EXHIBIT 1

                             JOINT FILING AGREEMENT


     In accordance with Rule 13d-1(k) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, each of the persons named below agrees to the joint filing of
a statement on Schedule 13D (including amendments thereto) with respect to the
common stock, without par value of Frontstep Systems, Inc., an Ohio corporation
and further agrees that this Joint Filing Agreement be included as an exhibit
to such filings provided that, as contemplated by Section 13d-1(k)(l)(ii), no
person shall be responsible for the completeness or accuracy of the information
concerning the other persons making the filing, unless such person knows or has
reason to believe that such information is inaccurate. This Joint Filing may be
executed in any number of counterparts, all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.


MORGAN STANLEY                            MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER VENTURE
                                          PARTNERS IV, L.P.

By: /s/ Peter R. Vogelsang                By  MSDW Venture Partners IV, L.L.C.
    ---------------------------------         its General Partner
    Name:  Peter R. Vogelsang
    Title: Authorized Signatory           By  MSDW Venture Partners IV, Inc.
                                              its Member

                                          By: /s/ Debra Abramovitz
MSDW VENTURE PARTNERS IV, INC.                ----------------------------------
                                              Name:  Debra Abramovitz
By: /s/ Debra Abramovitz                      Title: Executive Director
    ---------------------------------
    Name:  Debra Abramovitz
    Title: Executive Director


MSDW VENTURE PARTNERS IV, L.L.C.          MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER VENTURE
                                          INVESTORS IV, L.P.

By  MSDW Venture Partners IV, Inc.        By  MSDW Venture Partners IV, L.L.C.
    its Member                                its General Partner

By: /s/ Debra Abramovitz                  By  MSDW Venture Partners IV, Inc.
    ---------------------------------         its Member
    Name:  Debra Abramovitz
    Title: Executive Director             By: /s/ Debra Abramovitz
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Name:  Debra Abramovitz
                                              Title: Executive Director






MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER VENTURE        MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER EQUITY
   OFFSHORE INVESTORS IV, L.P.            FUNDING, INC.

By MSDW Venture Partners IV, L.L.C.       By: /s/ James T. Keane
   its General Partner                        ----------------------------------
                                              Name:  James T. Keane
By MSDW Venture Partners IV, Inc.             Title: Vice President
   its Member

By: /s/ Debra Abramovitz
    ---------------------------------
    Name:  Debra Abramovitz
    Title: Executive Director



ORIGINATORS INVESTMENT PLAN, L.P.         MSDW OIP INVESTORS, INC.

By: MSDW OIP Investors, Inc.,
      its General Partner                 By: /s/ James T. Keane
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              Name:  James T. Keane
                                              Title: Vice President
By: /s/ James T. Keane
    ---------------------------------
    Name:  James T. Keane
    Title: Vice President