Cincinnati-based financial services company will use new application to speed and improve employee evaluation processes, enhance manager development initiatives

ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lawson Software (Nasdaq:LWSN) today announced that Great American Financial Resources, Inc. (GAFRI) has signed a contract for Lawson Performance Management, part of the Lawson Human Capital Management suite. GAFRI will use the strategic human resources application to help speed its employee evaluation process, improve manager development initiatives, set measurable objectives for all workers and align employee performance with company goals.

With headquarters in Cincinnati, GAFRI is one of the nation’s leading diversified financial services companies. Its insurance subsidiaries provide annuities, supplemental insurance and life insurance through licensed, independent agents and representatives. GAFRI has been a Lawson Human Capital Management customer since 1999.

“Employees like to work in places where they are continually challenged to grow and develop their competencies,” said Loree Hollander, GAFRI’s human resources director. “Lawson Performance Management provides us with a tool for building programs that are more honed to our organizational needs. Having the capability to give employees concrete, measurable objectives against which they’re evaluated will help them understand how their daily work impacts our bottom line.”

Lawson Performance Management provides an objective and comprehensive way to measure employee goal attainment and the specific behaviors that impact an employee's overall performance. As a result, an organization is able to directly relate employee behaviors to goals and help employees increase their level of goal attainment. The software uses technology and research from global HR consulting firm Personnel Decisions International (PDI) for the performance measurement functionality.

GAFRI will use the online performance management tool to expedite performance evaluation processes and give all employees a common review framework. The organization will use the application's GoalView and reporting components to measure both the results of employee performance and how those results are achieved. The reports will then deliver rich feedback for employee development as well as stacked rankings to give managers meaningful performance appraisal results and guide future organizational talent management decisions.

GAFRI also will use the application's 360 degree performance feedback feature to enhance its manager development initiatives. The feature will allow employees to provide confidential feedback on their manager's performance and will help GAFRI better determine areas for improvement.

“Lawson Performance Management helps companies determine the best ways to improve employee performance,” said Larry Dunivan, vice president of Global Human Capital Management Products, Lawson Software. “By determining how to best invest in and develop their workforce, companies like GAFRI can provide better working environments for their employees while ensuring overall business success.”

More than 1,000 companies use Lawson Human Capital Management applications to automate administrative HR processes and help HR staff focus on more strategic, value-added employee initiatives. Lawson Human Capital Management applications provide organizations with the information they need to maximize workforce potential, while helping HR leaders contribute to organizational excellence with applications that directly support business operations. For a demonstration of the Lawson Human Capital Management suite, please visit www.lawson.com/hcmdemo, and for an overview and demonstration of the Lawson Performance Management application, please visit www.lawson.com/lpmdemo.

About Lawson Software

Lawson Software provides software and service solutions to 4,000 customers in manufacturing, distribution, maintenance and service sector industries across 40 countries. Lawson’s solutions include Enterprise Performance Management, Supply Chain Management, Enterprise Resource Planning, Customer Relationship Management, Manufacturing Resource Planning, Enterprise Asset Management and industry-tailored applications. Lawson solutions assist customers in simplifying their businesses or organizations by helping them streamline processes, reduce costs and enhance business or operational performance. Lawson is headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., and has offices around the world. Visit Lawson online at www.lawson.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that contain risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements contain statements of intent, belief or current expectations of Lawson Software and its management. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the potential results discussed in the forward-looking statements. The company is not obligated to update forward-looking statements based on circumstances or events that occur in the future. Risks and uncertainties that may cause such differences include but are not limited to: uncertainties in Lawson’s ability to realize synergies and revenue opportunities anticipated from the Intentia International acquisition; uncertainties in the software industry; uncertainties as to when and whether the conditions for the recognition of deferred revenue will be satisfied; global military conflicts; terrorist attacks; pandemics, and any future events in response to these developments; changes in conditions in the company's targeted industries; increased competition and other risk factors listed in the company's most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Lawson assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release.

_______________________________________________________________

Lawson Software
U.S. Media:
Joe Thornton, 1-651-767-6154
joe.thornton@us.lawson.com
or
Weber Shandwick
Kira Jorvig, 1-952-346-6317
kjorvig@webershandwick.com

© Business Wire 2006