EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         This Employment  Agreement  ("Agreement") is entered into and effective
as of the 23rd day of August,  1999, (the "Effective Date") by and between Fair,
Isaac and Company, Inc., a Delaware Corporation,  having its principal office at
120 North Redwood Drive, San Rafael, California 94903 (the "Company") and Thomas
G. Grudnowski ("Employee").


                                    RECITALS

1.       The Company  provides  customer and  operational  data  management  and
         modeling,  information  analysis,  strategy  design and  software  to a
         variety of industries, worldwide.

2.       The Company desires to employ  Employee and Employee  desires to become
         employed by the Company,  pursuant to the terms and  conditions of this
         Agreement.


Section 1.0 EMPLOYMENT, DUTIES AND TERM

1.1 Employment.  Upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement,  the
Company hereby employs  Employee and Employee  accepts such  employment as Chief
Executive Officer of the Company.

1.2 Election to Board of Directors.  Upon the Effective Date of this  Agreement,
the Company's  Board of Directors  shall elect  Employee to fill a position as a
member of the Company's  Board of Directors as of December 2, 1999.  Thereafter,
it is  understood  and  agreed by the  Company  and  Employee  that the Board of
Directors  of the  Company  shall  thereafter,  so long as Employee is the Chief
Executive  Office of the  Company,  nominate  the  Employee  for  election  to a
position on the Board of Directors of the Company.

1.3 Duties.  During the term of this  Agreement,  and  excluding  any periods of
vacation,  sick leave,  disability  leave,  or other leave to which  Employee is
entitled,  the Employee  shall have reporting  responsibilities  to the Board of
Directors of the Company and shall have such duties as are assigned by the Board
of Directors of the Company and agrees to devote  reasonable  attention and time
during normal  business hours to the business and affairs of the Company and, to
such  extent  necessary,  to  discharge  the  responsibilities  assigned  to the
Employee hereunder as Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

1.4  Employment  Relationship.  Company and Employee agree that they have an "at
will"  employment  relationship,  which means that either Party has the right to
terminate the employment  relationship at any time and for any reason subject to
Section 1.6 and Section 3.0 of this Agreement.

1.5  Commencement  of Employment.  Employee shall make himself  available to the
Company for the purposes of familiarization and orientation  commencing no later
than October 8, 1999,  and the term of employment  shall commence on December 2,
1999, with  compensation

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.42




and benefits  payable to Employee as set forth in this  Agreement  due and owing
effective December 2, 1999, and thereafter.

1.6 Term of Agreement.  This Agreement  shall remain in force from the Effective
Date through December 1, 2003.


Section 2.0 COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND EXPENSES

2.1  Compensation  For December 2, 1999 to September  30, 2000. It is understood
and agreed by the Company and Employee that for the period  December 2, 1999 to,
and including,  September 30, 2000, ("First Year Employment"),  that the Company
shall pay  Employee a first  year  employment  salary  ("First  Year  Employment
Salary")  of Six  Hundred  Sixty-six  Thousand  Six  Hundred  Sixty-six  Dollars
($666,666.00),  i.e. at the rate of Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($800,000.00)
per annum,  which  shall be payable in  accordance  with the  Company's  regular
payroll  practices;  but in any  event,  the  Company  shall pay the First  Year
Employment Salary in at least ten (10) equal monthly installments.

2.2 One Time First Year Bonus. Company agrees to pay to Employee, in addition to
the  compensation  set forth at Section  2.1,  a one time first year  employment
bonus ("First Year Employment  Bonus") in the amount of One Hundred Thirty Three
Thousand  Three Hundred  Thirty Three Dollars  ($133,333.00)  payable in full to
Employee on December 2, 1999.

