TECHNOLOGY AND TEAMWORK SEEN AS KEY TO FUTURE OF AMERICAN BUSINESS

NATIONAL SURVEY FINDS 4 OUT OF 5 MANAGERS ADMIT TO NOT KNOWING ENOUGH ABOUT
TECHNOLOGY

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 22, 1996 -- In a national survey of 1,000 American
business managers, more than 90% say teamwork and technology will be
critical to success in the global economy. The same study found that 80%
of the executives feel they aren't well informed about technologies they
will use to improve teamwork.

The study, conducted by Roper Starch Worldwide on behalf of Lotus
Development Corp., found that:

* 94% of managers believe that teamwork is "very important to their
company's success;"

* more than 70% feel that technology can help overcome obstacles to good
teamwork, such as lack of collaboration, unshared knowledge, personal
biases, and differing communication styles;

* 51% of managers feel technology's benefits have a greater impact on teams
than on individuals while just 29% feel the impact is greater on
individuals; and

* 72% of the executives want their teams to utilize technology more fully.

Despite these findings, less than one-quarter of executives claim to "know
a lot about" team technologies such as on-line computer services (22%),
computer networks (15%), and the Internet/World Wide Web (9%).

"Recent studies find many people blaming technology for job elimination and
corporate layoffs," said Nick Tortorello, Roper Starch Worldwide senior
vice president. "However, this survey clearly shows that managers believe
that because technology has the power to knock down common obstacles to
effective teamwork, it is key to ensuring that American businesses will
grow and prosper in the global economy. Managers indicate that they need
more technical knowledge themselves to make this a reality."

TEAMWORK AND THE TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE GAP

The Lotus/Roper Survey on Teamwork and Technology found that most managers
have worked on at least nine different kinds of teams at their companies,
including departmental teams, inter-departmental teams, project teams and
marketing teams. Managers are pessimistic about teamwork in the nation as
a whole with just 46% saying that the American workplace encourages
teamwork. However, 87% of managers, perhaps reflecting their confidence in
their own management ability, say their own company has a strong approach
to teamwork. While respondents laud the competitive advantages technology
offers their teams, more than 7 out of 10 managers feel that
teamwork-enabling technology is not being fully utilized by teams in their
company.

Importantly, costs were not identified as a major impediment. For instance,
only 27% of managers agreed that their "company can't afford the
technologies associated with computer networks right now." The survey
results point to a "technical knowledge gap" on the part of American
managers.

Managers nationwide overwhelmingly agree that many of today's new
technologies will become pervasive in the future. For instance, 91% of
managers say they are likely to use computer networks in the future; 85%
feel they will use on-line computer services; and 75% will use the
Internet/World Wide Web. Yet, less than 25% of managers claim to "know a
lot about" any one of these technologies.

"This is a classic knowledge gap in which an important new technology is
available but not universally adopted due not so much to financial
barriers as to intellectual barriers," said Tortorello. "Some companies
will exploit these new tools faster than others and gain a competitive
advantage."

CLOSING THE GAP

The Lotus/Roper survey suggests that managers are highly motivated to close
the corporate technical knowledge gap. For example, when asked whether
they agreed with nine statements about computer networks, almost 95% of
managers responded that computer networks can make work more interesting,
that they might enjoy working with the technologies associated with
networks, and that they are still learning all of the possible uses of
these technologies. About 9 in 10 managers (89%) also agreed that "the
technologies associated with computer networks will make me more
successful."

"The Lotus/Roper Survey on Teamwork and Technology suggests that tools
which help people work together are vitally important to corporate
managers," said Michael D. Zisman, Lotus executive vice-president and
chief executive officer. "Incomplete adoption of the technology and low
technical knowledge among some managers creates an opportunity for other
managers to move first and enjoy a marketplace advantage."

RESEARCH DESIGN

The Lotus/Roper Survey on Teamwork and Technology is based on 1,000 random
telephone interviews conducted during the period of Dec. 15, 1995 and Jan.
12, 1996, with a nationwide sample of American managers in large and
middle market companies. Data results in this report are projectable to
the universe of American managers with a margin of sampling error of +/- 3
percentage points on the totals. The margin of sampling error for
subgroups, by definition, is somewhat higher.

Lotus Development Corp., a subsidiary of IBM Corp., offers high quality
software products and support services that reflect the company's unique
understanding of the new ways in which individuals and businesses must
work together to achieve success. Lotus' innovative approach is evident in
a new class of applications that allows information to be accessed and
communicated in ways never before possible, both within and beyond
organizational boundaries. The company also provides numerous support
services, from its consulting division, its education division and its
award-winning 24-hour support center.

EDITOR'S NOTE: All Lotus news releases and other SmartSuite collateral are
available on the Internet, via the Lotus Development Corp. Home Page at
http://www.Lotus.com. The Lotus Home Page is an easy way to find
information about Lotus and its business partners' products and services.

A copy of this release and other company information is also available via
fax by dialing 1-800-57-LOTUS within the U.S. and Canada or 201-946-2336
outside the U.S. and Canada. Questions concerning the service should be
directed to Lotus' corporate communications department at 617-693-5625.
 
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