Press Room

Atlanta, GA and Ft. Lauderdale, FL -- May 9, 2001 -- NovientTM, Inc., the premier software provider of Internet-based Service Process Optimization (SPO) solutions for the service economy, today announced a partnership with Enthusiansm, the most advanced web-based contractor and full-time talent procurement & vendor management automation enterprise. Enthusian is a joint venture between Spherion Corporation (NYSE: SFN), a Fortune 500 staffing and human capital management company and Accenturesm, a global leader in the areas of consulting, technology, outsourcing, alliances and venture capital. This alliance is designed to provide Fortune 500 companies with integrated, end-to-end solutions for managing the complex processes related to procurement and management of talent.

According to Gartnersm Group Principal Analyst Ted Kempf, the joint specialist approach of this partnership is ideal. “Previous efforts by individual companies to combine these services have failed. While client companies view service process optimization and staff augmentation as highly related, the actual service, delivery and technology require unique competencies. A partnership between specialists is ideal.”

Enthusian’s TalentAxissm automates the sourcing, assessment, deployment, and retention of full-time and contractor talent for all skill sets and workforce levels. Enthusian’s web-based technology, managed from a single, scalable platform, delivers increased speed and cost-effectiveness across companies’ talent-related processes.

Novient’s solution enables organizations to gain visibility into future project demands and current internal resource availability to accurately determine the need for additional talent, whether full-time or temporary. Enthusian’s talent procurement & vendor management automation tool, TalentAxis, integrates internal and external recruiting sources across all skill sets and levels of an organization’s workforce in an efficient “closed loop” process. Together, the integrated solution enables organizations to increase performance by integrating and aligning the procurement of service personnel with the organization’s internal resource management capabilities.

Wayne Mincey, President of Enthusian commented, “We are pleased to have the opportunity to become Novient’s talent e-procurement alliance partner. Together, we provide an integrated solution, for managing the acquisition and use of an organization’s talent resources. This is an important partnership for Fortune 500 companies to optimize sourcing, utilization and retention of their best people, both full-time and contingent.”

“Since our SPO solution is designed to meet the demanding needs of sophisticated, global service organizations, we are confident that this partnership will offer strategic benefits to any Fortune 500 company,” said David Keil, executive vice president of strategy and business development for Novient, Inc. “The Novient - Enthusian integrated solution will provide significant value to customers by providing a robust solution for project and process management.”

Enthusian’s success with Fortune 500 companies is exemplified by the benefits it delivers to its clients. On average, the implementation of TalentAxis, has improved average time-to-fill by approximately 40% and reduced overall external contractor procurement costs by 30%. Other benefits include improved strategy execution through automated processes and smart technology; improved overall service to company managers, vendors and contractors; and reduced administrative workload through automated, standardized processes.

About Enthusian

Enthusian is a subsidiary of Spherion Corporation (NYSE: SFN), a recognized leader in human capital management, created through a partnership with Accenture, formerly Andersen Consulting, a leading global management and technology-consulting firm. It is a web-based talent acquisition and management enterprise that utilizes technology, managed from a single, scalable platform, to increase the speed and cost-effectiveness of all talent-related processes. TalentAxis, Enthusian’s integrated e-management tool, is the only holistic, web-based solution offered by a Fortune 500 company that integrates internal and external recruiting sources across all skill sets and levels of an organization’s workforce, including contract and full-time workers. For more information, visit www.enthusian.com.

About Novient, Inc.

Novient Inc., http://www.novient.com, is the premier software provider of Internet-based service process optimization solutions for the service economy. Through workforce design, scheduling, and management, Novient’s customers maximize project revenue, minimize labor cost, improve employee retention, and increase customer satisfaction.

Novient’s service process optimization application, Novient eServices™ enables an organization to gain visibility into future service projects, optimally match available people and skills to project requirements, and automate the service delivery process. Novient's peer-to-peer Internet collaboration infrastructure, Novient iServerNet™ enables an organization to optimally design and assemble a virtual service community by connecting its internal people with business partners, independent contractors, and customers regardless of location. Together, Novient eServices and Novient iServerNet deliver the only proven solution that enables real-time, worldwide collaboration of people, projects, knowledge, and process throughout an organization’s entire virtual service community.

Novient's solution is licensed to over 140,000 users in 48 countries. The company's global customers include Accenture, American Electric Power, Ariba, Compaq, Computer Sciences Corporation, Hyperion Solutions, Lawson Software, Mellon Financial, Nortel Networks, SAP, and Siemens