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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") dated June 16, 1997, is
between SynQuest, Inc. ("SynQuest") and Paul S. Bender ("Executive").

         The parties agree as follows:

         1.       Employment. SynQuest hereby employs Executive and Executive
hereby accepts employment subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement. Executive will serve as President of Bender Consulting, Inc. and
will have the duties, rights and responsibilities customarily associated with
such position, as well as such other reasonable duties relating to the
operation of the business of SynQuest and SynQuest's subsidiaries (including
Bender Consulting, Inc. ("BCI")) as the Board of Directors of SynQuest (the
"Board") may from time to time assign to Executive. Executive's official title
will be "President of Bender Consulting, Inc., a member of the SynQuest family
of companies" so long as BCI continues to exist as a separate corporate entity.
If and when BCI no longer exists, then the parties will mutually agree on a new
position and title for Executive. Executive will devote his full business time,
skills and best efforts to rendering services on behalf of SynQuest and will
exercise such care as is customarily required by employees undertaking similar
duties for companies similar to SynQuest.

         2.       Term of Employment. Executive's employment under this
Agreement will commence on June 16, 1997, and will continue until June 30,
2000, unless Executive's employment is sooner terminated as provided in Section
5 below (the "Initial Term"). After the Initial Term, the term of employment
under this Agreement will automatically be extended on the same terms and
conditions contained in this Agreement for successive one (1) year periods
("Renewal Terms"), unless (i) either party gives the other written notice of
non-renewal at least ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the
then-current term, or (ii) sooner terminated as provided in Section 5 below
(the Initial Term and the Renewal Terms are collectively referred to as a
"Period of Employment").

         3.       Compensation; Expenses; Additional Employment Benefits

                  3.1.     Salary. During the term of Executive's employment
under this Agreement, SynQuest will pay Executive an annual base salary equal
to $150,000 (the "Base Salary"), which will be payable to Executive in
accordance with SynQuest's payroll procedures in effect with respect to other
officers of SynQuest, less all applicable withholding taxes. The Base Salary
will be reviewed annually by the Board and, based on the Board's review, the
Base Salary may be increased (at the sole discretion of the Board).

                  3.2.     Bonus. During the term of Executive's employment
under this Agreement, Executive will be entitled to receive (if earned) an
annual bonus ("Bonus") up to an

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amount equal to 100% of Executive's then-current Base Salary. The terms and
conditions under which the Bonus will be earned (including corporate and
individual goals and objectives upon which payment of the Bonus will be based)
will be established annually in accordance with SynQuest's bonus plan for key
executive personnel; provided, however, that Executive and SynQuest agree that
for purposes of the fiscal year starting July 1, 1997 (the "1997 Fiscal Year"),
Executive's bonus (the "1997 Fiscal Year Bonus") will be equal to the sum of
(i) twenty-five percent (25%) of amounts actually received by BCI or SynQuest
with respect to Executive's billings for work provided by Executive to clients
of either SynQuest or BCI during the 1997 Fiscal Year, plus (ii) five percent
(5%) of the license fees actually received by BCI or SynQuest during the 1997
Fiscal Year for all worldwide sales of software owned by BCI on the date of
this Agreement, as set forth in Attachment 1. The total amount of the 1997
Fiscal Year Bonus, however, may not exceed $150,000.

                  3.3.     Executive Stock Option Plan. Executive will be
eligible for consideration for grants of stock options in accordance with the
terms and conditions of SynQuest's Stock Option Plan (or successor stock option
plan adopted by SynQuest during the term of this Agreement). The decision as to
whether to grant options under the plan to Executive (and, if so, how many)
will be solely within the discretion of the Board, and such grants, if any,
will be subject to any terms and conditions imposed thereon by the Board.

                  3.4.     Reimbursement of Business Expenses. SynQuest will
reimburse Executive for all reasonable business-related expenses incurred by
Executive in the performance of his duties under this Agreement, provided that
Executive presents vouchers for such expenses or other evidence thereof to
SynQuest in accordance with SynQuest's general reimbursement policy in effect
for SynQuest's executives.

                  3.5.     Participation in Benefit Plans. Executive will be
eligible to participate in SynQuest's existing benefit plans and any other
compensation, welfare, insurance and other benefit plans as SynQuest may
maintain from time to time for the benefit of SynQuest's key executive
personnel, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in those plans.
In addition to the normal disability coverages provided under SynQuest's
benefit plans, SynQuest will use its good faith efforts to obtain disability
coverage providing Executive with a total annual benefit of $250,000 through
age 71, so long as the annual premium cost does not exceed $15,000. (If the
annual premium cost to SynQuest exceeds $15,000, then the excess amount will be
offset against Executive's earned Bonus).

                  3.6.     Vacation. Executive will receive paid vacation each
year during the term of Executive's employment in accordance with SynQuest's
vacation policy then in effect.

                  3.7. Additional Benefits and Prerequisites. Executive will
have additional benefits and prerequisites authorized from time to time for
Executive in accordance with SynQuest's policies then in effect with respect to
other SynQuest executives.

         4.       Relocation of Executive. If BCI moves its headquarters from
the Washington,

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D.C. metropolitan area, Executive hereby covenants that he will, if requested
by the Board, (i) relocate his primary office to the city where BCI moves its
headquarters; provided, however, that SynQuest already has an established
office in the new location prior to the Board's request for Executive's
relocation, (ii) conduct his day-to-day corporate business from the new
location, and (iii) relocate his primary residence and his family to the new
location within a reasonable period of time after BCI has completed its
relocation; provided, however, that such period must not exceed twelve (12)
months. Payment of Executive's relocation expenses incurred under this section
will be made by SynQuest to Executive in accordance with SynQuest's relocation
policy in effect.

         5.       Termination of Employment. Executive's employment under this
Agreement may be terminated upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

                  5.1.     Death. Executive's death (a "Death Termination
Event").

                  5.2.     Disability. If the Board determines in good faith,
based on medical evidence considered by the Board to be reliable and after
giving Executive an opportunity to present evidence on his own behalf, that as
a result of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment Executive
has become substantially unable to perform his duties under this Agreement at
the principal executive offices of BCI for any period of six (6) consecutive
months, or nine (9) months in any twelve (12) month period, then Executive will
be deemed to be disabled for the purposes of this Agreement and the Board may
terminate Executive's employment under this Agreement (a "Disability
Termination Event"). All determinations by the Board pursuant to this Section
5.2 will be final and binding upon Executive.

                  5.3.     Termination for Cause. The Board may terminate
Executive's employment under this Agreement for cause upon: (i) the
determination by the Board that Executive has failed to perform his duties
under this Agreement (other than as a result of Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or injury), and such failure is a result of an
intentional and/or extended neglect of Executive's duties under this Agreement;
(ii) conviction of Executive for a felony or any crime involving theft, fraud
or moral turpitude; (iii) commission by Executive of any act involving
dishonesty or fraud against SynQuest or SynQuest's subsidiaries, or which
adversely affects SynQuest or SynQuest's subsidiaries; (iv) failure by
Executive to comply with a reasonable written order of the Board; (v) a
misrepresentation made willfully, recklessly or in bad faith by Executive to
SynQuest's stockholders or the Board, which causes injury to SynQuest or
SynQuest's subsidiaries or SynQuest's stockholders; or (vi) a material breach
by Executive of his obligations under Sections 11 through 15 (a "Good Cause
Termination Event").

                  5.4.     Termination Without Cause.

                           (a)      The Board may terminate Executive's
employment under this Agreement without cause at any time by delivering to
Executive a Notice of Termination (as defined in Section 6 below).

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                           (b)      Executive may terminate his employment by
delivering to the Board a Notice of Termination, and such termination will be
considered to be without cause if there occurs a material change in the
position held by Executive or in the duties of Executive, without Executive's
consent, such that Executive's position or duties are not comparable to
Executive's position and duties prior to such material change (Both termination
events described in Subsections (a) and (b) are referred to individually in
this Agreement as a "No Cause Termination Event").

