
its ten (10) year term). To the extent that the Optionee was not entitled to
exercise an Option on the date of termination, or if he or she does not exercise
such Option (to the extent otherwise so entitled) within the time specified
herein, the Option shall terminate.

          (d)  Death of Optionee.  In the event of an Optionee's death, the
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Optionee's estate or a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by
bequest or inheritance may exercise the Option, but only within twelve (12)
months following the date of death, and only to the extent that the Optionee was
entitled to exercise it on the date of death (but in no event later than the
expiration of its ten (10) year term). To the extent that the Optionee was not
entitled to exercise an Option on the date of death, and to the extent that the
Optionee's estate or a person who acquired the right to

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exercise such Option does not exercise such Option (to the extent otherwise so
entitled) within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

     9.   Non-Transferability of Options.  The Option may not be sold, pledged,
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assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by
will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the
lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee.

     10.  Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution, Merger or
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Asset Sale.
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          (a)  Changes in Capitalization.  Subject to any required action by the
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stockholders of the Company, the number of Shares covered by each outstanding
Option, the number of Shares which have been authorized for issuance under the
Plan but as to which no Options have yet been granted or which have been
returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Option, as well as
the price per Share covered by each such outstanding Option, and the number of
Shares issuable pursuant to the automatic grant provisions of Section 4 hereof
shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of
issued Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend,
combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or
decrease in the number of issued Shares effected without receipt of
consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any
convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected
without receipt of consideration." Except as expressly provided herein, no
issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities
convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment
by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares
subject to an Option.

          (b)  Dissolution or Liquidation.  In the event of the proposed
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dissolution or liquidation of the Company, to the extent that an Option has not
been previously exercised, it shall terminate immediately prior to the
consummation of such proposed action.

          (c)  Merger or Asset Sale.  In the event of a merger of the Company
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with or into another corporation or the sale of substantially all of the assets
of the Company, the Option or option shall become fully exercisable, including
as to Shares for which it would not otherwise be exercisable. Thereafter, the
Option or option shall remain exercisable in accordance with Sections 8(b)
through (d); provided, however, that if the Successor Corporation does not
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assume such outstanding Option or substitute for it an equivalent option, and
the Option would otherwise terminate pursuant to Sections 8(b) through 8(d)
after the consummation of the merger or asset sale transaction, then the Board
shall notify the Optionee that the Option shall be fully exercisable for a
period of fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice, and upon the
expiration of such period the Option shall terminate.

          For the purposes of this Section 10(c), an Option shall be considered
assumed if, following the merger or sale of assets, the Option confers the right
to purchase or receive, for each Share of Optioned Stock subject to the Option
immediately prior to the merger or sale of assets, the consideration (whether
stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the merger or sale of
assets by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of
the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type
of consideration chosen by the holders of a

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majority of the outstanding Shares). If such consideration received in the
merger or sale of assets is not solely common stock of the successor corporation
or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor
corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of
the Option, for each Share of Optioned Stock subject to the Option, to be solely
common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market
value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the
merger or sale of assets.

     11.  Amendment and Termination of the Plan.
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          (a)  Amendment and Termination.  The Board may at any time amend,
               -------------------------
alter, suspend, or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration,
suspension, or discontinuation shall be made which would impair the rights of
any Optionee under any grant theretofore made, without his or her consent. In
addition, to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with any applicable
law, regulation or stock exchange rule, the Company shall obtain stockholder
approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as
required.

          (b)  Effect of Amendment or Termination.  Any such amendment or
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termination of the Plan shall not affect Options already granted and such
Options shall remain in full force and effect as if this Plan had not been
amended or terminated.

     12.  Time of Granting Options.  The date of grant of an Option shall, for
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all purposes, be the date determined in accordance with Section 4 hereof.

     13.  Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.  Shares shall not be issued
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pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the
issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all
relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated there
under, state securities laws, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon
which the Shares may then be listed, and shall be further subject to the
approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.

          As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may require
the person exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time of any
such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and
without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares, if, in the
opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of
the aforementioned relevant provisions of law.

          Inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body
having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company's counsel to be
necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve
the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such
Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

     14.  Reservation of Shares.  The Company, during the term of this Plan,
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will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

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     15.  Option Agreement.  Options shall be evidenced by written option
          ----------------
agreements in such form as the Board shall approve.

     16.  Stockholder Approval. The Plan shall be subject to approval by the
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stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is
adopted.  Such stockholder approval shall be obtained in the degree and manner
required under applicable state and federal law and any stock exchange rules.

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