pragma Systems Corporation Forges Partnership with Tata Consultancy Services ; Helps Global 1000 Companies Achieve CMMI® Compliance

Business Wire, Jan 17, 2006

RESTON, Va. -- pragma Systems Corporation, the market leader in software for process deployment, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BOMBAY: TCS.BO, NSI: TCS.NS), a leading global IT services firm, today announced a strategic partnership. TCS helps Global 1000 organizations achieve an integrated approach to CMMI and other strategic process improvement initiatives, and identified pragma System's processMax Professional as the "best in class" system to provide deployment and automation for the TCS process framework called Integrated Quality Management System - iQMS.

TCS Process Intellectual Capital is encapsulated in the Integrated Quality Management System (iQMS) framework, which has distilled Best Practices from 'Industry Best Practice', models such as CMMI, CMM, ISO 9000:2000, ITIL(R), BS7799, BS 15000 and Six Sigma. The framework has matured over the last 13 years and represents the collective wisdom of TCS Quality and Delivery practices.

processMax Professional is an intranet web-based system for deploying customized processes and procedures. "Many process improvement initiatives fail because the organization doesn't have a way to deploy processes effectively," said Rebecca Bowerman, President and CEO of pragma Systems. "Processes have traditionally been deployed in binders and manuals. Employees have difficulty using such processes in their day-to-day work, and managers are unable to determine that the processes are being followed."

"We recognized processMax as a robust way to integrate our iQMS processes with an on-line project repository and automated workflow," said Venguswamy Ramaswamy, TCS Director of Sales and Delivery Support - Global Consulting. "With processMax, our customers benefit from a ready-to-use system offering instant real-time status and direct click-through access. Management can see the complete process history, the current versions of deliverables, and the status of reviews and approvals."

Bowerman added, "TCS has deep expertise in CMMI compliance and process improvement, and is an excellent partner to help organizations improve their process maturity. We look forward to supporting TCS in helping their clients achieve operational efficiencies and competitive advantage through higher process maturity."

"With processMax, we have demystified CMMI and iQMS for our customers - process maturity is only a point and click away for the practitioner," said Nidhi Srivastava, TCS Director of IT Process Transformation Practice for US. "Process Maturity is imperative for survival - it is no longer a choice."

About pragma Systems

pragma Systems Corporation (www.pragmasystems.com) has been in the software process improvement and assessment business since 1990, and is the market leader in project management products that comply with the Software Engineering Institute's (SEI) Capability Maturity Model(R) for Software (SW-CMM(R)) and Capability Maturity Model Integration(R) (CMMI). pragma Systems was one of the first companies licensed by SEI to perform software process assessments. pragma Systems uses its own products and is a CMM Level 3 development company, as determined by independent SEI-licensed Lead Evaluators. processMax and related services are on the GSA Schedule. pragma Systems is headquartered in Reston, Virginia.

About Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS)

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is a world-leading information technology consulting, services, and business process outsourcing organization. TCS envisioned and pioneered the adoption of the flexible global business practices, which today enables companies to operate more efficiently and produce more value.

TCS found success by creating and perfecting a unique method of global deployment and delivery of high quality, high value services and products in IT consulting and business process outsourcing. Known as the "Global Delivery Model," this strategic services delivery concept has reshaped the IT services industry.

More than 95% of TCS customers reward the company's reliability, passion, creativity, and unique ability to handle the broadest range of their IT needs by continually extending and deepening their partnerships with TCS. With over 50,000 of the world's best trained IT consultants located in 34 countries, TCS is uniquely positioned to deliver its flexible world class services seamlessly to any location. TCS reported consolidated revenues of $2.24 billion (U.S.) in the fiscal year 2004-2005. The company is listed on the National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange in India. For more information: www.tcs.com

processMax is a registered trademark of pragma SYSTEMS CORPORATION.

CMM, CMMI, Capability Maturity Model, and Capability Maturity Model Integration are registered marks of Carnegie Mellon University.

ITIL is a Registered Trade Mark, and a Registered Community Trade Mark of the Office of Government Commerce, and is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.