                  5.5.     Voluntary Termination. Executive may voluntarily
terminate his employment under this Agreement at any time by delivering to the
Board a Notice of Termination as specified in Section 7(e) below (a "Voluntary
Termination Event"); provided, however, if at the time of such voluntary
termination by Executive, Executive could be terminated as a result of a Good
Cause Termination Event, Executive will be deemed to have been terminated as a
result of a Good Cause Termination Event instead of a Voluntary Termination
Event.

         6.       Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Board pursuant
to Sections 5.2, 5.3 or 5.4(a) of this Agreement will be communicated to
Executive by a Notice of Termination. Any termination by Executive pursuant to
Sections 5.4(b) or 5.5 of this Agreement will be communicated by Notice of
Termination to the Board. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of
Termination" means a notice that indicates the specific termination provision
in this Agreement relied upon for such termination, and if delivered pursuant
to Sections 5.2, 5.3 or 5.4(a) of this Agreement, sets forth the basis for
termination of Executive's employment under the provisions indicated.

         7.       Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" means:

                           (c)      If Executive's employment is terminated as
a result of a Death Termination Event, the date of Executive's death;

                           (d)      If Executive's employment is terminated as
a result of a Disability Termination Event, thirty (30) days after Notice of
Termination is given;

                           (e)      If Executive's employment is terminated by
the Board as a result of a Good Cause Termination Event or a No Cause
Termination Event, the date the Notice of Termination is given (or such later
date as may be specified by the Board in the Notice of Termination);

                           (f)      If Executive's employment is terminated by
Executive as a result of a No Cause Termination Event, the date the Notice of
Termination is given; and

                           (g)      If Executive's employment is terminated as
a result of a Voluntary Termination Event, sixty (60) days after Notice of
Termination is given (or such shorter period

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of time as the Board may specify in the Board's sole discretion after receiving
Executive's Notice of Termination).

         8.       Compensation upon Termination or During Disability.

                  8.1.     No Further Obligation. Upon any termination of
employment, SynQuest and SynQuest's subsidiaries will have no further
obligation to Executive except to pay Executive (or Executive's estate in the
case of Executive's death) the compensation and other benefits provided in this
Section 8. Amounts payable pursuant to this Section 8 are in lieu of any
severance pay that would otherwise be payable to Executive upon termination of
Executive's employment with SynQuest under SynQuest's severance pay policies.

                  8.2.     Death. If Executive's employment is terminated as a
result of a Death Termination Event, SynQuest will pay to Executive's estate
any Base Salary and Bonus earned but unpaid and any other amounts due to
Executive from SynQuest (whether pursuant to benefit plans or otherwise)
through the date of Executive's death.

                  8.3.     Disability. If Executive's employment is terminated
as a result of a Disability Termination Event, Executive will continue to
receive payment of any Base Salary and Bonus earned but unpaid and any other
amounts due to Executive from SynQuest (whether pursuant to benefit plans or
otherwise) through the Date of Termination. After payment of amounts set forth
in this Section 8.3, Executive's compensation will be paid in accordance with
SynQuest's long-term disability plans, if any, that may then be in effect with
respect to Executive.

                  8.4.     Good Cause. If Executive's employment is terminated
as a result of a Good Cause Termination Event, Executive will receive payment
of any Base Salary earned but unpaid and any other amounts due to Executive
from SynQuest (whether pursuant to benefit plans or otherwise) through the Date
of Termination.

                  8.5.     Voluntary Termination. If Executive's employment is
terminated as a result of a Voluntary Termination Event, Executive will receive
payment of any Base Salary and Bonus earned but unpaid and any other amounts
due to Executive from SynQuest (whether pursuant to benefit plans or otherwise)
through the Date of Termination.

                  8.6.     No Cause Termination. If Executive's employment is
terminated as a result of a No Cause Termination Event, then SynQuest will pay
Executive (i) within fifteen (15) days after the Date of Termination, any Base
Salary and Bonus earned but unpaid and any other amounts due to Executive from
SynQuest (whether pursuant to benefit plans or otherwise) through the Date of
Termination, and (ii) two hundred percent (200%) of Executive's then-current
Base Salary for the period beginning on the Date of Termination and ending on
the later of (x) the second anniversary of the date of this Agreement or (y)
the first anniversary of the Date of Termination. In addition, for a period of
up to two (2) years following the later to occur of (i) the second anniversary
of the date of this Agreement, or (ii) the first anniversary of the

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Date of Termination, SynQuest may, in its sole discretion, elect to pay
Executive an annual amount (the "Annual Payment") equal to two hundred percent
(200%) of Executive's then-current Base Salary. The Annual Payment will be
payable in equal monthly installments. During the period Executive receives the
Annual Payment, Executive is prohibited from engaging in any SynQuest
Activities (as described below in Section 15). The Annual Payment may be
terminated by the Board upon (i) the date Executive accepts other employment
(other than pursuant to Section 10.2), including, without limitation,
employment as a full-time consultant in any enterprise, or (ii) at any time
with six (6) months written notice to Executive.

         9.       Employment Rights. Nothing in this Agreement confers on
Executive any right to continue in the employ of SynQuest or SynQuest's
subsidiaries, or to interfere in any way with the right of the Board to
terminate Executive's employment at any time.

         10.      Scope of Duties.

                  10.1.    Employment by SynQuest as Sole Occupation. Executive
agrees to devote Executive's full business time, attention, skill, and effort
exclusively to the performance of the duties that SynQuest may assign Executive
from time to time. Executive may not engage in any business activities or
render any services of a business, commercial, or professional nature for
compensation for the benefit of anyone other than SynQuest, unless SynQuest
consents in writing in advance, it being agreed that SynQuest will not withhold
its consent to any activity which is not competitive with SynQuest's business
and does not interfere with the performance by Executive of Executive's duties
and obligations to SynQuest under this Agreement. It is the policy of SynQuest
never to allow its personnel to work for any competitive enterprise during
their employment, including after hours, on weekends, or during vacation time,
even if only organizational assistance or limited consultation is involved.
This Agreement does not prohibit the investment of a reasonable part of
Executive's assets in the stock of a company whose stock is traded on a
national stock exchange.

                  10.2.    Separate Company. Executive is entitled to create
and own a company with a maximum of two (2) employees, which employees may only
consist of Executive and Executive's spouse; provided, however, that any
separate company so established by Executive (i) does not require substantial
services from Executive and does not detract from, or interfere in any way
with, the performance by Executive of his duties to SynQuest or its
subsidiaries, and (ii) does not engage in any SynQuest Activities (as defined
below in Section 15).

                  10.3.    Noninterference With Third-Party Rights. SynQuest is
employing Executive with the understanding that (i) Executive is free to enter
into employment with SynQuest and (ii) only SynQuest is entitled to the benefit
of Executive's work. SynQuest has no interest in using any other person's
patents, copyrights, trade secrets, or trademarks in an unlawful manner.
Executive should be careful not to misapply proprietary rights that SynQuest
has no right to use.

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         11.      Ownership of Executive Developments.

                  11.1.    Ownership of Work Product.

                           (a)      SynQuest will own all Work Product (as
defined below in Section 11.1(e)). All Work Product will be considered work
made for hire by Executive and owned by SynQuest.

                           (b)      If any of the Work Product may not, by
operation of law, be considered work made for hire by Executive for SynQuest,
or if ownership of all right, title, and interest of the intellectual property
rights therein may not otherwise vest exclusively in SynQuest, Executive agrees
to assign, and upon creation thereof automatically assigns, without further
consideration, the ownership of all Trade Secrets (as defined below in Section
12.2), U.S. and international copyrights, patentable inventions, and other
intellectual property rights therein to SynQuest, its successors and assigns.

                           (c)      SynQuest, its successors and assigns, will
have the right to obtain and hold in its or their own name copyright
registrations, trademark registrations, patents and any other protection
available in the foregoing.