2.3 Base  Salary-October  1, 2000.  Subject to  Section  3.0 of this  Agreement,
commencing  October  1,  2000  and  thereafter  during  the  term of  Employee's
employment under this Agreement and for as long thereafter as required  pursuant
to Section 3.0 of this  Agreement,  the Company shall pay Employee a base salary
("Base Salary") at an annual rate of Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000.00)
which Base Salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company's regular payroll
practices,  but in any event  Company  shall pay to  Employee,  Employee's  Base
Salary in at least twelve (12) equal monthly  installments.  If Employee's  Base
Salary is increased  from time to time during the term of Employee's  employment
under this Agreement,  the increased amount shall become the Base Salary for the
remainder of the term of the Employee's employment under this Agreement, and for
as long thereafter as required pursuant to Section 3.0 subject to any subsequent
increases.

2.4 Incentive  Awards.  Commencing on October 1, 2000, and thereafter during the
term of  Employee's  employment  under this  Agreement,  in addition to the Base
Salary payable pursuant to Section 2.1, Employee shall be eligible to receive an
annual bonus  ("Incentive  Award") with a target amount of Four Hundred Thousand
Dollars  ($400,000.00) to be paid if Employee's  achievements are "at plan." The
actual amount of such Incentive  Award for each fiscal year may range from $0 to
$800,000, based on the achievement of certain strategic,  business and financial
objectives  that the Employee and the Company's Board of Directors will mutually
determine  in good faith not later than ninety (90) days after the  beginning of
each fiscal year of the Company.

Such  Incentive  Award shall be due and payable to Employee,  in full,  no later
than November 15th of each year of the term of Employee's employment and so long
as Employee is eligible  for the  Incentive  Award and subject to Section 3.0 of
this Agreement.






2.5 Other Benefits.  Health,  Disability, and Group Term Life Insurance equal to
two (2) times  Employee's  annual Base Salary,  up to a maximum coverage of Five
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00),  shall be provided by the Company to the
Employee  and as provided  generally  to other  employees  of the  Company,  and
Employee  shall be  entitled  to purchase  participation  in any other  employee
benefit plan which exists as of December 2, 1999, or which may be established in
the future by the Company  for its  employees.  In  addition  to the  foregoing,
Employee  shall  be  entitled  to and the  Company  shall  provide  to  Employee
Director's and Officer's ("D and O") indemnification insurance.

2.6 Business Expenses.  The Company shall reimburse the Employee for any and all
ordinary,  necessary and reasonable  business  expenses that Employee  incurs in
connection  with the  performance  of  Employee's  duties under this  Agreement,
including entertainment,  telephone, travel and miscellaneous expenses, provided
that  Employee  provides the Company with  documentation  for such expenses in a
form acceptable to the Company.

2.7 Vacation.  For each fiscal year during the term of the Employee's employment
under  this  Agreement,  Employee  shall be  entitled  to four (4) weeks of paid
vacation.

2.8      Stock Options and Restricted Stock.

         2.8.1    Grant of Options.  The Company shall grant to Employee options
                  ("Options") to acquire Four Hundred Twenty Thousand  (420,000)
                  shares of the  Company's  Common  Stock  pursuant to the Stock
                  Option  Agreement  to be entered  into  between  Employee  and
                  Company simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement.

         2.8.2    Vesting and Term of Options.  When Employee  completes one (1)
                  continuous  year of employment with the Company after the date
                  of which the Options are  granted,  Employee  may exercise the
                  Option for One Hundred Five Thousand  (105,000)  shares of the
                  Company's Common Stock. Thereafter, Options for Eight Thousand
                  Seven  Hundred Fifty  (8,750)  shares of the Company's  Common
                  Stock shall vest on the last day of each calendar month during
                  the term for which Employee is employed with the Company. (All
                  vesting dates hereinafter collectively "Vesting Date"). All of
                  the  Options  herein  are  subject to  Section  3.0.  All such
                  options shall expire ten (10) years after the  Effective  Date
                  of this Agreement (the "Expiration Date").

         2.8.3    Exercise Price. The Exercise Price ("Exercise  Price") for all
                  Options  shall be equal to the closing  price of the Company's
                  Common  Stock as quoted by the New York Stock  Exchange on the
                  Effective Date of this Agreement.

