EXHIBIT 99.16

        Written Compensation Agreement between Registrant and Mr. Roberts

                             COMPENSATION AGREEMENT

                  Agreement  dated as of the 22nd day of May 1997 by and between
Lee David Roberts ("Optionee") and FileNet  Corporation,  a Delaware corporation
("Company").

                               W I T N E S S E T H

     WHEREAS,  the Company deems it advisable to provide Optionee with a special
equity  incentive  to attract  and retain his  services as  President  and Chief
Operating Officer of the Company.

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     1. On May 22,  1997,  Optionee  was granted an option to  purchase  300,000
shares  of the  Company's  Common  Stock  (the  "Option")  upon  the  terms  and
conditions  set forth in the Stock Option  Agreement  (the  "Option  Agreement")
attached hereto as Exhibit A.

     2. Company and Optionee acknowledge and agree that the Option is granted as
compensation  for the  services  Optionee  is to render as  President  and Chief
Operating Officer of the Company and not for any capital-raising  purposes or in
connection with any capital-raising activities.

     3. This agreement is intended to constitute a written compensation contract
for purposes of registering the shares of Common Stock issuable under the Option
on a Form S-8  registration  statement  to be  filed  with  the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission.

     4.  Nothing in this  agreement or in the  attached  Stock Option  Agreement
shall confer upon  Optionee any right to continue in the  Company's  service for
any period of specific  duration or interfere with or otherwise  restrict in any
way the rights of the Company or of Optionee,  which rights are hereby expressly
reserved  by each party,  to  terminate  Optionee's  service at any time for any
reason, with or without cause.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have executed this agreement as of
the date first above written.

OPTIONEE:                                FILENET CORPORATION

__________________________               By:___________________________________
Lee David Roberts
                                         Title:  ______________________________