                           (d)      Executive agrees to perform, upon the
reasonable request of SynQuest, during or after Executive's employment, such
further acts as may be necessary or desirable to transfer, perfect, and defend
SynQuest's ownership of the Work Product. When requested, Executive will:

                                    (1)      Execute, acknowledge, and deliver
                                             any requested affidavits and
                                             documents of assignment and
                                             conveyance with respect to any
                                             Work Product;

                                    (2)      Assist in the preparation,
                                             prosecution, procurement,
                                             maintenance and enforcement of
                                             copyrights and, if applicable,
                                             patents with respect to the Work
                                             Product in any countries;

                                    (3)      Provide testimony in connection
                                             with any proceeding affecting the
                                             right, title, or interest of
                                             SynQuest in any Work Product; and

                                    (4)      Perform any other acts deemed
                                             necessary or desirable to carry
                                             out the purposes of this
                                             Agreement.

                  SynQuest will reimburse all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by Executive at SynQuest's request in connection with the foregoing,
including (unless Executive is otherwise being compensated at the time) a
reasonable per diem or hourly fee for services rendered following termination
of Executive's employment.

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                           (e)      For purposes hereof, "Work Product" means
all intellectual property rights, including all Trade Secrets, U.S. and
international copyrights, patentable inventions, discoveries and improvements,
and other intellectual property rights, in any programming, documentation,
technology, or other Work Product that relates to the business and interests of
SynQuest and that Executive conceives, develops, or delivers to SynQuest at any
time during the term of Executive's employment. "Work Product" does not include
Executive's "Residual Knowledge." "Residual Knowledge" means prior or existing
knowledge or skills obtained by Employee during the course of his employment,
to the extent retained in Employee's human memory (and not in any other form,
such as written form or electronic form, such as magnetic storage media).
Residual Knowledge will not include any Trade Secrets or other proprietary
information of SynQuest (or its subsidiaries or affiliates). Executive hereby
irrevocably relinquishes for the benefit of SynQuest and its assigns, and
hereby agrees to waive and never to assert, any moral rights in the Work
Product recognized by applicable law.

                  11.2.    Clearance Procedure for Proprietary Rights Not
Claimed by SynQuest. If Executive ever wishes to create or develop, on
Executive's own time and with Executive's own resources, anything that may be
considered Work Product but as to which Executive believes Executive should be
entitled to the personal benefit, Executive is required to follow the clearance
procedure set forth in this Section 11.2 in order to ensure that SynQuest has
no claim to the proprietary rights that may arise.

         Before Executive begins any development work on Executive's own time,
Executive must give SynQuest advance written notice of Executive's plans and
supply a description of the development under consideration. SynQuest will hold
in confidence and not disclose any proprietary and confidential information
contained in the description submitted by Executive. SynQuest will determine,
in good faith, within thirty (30) days after Executive has fully disclosed
Executive's plans to SynQuest, whether the development is claimed by SynQuest
as Work Product. If SynQuest determines that it does not claim such
development, Executive will be notified in writing and may retain ownership of
the development to the extent of what has been disclosed to SynQuest. Executive
should submit for further clearance any significant improvement, modification,
or adaptation so that it can be determined whether the improvement,
modification, or adaptation relates to the business or interests of SynQuest.

         Clearance under this procedure does not relieve Executive of the need
to obtain the written consent of SynQuest pursuant to Section 10.1 before
engaging in business activities or rendering business, commercial, or
professional services for the benefit of anyone other than SynQuest (subject to
the provisions of Section 10.1). SynQuest thus reserves the right to exercise
greater control over development work that Executive might consider doing for
profit after hours, as opposed to mere hobby work pursued in Executive's spare
time.

         12.      Confidentiality.

                  12.1.    Consequences of Entrustment With Sensitive
Information. Executive's position with SynQuest requires considerable
responsibility and trust. Relying on Executive's

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ethical responsibility and undivided loyalty, SynQuest expects to entrust
Executive with highly sensitive confidential, restricted, and proprietary
information involving Trade Secrets (as defined in Section 12.2) and
Confidential Information (as defined in Section 12.4). Executive is legally and
ethically responsible for protecting and preserving SynQuest's proprietary
rights for use only for SynQuest's benefit, and these responsibilities may
impose unavoidable limitations on Executive's ability to pursue some kinds of
business opportunities that might interest Executive during or after
Executive's employment.

                  12.2.    Trade Secrets Defined. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Trade Secrets" means information, without regard to form,
including, but not limited to, (i) technical or nontechnical data, formulas,
patterns, compilations, programs, devices, methods, techniques, drawings,
processes, financial data, financial plans, product plans relating to or
reflected in SynQuest's computer software products, or (ii) a list of actual or
potential customers or suppliers of SynQuest that: (A) derive economic value,
actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily
ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value
from their disclosure or use; and (B) are the subject of efforts that are
reasonable under the circumstances to maintain their secrecy. The term "Trade
Secret" will not include any information which constitutes Confidential
Information (as defined below in Section 12.4).

         Trade Secrets do not include information that Executive can show by
competent proof (i) was known to Executive prior to disclosure by SynQuest;
(ii) was generally known to the public at the time SynQuest disclosed the
information to Executive; (iii) became generally known to the public after
disclosure to Executive by the SynQuest through no act or omission of
Executive; or (iv) was disclosed to Executive by a third party having a bona
fide right both to possess the information and to disclose the information to
Executive.

                  12.3.    Restrictions on Use and Disclosure of Trade Secrets.
Executive must hold in confidence at all times after the date of this Agreement
all Trade Secrets of SynQuest and must not disclose, publish or make use at any
time after the date of this Agreement of Trade Secrets without the prior
consent of SynQuest.

                  12.4.    Confidential Information Defined. For purposes of
this Agreement, "Confidential Information" means any data or information, other
than Trade Secrets, which (i) is valuable to SynQuest, (ii) is not generally
known or available to competitors of SynQuest, and (iii) is treated as
confidential by SynQuest.

                  12.5.    Use or Disclosure of Confidential Information.
Executive agrees that during the term of Executive's employment by SynQuest,
and for a period of two (2) years following termination of Executive's
employment, Executive will hold in confidence all Confidential Information and
will not disclose, publish or make use of Confidential Information without the
prior written consent of SynQuest.

                  12.6.    Screening of Public Releases of Information. In
addition, and without any intention of limiting Executive's other obligations
under this Agreement in any way, Executive

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should not, during Executive's employment, reveal any non-public information
concerning the technology pertaining to the proprietary products and
manufacturing processes of SynQuest (particularly technology under current
development or improvement), unless Executive has obtained approval from
SynQuest in advance. In that connection, Executive should submit to SynQuest
for review any proposed scientific and technical articles and the text of any
public speeches relating to work done for SynQuest before they are released or
delivered. SynQuest has the right to disapprove and prohibit, or delete any
parts of, such articles or speeches that might disclose SynQuest's Trade
Secrets or other Confidential Information or otherwise be contrary to
SynQuest's business interests.

                  12.7.    SynQuest's Rights Under Applicable Trade Secret Law.
Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, nor will it, diminish the SynQuest's
rights regarding the protection of SynQuest's trade secrets pursuant to
applicable Georgia law.

         13.      Return of Materials. Upon the request of SynQuest and, in any
event, upon the termination of Executive's employment, Executive must return to
SynQuest and leave at SynQuest's disposal all memoranda, notes, records,
drawings, manuals, computer programs, documentation, diskettes, computer tapes,
and other documents or media pertaining to the business of SynQuest or
Executive's specific duties for SynQuest, including all copies of such
materials. Executive must also return to SynQuest and leave at SynQuest's
disposal all materials involving any Trade Secrets of SynQuest. This Section 13
is intended to apply to all materials made or compiled by Executive, as well as
to all materials furnished to Executive by anyone else in connection with
Executive's employment.