         2.8.4    Restricted  Stock.  The Company  hereby grants to employee Ten
                  Thousand  (10,000) shares of restricted stock (the "Restricted
                  Stock") which shall vest on January 1, 2000, provided Employee
                  is employed by the Company on such date.






                  By law, the Employee must pay the par value of the stock ($.01
                  per share) in order to receive such Restricted Stock.

         2.8.5    Vesting:  Change of Control  and  Termination.  The  foregoing
                  Vesting Dates notwithstanding  Employee's Restricted Stock and
                  Options shall vest and be fully  exercisable  on the following
                  dates:

                  a.       Termination   "Without   Cause."   In  the  event  of
                           termination  by the Company of Employee's  employment
                           prior to the  termination of this Agreement  "without
                           cause"  (other  than by death or  disability),  those
                           shares of Restricted Stock and Options vesting within
                           twelve  (12)  months of the date of such  termination
                           shall  immediately  vest,  such Options  shall become
                           exercisable  in full,  and Employee shall be required
                           to exercise the Options within ninety (90) days after
                           the effective date of the termination.

                  b.       Termination  Due to Disability or Death. In the event
                           of Employee's  termination due to death or disability
                           while an employee or director of the Company,  all of
                           Employee's   Restricted   Stock  and  Options   shall
                           immediately  vest,  and  such  Options  shall  become
                           exercisable   in  full,  and  the  Options  shall  be
                           exercised  within  twelve (12) months after the event
                           of death or disability.

                  c.       Change  in  Control.  In the  event  the  Company  is
                           subject  to a "Change  in  Control"  (as  defined  in
                           Section 3.3 below) during the term of this  Agreement
                           and while  Employee is an employee or director of the
                           Company,   Employee's  entire  Restricted  Stock  and
                           Options  shall  immediately  vest,  and such  Options
                           shall become fully  exercisable  up to the Expiration
                           Date of the Options.


Section 3.0 PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION

3.1  Severance.  If the  Company  terminates  Employee's  "at  will"  employment
"without  cause,"  Employee  shall  be paid  (i) a sum  equal  to two (2)  times
Employee's then Base Salary or if termination occurs during the Employee's first
year of  employment,  Employee  shall be paid the sum of One Million Six Hundred
Thousand  Dollars  ($1,600,000.00),  either sum payable in one lump sum no later
than  ninety (90) days after  termination;  (ii)  Employee's  accrued but unpaid
time-off  (including  but not  limited  to  vacation  for the year in which such
termination occurs,  prorated to the date of such termination;  (iii) any unpaid
business  expense  reimbursements;  (iv) a sum equal to two (2) times Employee's
Incentive Award granted by the Company for the period immediately  preceding the
date of termination, (v) Employee's other accrued benefits, if any, under any of
the Company's  other employee  benefit plans subject to the terms and conditions
of those plans,  and (vi) Employee shall be entitled to the Restricted Stock and
to exercise the Options at the times and pursuant to Section 2.8.5(a).

3.2  With/Without  Cause.  For the purposes of this  Agreement,  "without cause"
shall be any reason  other than  "cause" and  "cause"  for the  purposes of this
Agreement  shall  mean:  (i) an act






or acts of  personal  dishonesty  taken by  Employee  and  intended to result in
substantial personal enrichment of Employee at the expense of the Company;  (ii)
Employee's material breach of any of Employee's obligations under this Agreement
or  Employee's  repeated  failure or  refusal  to perform or observe  Employee's
duties,  responsibilities  and  obligations  as an  Employee  of the Company for
reasons other than  disability or  incapacity;  (iii) the existence of any Court
Order or settlement agreement  prohibiting  Employee's continued employment with
the Company;  (iv) if Employee has signed and/or  entered into a written or oral
non-competition agreement,  confidentiality agreement, proprietorial information
agreement,  trade secret  agreement or any other  agreement  which would prevent
Employee from working for the Company and/or from performing  Employee's  duties
at the Company;  or (v) the willful engaging by Employee in illegal conduct that
is materially  and  demonstrably  injurious to the Company.  For the purposes of
this  Section  3.2(v),  no act or  failure  to act on  Employee's  part shall be
considered  "dishonest,"  "willful" or "deliberate" unless done or omitted to be
done by  Employee  in bad faith and without  reasonable  belief that  Employee's
action or omission was in, or not opposed, to the best interests of the Company.
Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority  given pursuant to a resolution
duly  adopted by the Board of  Directors of the Company or based upon the advice
of counsel for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted
to be done, by Employee in good faith and in the best interests of the Company.

