Sonata Software Achieves SEI CMM LEVEL 5 - the Highest Level Of Software Quality Recognition

Sonata Software Achieves SEI CMM LEVEL 5 - the Highest Level Of Software Quality Recognition
Bangalore, October 5, 2001.

Sonata Software Ltd. today announced achievement of a Level 5 (Optimizing Level), the highest possible through an assessment on the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) Based Appraisal for Internal Process Improvement (CBA-IPI) developed at Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute (SEI). This assessment has enabled Sonata to join the list of elite software organizations to have achieved this distinction. The achievement reflects Sonata's commitment to provide high quality software solutions through robust software development processes.

Sonata Software is the first company globally to be assessed under the new rules of CBA-IPI involving over 2000 Sub-Practices apart from the usual assessment of the Key Process Areas, Goals and Key Practices.

The assessment was conducted in accordance with Software Engineering Institute's CMM Assessment Framework (CAF). SEI created the CMM as a model for systematically implementing development practices that continuously improve software quality. Organizations at Level 5, which is the highest, are considered to be highly mature and systematically use measurement and analyses to improve processes. The Level Five assessments involved a detailed evaluation of Sonata's management, organizational and technical processes. DSA USA, Inc., conducted the CMM Assessment, and the assessment team was led by Mr. Richard F Storch, an SEI authorized lead assessor.

"This milestone reinforces Sonata's focus on delivering high quality solutions through an offshore delivery model. Further, it also signifies Sonata's commitment to continuous improvement in quality processes aimed at enhancing the value propositions to our customers," said Mr. B Ramaswamy, President and Managing Director, Sonata Software Ltd.

"We have been consistently focusing on building a system of rigorous processes and checks and building a work culture where quality consciousness permeates everything we do. It is the commitment of all Sonatians towards this objective that has enabled this achievement. All Sonatians take great pride in this accomplishment," said Mr. P. Srikar Reddy, Sr. Vice President & Director, Sonata Software Ltd.

"Measured against the SEI CMM Model, the assessment concluded that Sonata Software Limited was performing at the Optimizing Level, (Level 5) and exhibited outstanding discipline in applying quality management practices to the software development process," according to Richard F Storch. " Sonata's dedicated employees are to be congratulated on having initiated and implemented an ongoing software process improvement that has such spectacular results. Sonata Software's accomplishment is significant. Sonata's customers can be assured that they are working with the one of the best providers of quality software solutions," added Richard.

About SEI & CMM
The Software Engineering Institute (SEI) is a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense through the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology [OUSD (A&T)]. The SEI contract was competitively awarded to Carnegie Mellon University in December 1984. Technical and administrative professionals from government, industry and academia staff the Institute. The Capability Maturity Model for Software (CMM or SW-CMM) is a model for judging the maturity of the software processes of an organization and for identifying the key practices that are required to increase the maturity of these processes. The Software CMM has become a de facto standard for assessing and improving software processes. Through the SW-CMM, the SEI and community have put in place an effective means for modeling, defining, and measuring the maturity of the processes used by software organizations.

About Sonata Software Ltd.
Sonata is a software house with a 15-year track record of successful performance in both the domestic and international markets. It offers development and consulting services in the areas of eCommerce, Enterprise Applications, Business Intelligence, Customer Relationship Management, Data warehousing, Legacy management, as well as specialised services for Software Product companies. Sonata has 6 regional offices in India and three offices in the US and the UK. Sonata has customers in 25 countries across North America, Europe and Asia. Sonata's Core Research Group, supported by alliances with Microsoft, IBM, CA and Oracle among others, enables seamless assimilation of new technologies for rapid benefit to clients. Sonata has been an ISO 9001 Tick-IT certified company since 1994. Sonata is an employee-oriented company, with 23% of the company being employee-owned.