         14.      Non-interference with Personnel Relations. During Executive's
employment with SynQuest and for a period of one (1) year afterwards, Executive
will not knowingly solicit, entice or persuade any other Executives of SynQuest
to leave the services of SynQuest for any reason.

         15.      Non-competition Agreement.

                  15.1.    Definitions. For the purposes of this Section 15,
the following definitions will apply:

                           (a)      "SynQuest Activities" means all activities
of the type conducted, authorized, offered, or provided by Executive within one
(1) year prior to termination of Executive's employment. For purposes of
reference, such activities at the date of this Agreement include the business
of producing, marketing, promoting and distributing computer software programs
that have as their primary content manufacturing or supply chain management
material. The term "SynQuest Activities" includes (without limitation) the
production, marketing and distribution of computer software programs which
compete directly with any of the computer software programs distributed by
SynQuest as of the date of this Agreement or on the date of termination of
Executive's employment.

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                           (b)      "Noncompete Period" or "Nonsolicitation
Period" means the period beginning on the date of this Agreement and ending on
the later of (i) the second anniversary of the date of the Agreement, or (ii)
one (1) year after the Termination Date. However, if SynQuest exercises its
rights under Section 8.6 to extend the Noncompete Period and Nonsolicitation
Period by paying Executive the Annual Payment, then the Noncompete Period and
Nonsolicitation Period will be extended up to two (2) additional years (or such
earlier date on which SynQuest is no longer making payments of the Additional
Payments in accordance with Section 8.6).

                           (c)      "Territory" means any country throughout
the world where SynQuest is engaged in SynQuest Activities as of the
Termination Date, including, without limitation, the United States of America,
its territories and possessions.

                  15.2.    Trade Name. Executive agrees that during the
Noncompete Period, Executive must not, directly or by assisting others, own,
manage, operate, join, control or participate in the ownership, management,
operation or control of any business conducted under any corporate or trade
name of SynQuest or name similar thereto without the prior written consent of
SynQuest.

                  15.3.    Noncompetition.

                           (a)      Coverage. The parties acknowledge that
Executive will conduct SynQuest Activities throughout the Territory. Executive
acknowledges that to protect adequately the interests of SynQuest in the
business of SynQuest, it is essential that any noncompete covenant with respect
thereto cover all SynQuest Activities and the entire Territory.

                           (b)      Covenant. Executive hereby agrees that
Executive must not, during the Noncompete Period, in any manner (other than as
an Executive of or as a consultant to SynQuest), directly or by assisting
others, conduct SynQuest Activities in the Territory. It is specifically
understood and agreed that accepting employment with, or acting as a consultant
to, any one of the following companies during the Noncompete Period would
constitute a breach of this covenant: any company presently developing or
marketing simulation and optimization technology based on genetic algorithms,
neural networks, or related search techniques in the Territory, including Red
Pepper Software, 12 Technologies, Numetrix, and Chesapeake Systems, or any
other actual competitors of SynQuest where fifty percent (50%) or more of such
competitor's revenues are derived from computer software programs which have as
their primary content manufacturing or supply chain management material or
business application software companies whose products compete directly with
existing product lines of SynQuest, for whom simulation optimization technology
would be a competitive addition for their solutions, such as American Software,
Avalon Software, Manugistics, Inc., SAP, Baan, Computer Associates, SSA, J.D.
Edwards, Marcam, Dun & Bradstreet Software, Ross Systems, and Effective
Management Systems, Inc. (such companies are referred to as "Designated
Competitors").

                           Notwithstanding this Section 15.3(b), Executive will
be permitted to (i) acquire up to five percent (5%) of any competitor of
SynQuest whose common stock is publicly

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traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market; or
(ii) own shares of stock of SynQuest.

                  15.4.    Nonsolicitation. Executive hereby agree that
Executive must not, during the Nonsolicitation Period, in any manner (other
than as an Executive of or a consultant to SynQuest), directly or by assisting
others:

                           (a)      solicit or attempt to solicit, any business
from any of SynQuest's customers, including actively sought prospective
customers, with whom Executive had material contact during Executive's
employment under for purposes of providing products or services that are
competitive with those provided by SynQuest; or

                           (b)      solicit or attempt to solicit for
employment, on Executive's behalf or on behalf of any other person, firm or
corporation, any other Executive of SynQuest or its affiliates with whom
Executive had material contact during Executive's employment under this
Agreement.

                  15.5.    Severability. If a judicial determination is made
that any of the provisions of this Section 15 constitute an unreasonable or
otherwise unenforceable restriction against Executive, the provisions of this
Section 15 may be rendered void only to the extent that such judicial
determination finds such provisions to be unreasonable or otherwise
unenforceable. In this regard, Executive and SynQuest hereby agree that any
judicial authority construing this Agreement may be empowered to sever any
portion of the Territory, any prohibited business activity, or any time period
from the coverage of this Section 15, and to apply the provisions of this
Section 15 to the remaining portion of the Territory, the remaining business
activities, and the remaining time period not so severed by such judicial
authority. Moreover, notwithstanding the fact that any provision of this
Section 15 is determined not to be specifically enforceable, SynQuest will
nevertheless be entitled to recover monetary damages as a result of Executive's
breach of such provision. The time period during which the prohibitions set
forth in this Section 15 will apply may be tolled and suspended for a period
equal to the aggregate quantity of time during which Executive violates such
prohibitions in any respect.

                  15.6.    Termination of Noncompete Obligations. Executive's
obligations under Section 15.3 (Noncompetition) will terminate if SynQuest
breaches any material payment obligation to Executive under this Agreement or
under Article V (Put Right) of the Investor's Agreement, dated June 16, 1997,
among Executive, SynQuest and Warburg, Pincus Investors L.P., and SynQuest
fails to cure such breach within thirty (30) days following receipt by SynQuest
of written notice of default by Executive.

         16.      Miscellaneous.

                  16.1.    Survival of Terms; Injunction. The covenants in
Sections 11 through 15 of this Agreement will survive the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the termination of Executive's employment,
regardless of who causes the termination and under what circumstances the
termination occurred. The covenants contained in Sections 11 through 15 are
reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of SynQuest
and will not create undue

                                     -12-
<PAGE>   13

hardship for Executive in the event of termination of Executive's employment.
Executive acknowledges that damages for the violation of any such covenants
will not give full and sufficient relief to SynQuest. In the event of any
violation of any such covenants, SynQuest will be entitled to injunctive relief
against the continued violation thereof, in addition to any other rights which
SynQuest may have by reason of such violation.

                  16.2.    Related Parties; Non-assignability. This Agreement
will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and will be enforceable by,
Executive and SynQuest, their respective heirs, executors, administrators,
successors and assigns. In the event of any assignment of this Agreement by
SynQuest, by operation of law or otherwise, SynQuest will remain primarily
liable for SynQuest's obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement is not
assignable by Executive, by operation of law or otherwise.

                  16.3.    Choice of Law. This Agreement will be governed by
and enforced under the laws of Georgia.

                  16.4.    Notices. Every notice or other communication
required or permitted to be given under this Agreement must be in writing and
must be delivered by messenger, transmitted by facsimile, sent by next-day air
courier or mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

                           (a)      If to Executive:

                                    Paul S. Bender
                                    1801 Crystal Dr.
                                    Arlington, VA 22202
                                    Facsimile:

                           (b)      If to SynQuest:

                                    SynQuest, Inc.
                                    5555 Triangle Parkway, Suite 350
                                    Norcross, GA 30092
                                    Attention:  Board of Directors
                                    Facsimile:  (770) 447-4995

                  or to such other address as any party may have furnished to
the other in writing in accordance with this Section. All such notices and
communications will be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand,
if personally delivered, when receipt is acknowledged if by facsimile, one (1)
business day after being sent by next-day air courier, and two (2) business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, except that notices of
change of address will be effective only upon receipt.