3.3 Change of Control.  For  purposes of this  Agreement,  a "Change of Control"
shall be deemed to occur upon the  occurrence of both (A): (i) the sale,  lease,
conveyance or other  disposition  of all or  substantially  all of the Company's
assets as an entirety or substantially  as an entirety to any person,  entity or
group of persons  acting in concert;  (ii) any "person" (as such term is used in
Sections  13(d) and 14(d) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended)
becoming  the  "beneficial  owner" (as  defined  in Rule 13d-3  under said Act),
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of
the total voting power  represented  by the Company's  then  outstanding  voting
securities;  or (iii) a merger or  consolidation  of the Company  with any other
corporation,  other than a merger or  consolidation  which  would  result in the
voting  securities  of  the  company   outstanding   immediately  prior  thereto
continuing to represent  (either by remaining  outstanding or by being converted
into voting securities of the surviving entity) at least 50% of the total voting
power  represented  by the voting  securities  of the Company or such  surviving
entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation;  and (B): (i)
a material  adverse  change in the  Employee's  position  with the Company which
materially reduces his  responsibility,  without "cause" and without his written
consent;  (ii) a material reduction in the Employee's  compensation  without his
written consent; or (iii) a relocation of Employee's place of employment outside
of the seven (7) San Francisco Bay Area counties, without his written consent.


Section 4.0 CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

4.1 Confidential  Information Obtained During Employment.  As an employee of the
Company,  Employee will have access to certain  confidential  information of the
Company and its clients; and, Employee may, during the course of his employment,
develop  certain  information  or  inventions  that will be the  property of the
Company.  In order to protect  the  interest  of the  Company,  Employee  shall,
contemporaneously  with the execution of this  Agreement,  execute the Company's
Standard Employee confidentiality and Inventions Agreement.






4.2  Information  Obtained from Prior  Employment.  In addition to the foregoing
Section 4.1,  Employee shall not provide to the company nor use  confidential or
proprietary  information  of any former  employer or clients in violation of any
obligation Employee may have to such former employer or clients.


Section 5.0 RELOCATION BENEFITS

         In addition to all other  compensation  specified  herein,  the Company
agrees  that  upon  the  execution  of this  Agreement  and  thereafter  it will
reimburse the Employee for all reasonable costs of relocating  Employee's family
and  household  to the San  Francisco,  California,  Bay  Area  from  Deephaven,
Minnesota.  The relocation  benefits shall include the costs of moving household
goods and  personal and  recreational  vehicles.  It shall also  include  travel
expenses,  to  include  food  and  lodging,  for up to five (5)  round  trips by
Employee  and  Employee's  spouse to San  Francisco,  California,  Bay Area from
Minnesota  prior to actual  relocation;  and real estate  commissions  and other
out-of-pocket  costs of selling  Employee's  current  residence,  together  with
temporary living expenses up to six (6) months in the event Employee reports for
employment  with the  Company  prior to  relocation  of  employee's  family  and
household.


Section 6.0 GENERAL PROVISIONS

6.1  Disputes.  In the event of any dispute,  controversy,  or claim for damages
arising under or in connection with this Agreement,  including,  but not limited
to, claims for wages or  compensation  due; claims for breach of any contract or
covenant (expressed or implied); tort claims; claims for discrimination;  claims
for benefits  (except where an employee benefit or profit sharing plan specifies
that its claims  procedures  shall  culminate in an  arbitration  procedure) and
claims for violation of any Federal,  State or other  governmental law, statute,
regulation,   or  ordinance,   except  claims  for  workers'   compensation   or
unemployment  compensation  benefits,  Employee and Company mutually agree to in
good  faith  consider  the  use of  forms  of  alternative  dispute  resolution,
including, but not limited to, arbitration and/or mediation.