                  16.5.    Modifications; Termination; Waiver. This Agreement
may not be changed, terminated, modified or waived orally. Any change,
termination or modification must be signed

                                     -13-
<PAGE>   14

by Executive and SynQuest. Any waiver must be signed by the parties thereto and
must be denominated as a waiver. No waiver by either party of any provision of
this Agreement will constitute a waiver of such provision in any other instance
or a waiver of any other provision.

                  16.6.    Severability. The covenants in this Agreement will
be construed as covenants independent of one another and as obligations
distinct from any other contract between Executive and SynQuest. Any claim that
Executive may have against SynQuest will not constitute a defense to
enforcement of this Agreement by SynQuest.

                  16.7.    Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire
understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter contained in
this Agreement and supersedes any and all prior agreements and understandings
with respect to the employment of Executive by SynQuest. To the extent any
terms contained in this Agreement are in conflict with or are inconsistent with
the terms of any other agreement to which Executive or Executive and SynQuest
are parties, the terms of this Agreement will govern.

                  16.8.    Headings. The section headings in this Agreement are
for reference only and do not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation
of this Agreement.

                  16.9.    Construction of Agreement. No provision of this
Agreement or any related document may be construed against or interpreted to
the disadvantage of any party hereto by any court or other government or
judicial authority by reason of such party having or being deemed to have
structured or drafted such provision.

                                     -14-
<PAGE>   15

         The parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of June
16, 1997.

                                             SynQuest:

                                             SYNQUEST, INC.

                                             By: /s/ Joseph Trino
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Name: Joseph Trino
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                Title: President
                                                      --------------------------

                                             Executive:

                                             /s/ Paul S. Bender
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Paul S. Bender

                                     -15-
<PAGE>   16

                                  Attachment 1

                                  BCI Software

<TABLE>

<S>      <C>
1.       PHYDIAS (PHYsical DIstribution Analysis System)
2.       ODAS (Optimum Demand Allocation System)
3.       SPADES (Statistical Projection and DElphi System)
4.       SATRAPS (SAles TRacking And Projection System)
5.       OVERS (Optimum VEhicle Routing System)
6.       VESPOS (VEhicle Stowage Planning Optimizer System)
7.       LOOPS (Linehaul Optimization & OPerating System)
8.       OASIS (Optimum Assignment System for International Shipping)
9.       CUSSEMS (CUstomer SErvice Management System)
10.      DEMPROS (DEMand PROcessing System)
11.      CAIMANS (Computer Aided Inventory MANagement System)
12.      TOPPS (Tactical Optimum Production Planning System)
13.      OOPSS (Optimum Operational Production Scheduling System)
14.      CAPCOS (Computer Aided Production COntrol System)
15.      LAOS (Logistic Asset Optimization System)
16.      PUMAS (PUrchasing MAnagement System)
17.      OPUSS (Optimum PUrchasing Strategy System)
18.      WARMANS (WARhouse MANagement System)
19.      OSLOS (Optimum Stock LOcator System)
20.      OMAHAS (Optimum Materials HAndling System)
21.      LOCUS (Load & Order Consolidation & Utilization System)
22.      CARMANS (CARier MANagement System)
23.      SALMANS (SALes MANagement System)
24.      PECOS (PErformance COntrol System)
25.      PAPOS (PAper Production Optimization System)
26.      TRIOS (TRIm Optimization System)
27.      SOAPS (Strategic Optimization And Planning System)
</TABLE>

                                     -16-<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.5

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") dated September 1, 1998,
is between SynQuest, Inc. ("SynQuest") and Christopher Jones ("Executive").

         The parties agree as follows:

         1.       Employment. SynQuest hereby employs Executive and Executive
hereby accepts employment subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement. Executive will serve as Vice-President -Corporate Development of
SynQuest and will have the duties, rights and responsibilities customarily
associated with that position, as well as any other reasonable duties relating
to the operation of the business of SynQuest and SynQuest's subsidiaries that
the Board of Directors of SynQuest (the "Board") may have from time to time
assign to Executive. Executive will devote his full business time, skills and
best efforts to rendering services on behalf of SynQuest and will exercise such
care as is customarily required by employees undertaking similar duties for
companies similar to SynQuest.

         Executive's employment under this Agreement will commence on September
1, 1998, and may be terminated at any time by either party, at will, subject to
the obligations of the Company under Section 6.6.

         2.       Compensation; Expenses; Additional Employment Benefits.

         2.1      Salary. During the first three years of Executive's
employment under this Agreement, SynQuest will pay Executive an annual base
salary equal to $120,000 (the "Base Salary"), which will be payable to
Executive in accordance with SynQuest's payroll procedures in effect with
respect to other officers of SynQuest, less all applicable withholding taxes.
During years four and thereafter, Executive's Base Salary shall not be less
than $150,000 per year. The Base Salary will be reviewed annually by the Board
and, based on the Board's review, the Base Salary may be increased (at the sole
discretion of the Board).

         2.2      Bonus. During the term of Executive's employment under this
Agreement, Executive will be entitled to receive (if earned) an annual bonus
("Bonus"). The terms and conditions under which the Bonus will be earned
(including corporate and individual goals and objectives upon which payment of
the Bonus may be based) will be established annually in accordance with
SynQuest's bonus plan for key executive personnel. Executive will be eligible
for a bonus for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 of up to $25,000 and up to
$25,000 stock options.

         2.3      Signing Bonus. The Company will pay to Executive a "Signing
Bonus" of $30,000 per year for three years (a total of $90,000), less all
applicable withholdings, which will be paid monthly for 36 months. The Signing
Bonus will be in addition to any Bonus earned as contemplated under Section 2.2
above.

         2.4      Executive Stock Option Plan. Executive will be eligible for
consideration for grants of stock options in accordance with the terms and
conditions of SynQuest's Stock Option

<PAGE>   2

Plan (or successor stock option plan adopted by SynQuest during the term of
this Agreement). The decision as to whether to grant options under the plan to
Executive (and, if so, how many) will be solely within the discretion of the
Board, and such grants, if any, will be subject to any terms and conditions
imposed thereon by the Board. On August 24, 1998 the Board approved the grant
of an option to the Executive in the amount of 100,000 shares of common stock
of SynQuest, exercisable at $3.00 per share. The option will become effective
on the first day of employment under the terms of this agreement.

         2.5      Reimbursement of Business Expenses. SynQuest will reimburse
Executive for all reasonable business-related expenses incurred by Executive in
the performance of his duties under this Agreement, provided that Executive
presents vouchers for such expenses or other evidence thereof to SynQuest in
accordance with SynQuest's general reimbursement policy in effect for
SynQuest's executives.

         2.6      Participation in Benefit Plans. Executive will be eligible to
participate in SynQuest's existing benefit plans and any other compensation,
welfare, insurance and other benefit plans as SynQuest may maintain from time
to time for the benefit of SynQuest's key executive personnel, on the terms and
subject tot he conditions set forth in those plans.

         2.7      Vacation. Executive will receive no less than three (3) weeks
paid vacation each year during the term of Executive's employment.

         2.8      Relocation. Executive agrees to relocate to Atlanta, Georgia
within a reasonable period following the date of this Agreement. SynQuest will
reimburse Executive up to a total of $50,000 for reasonable relocation expenses
incurred (including any tax consequences due to this reimbursement) as a result
of such relocation.

         2.9      Additional Benefits and Prerequisites. Executive will have
additional benefits and prerequisites authorized from time to time for
Executive in accordance with SynQuest's policies then in effect with respect to
other SynQuest executives.

         3.       Termination of Employment. Executive's employment under this
Agreement may be terminated upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

         3.1      Death. Executive's death (a "Death Termination Event").

         3.2      Disability. If the Board determines in good faith, based on
medical evidence considered by the Board to be reliable and after giving
Executive an opportunity to present evidence on his own behalf, that as a
result of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment Executive has
become substantially unable to perform his duties under this Agreement at the
principal executive offices of SynQuest for any period of six (6) consecutive
months, or nine (9) months in any twelve (12) month period, the Executive will
be deemed to be disabled for the purposes of this Agreement and the Board may
terminate Executive's employment under this Agreement (a "Disability
Termination Event"). All determinations by the Board pursuant to this Section
3.2 will be final and binding upon Executive.

         3.3      Termination for Cause. The Board may terminate Executive's
employment under this Agreement for cause upon: (i) the determination by the
Board that Executive has failed to

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3

materially perform his duties under this Agreement (other than as a result of
Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental illness or injury), and such
failure is a result of an intentional and/or extended neglect of Executive's
duties under this Agreement; (ii) conviction of Executive for a felony or any
crime involving theft, fraud or moral turpitude; (iii) commission by Executive
of any act involving dishonesty or fraud against SynQuest or SynQuest's
subsidiaries; (iv) failure by Executive to comply with a reasonable written
order of the Board; (v) a misrepresentation made willfully, recklessly or in
bad faith by Executive to SynQuest's stockholders or the Board, which causes
injury to SynQuest or SynQuest's subsidiaries or SynQuest's stockholders; or
(vi) a material breach by Executive of his obligations under Sections 9 through
13 (a "Good Cause Termination Event").

         3.4      Termination Without Cause.

                  (a)      The Board may terminate Executive's employment under
this Agreement without cause at any time by delivering to Executive Notice of
Termination (as defined in Section 4 below).

                  (b)      Executive may terminate his employment by delivering
to the Board a Notice of Termination, and such termination will be considered
to be without cause if there occurs a material change in the position held by
Executive or in the duties of Executive, without Executive's consent, such that
Executive's position or duties are not comparable to Executive's position and
duties prior to such material change. The termination of employment as a result
of a Death Termination Event will be considered to be without cause. (Both
termination events described in Subsections (a) and (b) are referred to
individually in this Agreement as a "No Cause Termination Event").

         3.5      Voluntary Termination. Executive may voluntarily terminate
his employment under this Agreement at any time by delivering to the Board a
Notice of Termination as specified in Section 5(e) below (a "Voluntary
Termination Event"); provided, however, that (1) if at the time of such
voluntary termination by Executive, Executive could be terminated as a result
of a Good Cause Termination Event, Executive will be deemed to have been
terminated as a result of a Good Cause Termination Event instead of a Voluntary
Termination Event, (2) if Executive resigns under the circumstances described
under Section 3.4, the termination will be deemed to have been resulted from a
No Cause Termination Event.

         4.       Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Board pursuant
to Sections 3.2, 3.3 or 3.4(a) of this Agreement will be communicated to
Executive by a Notice of Termination. Any termination by Executive pursuant to
Sections 3.4(b) or 3.5 of this Agreement will be communicated by Notice of
Termination of the Board. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of
Termination" means a notice that indicates the specific termination provision
in this Agreement relied upon for such termination, and if delivered pursuant
to Sections 3.2, 3.3 or 3.4(a) of this Agreement, sets forth the basis for
termination of Executive's employment under the provisions indicated.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4

         5.       Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" means:

                  (a)      If Executive's employment is terminated as a result
of a Death Termination Event, the date of Executive's death;

                  (b)      If Executive's employment is terminated as a result
of a Disability Termination Event, thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination
is given;

                  (c)      If Executive's employment is terminated by the Board
as a result of a good Cause Termination Event or a No Cause Termination Event,
the date the Notice of Termination is given (or such later date as may be
specified by the Board in the Notice of Termination);

                  (d)      If Executive's employment is terminated by Executive
as a result of a No Cause Termination Event, the date the Notice of Termination
is given; and

                  (e)      If Executive's employment is terminated as a result
of a Voluntary Termination Event, sixty (60) days after Notice of Termination
is given (or such shorter period of time as the Board may specify in the
Board's sole discretion after receiving Executive's Notice of Termination).

         6.       Compensation upon Termination or During Disability.

         6.1      No Further Obligation. Upon any termination of employment,
SynQuest and SynQuest's subsidiaries will have no further obligation to
Executive except to pay Executive (or Executive's estate in the case of
Executive's death) the compensation and other benefits provided in this Section
6. Amounts payable pursuant to this Section 6 are in lieu of any severance pay
that would otherwise be payable to Executive upon termination of Executive's
employment with SynQuest under SynQuest's severance pay policies.

         6.2      Death. If Executive's employment is terminated as a result of
a Death Termination Event, SynQuest will pay to Executive's estate any Base
Salary and Bonus earned but unpaid and any other amounts due to Executive from
SynQuest (whether pursuant to benefit plans or otherwise) through the date of
Executive's death.

         6.3      Disability. If Executive's employment is terminated as a
result of a Disability Termination Event, Executive will continue to receive
payment of any Base Salary and Bonus earned but unpaid and any other amounts
due to Executive from SynQuest (whether pursuant to benefit plans or otherwise)
through the Date of Termination. After payment of amounts set forth in this
Section 6.3, Executive's compensation will be paid in accordance with
SynQuest's long-term disability plans, if any, that may then be in effect with
respect to Executive.

         6.4      Good Cause. If Executive's employment is terminated as a
result of a Good Cause Termination Event, Executive will receive payment of any
Base Salary earned but unpaid and any other amounts due to Executive from
SynQuest (whether pursuant to benefit plans or otherwise) through the Date of
Termination.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5

         6.5      Voluntary Termination. If Executive's employment is
terminated as a result of a Voluntary Termination Event, Executive will receive
payment of any Base Salary and Bonus earned but unpaid and any other amounts
due to Executive from SynQuest (whether pursuant to benefits plan or otherwise)
through the Date of Termination.

         6.6      No Cause Termination. If Executive's employment is terminated
as a result of a No Cause Termination Event, then SynQuest will pay Executive
(i) within fifteen (15) days after the Date of Termination, any Base Salary and
Bonus earned but unpaid and any other amounts due to Executive from SynQuest
(whether pursuant to benefit plans or otherwise) through the Date of
Termination, and (ii) fifty percent (50%) of Executive's then-current Base
Salary, but in no event less than $75,000.

         7.       Employment Rights. Nothing in this Agreement confers on
Executive any right to continue in the employ of SynQuest or SynQuest's
subsidiaries, or to interfere in any way with the right of the Board to
terminate Executive's employment at any time.

         8.       Scope of Duties.

         8.1      Employment by SynQuest as Sole Occupation. Executive agrees
to devote Executive's full business time, attention, skill, and effort
exclusively to the performance of the duties that SynQuest may assign Executive
from time to time. Executive may not engage in any business activities or
render any services of a business, commercial, or profession nature for
compensation for the benefit of anyone other than SynQuest, unless SynQuest
consents in writing, it being agreed that SynQuest will not withhold its
consent to any activity which is not competitive with SynQuest's business and
does not interfere with the performance by Executive of Executive's duties and
obligations to SynQuest under this Agreement. It is the policy of SynQuest
never to allow its personnel to work for any competitive enterprise during
their employment, including after hours, on weekends, or during vacation time,
even if only organization assistance or limited consultation is involved. This
Agreement does not prohibit the investment of a reasonable part of Executive's
assets in the stock of a company whose stock is traded on a national stock
exchange.

         8.2      Noninterference with Third-Party Rights. SynQuest is
employing Executive with the understanding that (i) Executive is free to enter
into employment with SynQuest and (ii) only SynQuest is entitled to the benefit
of Executive's work. SynQuest has no interest in using any other person's
patents, copyrights, trade secrets, or trademarks in an unlawful manner.
Executive should be careful not to misapply proprietary rights that SynQuest
has no right to use.

         9.       Ownership of Executive Developments.

         9.1      Ownership of Work Product.

                  (a)      SynQuest will own all Work Products (as defined
below in Section 9.1(e)). All Work Products will be considered work made for
hire by Executive and owned by SynQuest.