6.2 Remedies.  Any remedies  which the Parties  hereto may have pursuant to this
Agreement  or by law shall be  cumulative.  The Parties  hereto  agree that if a
Party  fails to comply  with the terms and  conditions  hereof,  the harm to the
other Party may not be fully compensable in money damages, and accordingly,  the
Parties hereby agree that either Party may seek specific  performance of any and
all provisions  hereafter to the full extent lawfully warranted or the enjoining
of the  breaching  Party from  continuing  to commit any breach of the terms and
conditions contained herein.

6.3  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement  shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of any successor of the Company ("Successor") and any such successor
shall  absolutely and  unconditionally  assume all of the Company's  obligations
hereunder.  On  Employee's  written  request,  the Company will seek to have any
Successor,  by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Employee,  assent
to fulfillment by the such Successor of its obligations under this Agreement.






6.4 No  Offsets.  In no event shall any amount  payable to Employee  pursuant to
this  Agreement  be reduced  for  purposes  of  offsetting  either  directly  or
indirectly any indebtedness or liability of Employee to the Company.

6.5  Severability.  To the extent a provision of this Agreement shall be invalid
or  unenforceable,  it shall be considered  deleted from this  Agreement and the
remainder of this Agreement shall be unaffected and shall continue in full force
and effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a provision of this
Agreement is unenforceable,  because it is overbroad,  then such provision shall
be limited to the extent  necessary to make it enforceable  under applicable law
and enforced as so limited.  Employee acknowledges the uncertainty of the law in
this  respect  and  expressly  stipulates  that  this  Agreement  be  given  the
construction  which renders its provisions  valid and enforceable to the maximum
extent (not exceeding its express terms) possible under applicable law.

6.6 Governing  Law. The  validity,  interpretation,  construction,  performance,
enforcement  and remedies of or relating to this  Agreement,  and the rights and
obligations of the Parties  hereunder shall be governed by the substantive  laws
of the State of  California  (without  regard to the  conflict-of-laws  rules or
statutes of any jurisdiction), and any and every legal proceeding arising out of
or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought in the appropriate  courts
of the State of  California  if the parties  are unable to agree to  alternative
dispute  resolution  as set forth at Section  6.1.  Each of the  Parties  hereby
consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of said courts for this purpose.

6.7 Waivers. No failure on the part of either Party to exercise, and no delay in
exercising a right or remedy  hereunder shall operate as a waiver  thereof;  nor
shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy  hereunder  preclude
any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of the right of any remedy
granted hereby or by any related document or by law.

6.8  Modification.  This  Agreement  may not be  modified  or amended  except by
written instruments signed by the Parties hereto.

6.9  Entire  Agreement  This  Agreement  constitutes  the entire  Agreement  and
understanding  between the Parties hereto with respect to all the matters herein
referenced and agreed upon.

6.10 Survival.  The Parties expressly  acknowledge and agree that the provisions
of this  Agreement  which by their  expressed or implied terms extend beyond the
termination  of  Employee's   employment  hereunder,   including,   but  without
limitation,  the  obligations  incurred  under  Sections 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0, shall
continue in full force and effect  notwithstanding the Employee's termination of
employment hereunder or the termination of this Agreement respectively.

6.11  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original,  but which together shall  constitute
one and the same Agreement.






         IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed
by its duly  authorized  Officer and Employee has executed this  Agreement as of
the day and year first above written:


                                          FAIR, ISAAC AND COMPANY, INC.

                                          BY: __________________________________
                                             ITS: ______________________________


                                          EMPLOYEE

                                          ______________________________________
                                          Thomas G. Grudnowski