                  (b)      If any of the Work Products may not, by operation of
law, be considered work made for hire by Executive for SynQuest, or if
ownership of all right, title, and interest of

                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6

the intellectual property rights therein may not otherwise vest exclusively in
SynQuest, Executive agrees to assign, and upon creation thereof automatically
assigns, without further consideration, the ownership of all Trade Secrets (as
defined below in Section 10.2), U.S. and international copyrights, patentable
inventions, and other intellectual property rights therein to SynQuest, its
successors and assigns.

                  (c)      SynQuest, its successors and assigns, will have the
right to obtain and hold in its or their own name copyright registrations,
trademark registrations, patents and any other protection available in the
foregoing.

                  (d)      Executive agrees to perform, upon the reasonable
request of SynQuest, during or after Executive's employment, such further acts
as may be necessary or desirable to transfer, perfect, and defend SynQuest's
ownership of the Work Product. When requested, Executive will:

                           (1)      Execute, acknowledge, and deliver any
                                    requested affidavits and documents of
                                    assignment and conveyance with respect to
                                    any Work Product;

                           (2)      Assist in the preparation, prosecution,
                                    procurement, maintenance and enforcement of
                                    copyrights and, if applicable, patents with
                                    respect to the Work Product in any
                                    countries;

                           (3)      Provide testimony in connection with any
                                    proceeding affecting the right, title, or
                                    interest of SynQuest in any Work Product;
                                    and

                           (4)      Perform any other acts deemed necessary or
                                    desirable to carry out the purposes of this
                                    Agreement.

         SynQuest will reimburse all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred
by Executive at SynQuest's request in connection wit the foregoing, including
(unless Executive is otherwise being compensated at the time) a reasonable per
diem or hourly fee for services rendered following termination of Executive's
employment.

                  (e)      For purposes hereof, "Work Product" means all
intellectual property rights, including all Trade Secrets, U.S. and
international copyrights, patentable inventions, discoveries and improvements,
and other intellectual property rights, in any programming, documentation,
technology, or other Work Product that relates to the business and interests of
SynQuest and that Executive conceives, develops, or delivers to SynQuest at any
time during the term of Executive's employment. "Work Product" does not include
Executive's "Residual Knowledge." "Residual Knowledge" means prior or existing
knowledge or skills obtained by Employee during the course of his employment,
to the extent retained in Employee's human memory (and not in any other form,
such as written form or electronic form, such as magnetic storage media).
Residual Knowledge will not include any Trade Secrets or other proprietary
information of SynQuest (or its subsidiaries or affiliates). Executive hereby
irrevocably relinquishes for the benefit of SynQuest and its assigns, and
hereby agrees to waive and never to assert, any moral rights in the Work
Product recognized by applicable law.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7

         9.2      Clearance Procedure for Proprietary Rights Not Claimed by
SynQuest. If Executive ever wishes to create or develop, on Executive's own
time and with Executive's own resources, anything that may be considered Work
Product but as to which Executive believes Executive should be entitled to the
personal benefit, Executive is required to follow the clearance procedure set
forth in this Section 9.2 in order to ensure that SynQuest has no claim to the
proprietary rights that may arise.

         Before executive begins any development work on Executive's own time,
Executive must give SynQuest advance written notice of Executive's plans and
supply a description of the development under consideration. SynQuest will hold
in confidence and not disclose any proprietary and confidential information
contained in the description submitted by Executive. SynQuest will determine,
in good faith, within thirty (30) days after Executive has fully disclosed
Executive's plans to SynQuest, whether the development is claimed by SynQuest
as Work Product. If SynQuest determines that it does not claim such
development, Executive will be notified in writing and may retain ownership of
the development to the extent of what has been disclosed to SynQuest. Executive
should submit for further clearance any significant improvement, modification,
or adaptation so that it can be determined whether the improvement,
modification or adaptation relates to the business or interests of SynQuest.

         Clearance under this procedure does not relieve Executive of the need
to obtain the written consent of SynQuest pursuant to Section 8.1 before
engaging in business activities or rendering business, commercial, or
professional services for the benefit of anyone other than SynQuest (subject to
the provisions of Section 8.1). SynQuest thus reserves the right to exercise
greater control over development work that Executive might consider doing for
profit after hours, as opposed to mere hobby work pursued in Executive's spare
time.

         10.      Confidentiality.

         10.1     Consequences of Entrustment With Sensitive Information.
Executive's position with SynQuest requires considerable responsibility and
trust. Relying on Executive's ethical responsibility and undivided loyalty,
SynQuest expects to entrust Executive with highly sensitive, confidential,
restricted, and proprietary information involving Trade Secrets (as defined in
Section 10.2) and Confidential Information (as defined in Section 10.4).
Executive is legally and ethically responsible for protecting and preserving
SynQuest's proprietary rights for use only for SynQuest's benefit, and these
responsibilities may impose unavoidable limitations on Executive's ability to
pursue some kinds of business opportunities that might interest Executive
during or after Executive's employment.

         10.2     Trade Secrets Defined. For purposes to this Agreement, "Trade
Secrets" means information, without regard to form, including, but not limited
to, (i) technical or nontechnical data, formulas, patterns, compilations,
programs, devices, methods, techniques, drawings, processes, financial data,
financial plans, product plans relating to or reflected in SynQuest's computer
software products, or (ii) a list of actual or potential customers or suppliers
of SynQuest that: (A) derive economic value, actual or potential, from not
being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means
by, other persons who can obtain economic value from their disclosure or use;
and (B) are the subject of efforts that are reasonable

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8

under the circumstances to maintain their secrecy. The term "Trade Secret" will
not include any information which constitutes Confidential Information (as
defined below in Section 10.4).

         Trade Secrets do not include information that Executive can show by
competent proof (i) was known to Executive prior to disclosure by SynQuest;
(ii) was generally known to the public at the time SynQuest disclosed the
information to Executive; (iii) became generally known to the public after
disclosure to Executive by SynQuest through no act or omission of Executive; or
(iv) was disclosed to Executive by a third party having bona fide right both to
possess the information and to disclose the information to Executive.

         10.3     Restrictions on Use and Disclosure of Trade Secrets.
Executive must hold in confidence at all times after the date of this Agreement
all Trade Secrets of SynQuest and must not disclose, publish or make use at any
time after the date of this Agreement of Trade Secrets without the prior
consent of SynQuest.

         10.4     Confidential Information Defined. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Confidential Information" means any data or information, other than
Trade Secrets, which (i) is valuable to SynQuest, (ii) is not generally known
or available to competitors of SynQuest, and (iii) is treated as confidential
by SynQuest.

         10.5     Use of Disclosure of Confidential Information. Executive
agrees that during the term of Executive's employment by SynQuest, and for a
period of two (2) years following termination of Executive's employment,
Executive will hold in confidence all Confidential Information and will not
disclose, publish or make use of Confidential Information without the prior
written consent of SynQuest.

         10.6     Screening of Public Releases of Information. In addition, and
without any intention of limiting Executive's other obligations under this
Agreement in any way, Executive should not, during Executive's employment,
reveal any non-public information concerning the technology pertaining to the
proprietary products and manufacturing processes of SynQuest (particularly
technology under current development or improvement), unless Executive has
obtained approval from SynQuest in advance. In that connection, Executive
should submit to SynQuest for review any proposed scientific and technical
articles and the test of any public speeches relating to work done for SynQuest
before they are released or delivered. SynQuest has the right to disapprove and
prohibit, or delete any parts of, such articles or speeches that might disclose
SynQuest's Trade Secrets or other Confidential Information or otherwise be
contrary to SynQuest's business interests.

         10.7     SynQuest's Rights Under Applicable Trade Secret Law. Nothing
in this Agreement is intended to, nor will it, diminish SynQuest's rights
regarding the protection of SynQuest's trade secrets pursuant to applicable
Georgia law.

         11.      Return of Materials. Upon the request of SynQuest and, in any
event, upon the termination of Executive's employment, Executive must return to
SynQuest and leave at SynQuest's disposal all memoranda, notes, records,
drawings, manuals, computer programs, documentation, diskettes, computer tapes,
and other documents or media pertaining to the business of SynQuest or
Executive's specific duties for SynQuest, including all copies of such

                                      -8-
<PAGE>   9

materials. Executive must also return to SynQuest and leave at SynQuest's
disposal all materials involving any Trade Secrets of SynQuest. This Section 11
is intended to apply to all materials made or compiled by Executive, as well as
to all materials furnished to Executive by anyone else in connection with
Executive's employment.

         12.      Non-interference with Personnel Relations. During Executive's
employment with SynQuest and for a period of one (1) year afterwards, Executive
will not knowingly solicit, entice or persuade any other Executives of SynQuest
to leave the services of SynQuest for any reason.

         13.      Non-competition Agreement.

         13.1     Definitions. For the purposes of this Section 13, the
following definitions will apply:

                  (a)      "SynQuest Activities" means all activities of the
type conducted, authorized, offered, or provided by Executive within one (1)
year prior to termination of Executive's employment. For purposes of reference,
such activities at the date of this Agreement include the business of
producing, marketing, promoting and distributing computer software programs
that have as their primary content shop floor control and supply chain planning
material. The term "SynQuest Activities" includes (without limitation) the
production, marketing and distribution of computer software programs, which
compete directly with any of the computer software programs, distributed by
SynQuest on the date of termination of Executive's employment.

                  (b)      "Noncompete Period" or "Nonsolicitation Period"
means the period beginning on the date of this Agreement and ending one (1)
year after the Termination Date.

                  (c)      "Territory" means any country throughout the world
where SynQuest is engaged in SynQuest Activities as of the Termination Date,
including, without limitation, the United States of America, its territories
and possessions.

         13.2     Trade Name. Executive agrees that during the Noncompete
Period, Executive must not, directly or by assisting others, own, manage,
operate, join, control or participate in the ownership, management, operation
or control of any business conducted under any corporate or trade name of
SynQuest or name similar thereto without the prior written consent of SynQuest.

         13.3     Noncompetition.

                  (a)      Coverage. The parties acknowledge that Executive
will conduct SynQuest business activities throughout the Territory. Executive
acknowledges that to protect adequately the interests of SynQuest in the
business of SynQuest, it is essential that any noncompete covenant with respect
thereto cover all SynQuest Activities and the entire Territory.

                  (b)      Covenant. Executive hereby agrees that Executive
must not, during the Noncompete Period, in any manner (other than as an
Executive of or as a consultant to SynQuest), directly or by assisting others,
conduct SynQuest Activities in the Territory, without the prior express written
consent of the Board of Directors of SynQuest. It is specifically

                                      -9-
<PAGE>   10

understood and agreed that accepting employment with, or acting as a consultant
to, any company that directly competes with SynQuest during the Noncompete
Period would constitute a breach of this covenant. Notwithstanding this Section
13.3(b), Executive will be permitted to (i) acquire up to five percent (5%) of
any competitor of SynQuest whose common stock is publicly traded on a national
securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market; or (ii) own shares of
stock of SynQuest.

         13.4     Nonsolicitation. Executive hereby agrees that Executive must
not, during the Nonsolicitation Period, in any manner (other than as an
Executive of or a consultant to SynQuest), directly or by assisting others:

                  (a)      Solicit or attempt to solicit, any business from any
of SynQuest's customers, including actively sought prospective customers, with
whom Executive had material contact during Executive's employment under for
purposes of providing products or services that are competitive with those
provided by SynQuest; or

                  (b)      solicit or attempt to solicit for employment, on
Executive's behalf or on behalf of any other person, firm or corporation, any
other Executive of SynQuest or its affiliates with whom Executive had material
contact during Executive's employment under this Agreement.

         13.5     Severability. If a judicial determination is made that any of
the provisions of this Section 13 constitute an unreasonable or otherwise
unenforceable restriction against Executive, the provisions of this Section 13
may be rendered void only to the extent that such judicial determination finds
such provisions to be unreasonable or otherwise unenforceable. In this regard,
Executive and SynQuest hereby agree that any judicial authority construing this
Agreement may be empowered to sever any portion of the Territory, any
prohibited business activity, or any time period from the coverage of this
Section 13, and to apply the provisions of this Section 13 to the remaining
portion of the Territory, the remaining business activities, and the remaining
time period not so severed by such judicial authority. Moreover,
notwithstanding the fact that any provision of this Section 13 is determined
not to be specifically enforceable, SynQuest will nevertheless be entitled to
recover monetary damages as a result of Executive's breach of such provision.
The time period during which the prohibitions set forth in this Section 13 will
apply may be tolled and suspended for a period equal to the aggregate quantity
of time during which Executive violates such prohibitions in any respect.

         14.      Miscellaneous.

         14.1     Survival of Terms; Injunction. The covenants in Sections 9
through 13 of this Agreement will survive the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the termination of Executive's employment, regardless of who
causes the termination and under what circumstances the termination occurred.
The covenants contained in Sections 9 through 13 are reasonably necessary to
protect the legitimate business interests of SynQuest and will not create undue
hardship for Executive in the event of termination of Executive's employment.
Executive acknowledges that damages for the violation of any such covenants
will not give gull and sufficient relief to SynQuest. In the event of any
violation of any such covenants, SynQuest will

                                     -10-
<PAGE>   11

be entitled to injunctive relief against the continued violation thereof, in
addition to any other rights, which SynQuest may have by reason of such
violation.

         14.2     Related Parties; Non-assignability. This Agreement will be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of and will be enforceable by, Executive
and SynQuest, their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and
assigns. In the event of any assignment of this Agreement by SynQuest, by
operation of law or otherwise, SynQuest will remain primarily liable for
SynQuest's obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement is not assignable
by Executive, by operation of law or otherwise.

         14.3     Choice of Law. This Agreement will be governed by and
enforced under the laws of Georgia.

         14.4     Notices. Every notice or other communication required or
permitted to be given under this Agreement must be in writing and must be
delivered by messenger, transmitted by facsimile, sent by next-day air courier
or mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, addressed to Executive at the last address on
SynQuest's records, and if to SynQuest, at SynQuest, Inc., 3500 Parkway Lane,
Suite 555, Norcross, GA 30092 or to such other address as any party may have
furnished to the other in writing in accordance with this Section.

         14.5     Modifications; Termination; Waiver. This Agreement may not be
changed, terminated, modified or waived orally. Any change, termination or
modification must be signed by Executive and SynQuest. Any waiver must be
signed by the parties thereto and must be denominated as a waiver. No waiver by
either party of any provision of this Agreement will constitute a waiver of
such provision in any other instance or a waiver of any other provision.

         14.6     Severability. The covenants in this Agreement will be
construed as covenants independent of one another and as obligations distinct
from any other contract between Executive and SynQuest. Any claim that
Executive may have against SynQuest will not constitute a defense to
enforcement of this Agreement by SynQuest. 14.7 Entire Agreement. This
Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the
subject matter contained in this Agreement and supersedes any and all prior
agreements and understandings with respect to the employment of Executive by
SynQuest. To the extent any terms contained in this Agreement are in conflict
with or are inconsistent with the terms of any other agreement to which
Executive or Executive and SynQuest are parties, the terms of this Agreement
will govern.

         14.8     Headings. The section headings in this Agreement are for
reference only and do not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement.

         14.9     Construction of Agreement. No provision of this Agreement or
any related document may be construed against or interpreted to the
disadvantage of any party hereto by any court or other government or judicial
authority by reason of such party having or being deemed to have structured or
drafted such provision.

                                     -11-
<PAGE>   12

         The parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of
September 1, 1998.

                                             SynQuest:

                                             SYNQUEST, INC.

                                             By:
                                             /s/ Joe Trino
                                             --------------------------------
                                                Name:  Joe Trino
                                                Title:   CEO and President

                                             Executive:

                                             /s/ Christopher Jones
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Christopher Jones

                                     -12-

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