KNOWLEDGEPOINT’S New Performance Management System Can Boost Employee Retention

New Performance Impact 2.0 adds key features to facilitate communication, empower employees
and align performance with organizational goals

Petaluma, CA, November 6, 2000 — According to a recent Gallup Organization study, most employees don’t leave companies — they leave managers who are not providing the frequent and honest feedback they need to feel that their work is valued. KnowledgePoint, a leading developer of human resource management solutions, is releasing today the second version of its best-selling Web-based performance management system, Performance Impact, with new features that broaden its value to an organization by serving as a strategic employee retention tool.

Designed for mid to large-sized companies, Performance Impact 2.0 is a year-round performance management system that provides a framework and tools for promoting positive communication between managers and employees, developing employee potential, managing goals, and documenting and appraising employee performance. In response to customer feedback, the new version also includes an optional 360º-style Multi-Rater Feedback module, tools that assist employees in managing their own performance, and cascading goals that illustrate to employees how their individual goals support organizational objectives.

"The new version of Performance Impact provides employers with a mechanism for strategically mobilizing their entire workforce around key organizational goals," says Michael Troy, president of KnowledgePoint. "It also gives all employees straightforward tools for managing their own performance and seeing how their actions support the organization. This can have a powerful effect on employee retention."

Key Features of Performance Impact 2.0

KnowledgePoint Performance Impact 2.0 maintains the comprehensive functionality of its initial version and adds significant new features. Along with providing instruments for documenting performance, coaching employees toward better performance, writing effective performance evaluations, setting goals, integrating with human resource information systems, easy customization, and deployment over the Web or the company intranet, the new version includes the following:

360º-style Multi-Rater Feedback Module: Allows managers and employees to solicit feedback from peers, subordinates, supervisors and teammates for use in performance evaluations or personal development.

Joint Employee/Manager Process: Provides tools to help employees keep track of their own performance, set goals and monitor their progress.

Cascading Goals and Expanded Goal Pool: Allows organizations to link high-level goals to departmental and individual goals, thus mobilizing the entire workforce around the organization’s strategic goals — and showing employees how their work supports those goals.

Routing Tools: Let managers easily solicit input, comments or approvals, and facilitate easy transfer of ownership to support the team- and project-oriented workplace of today.

Compliance Management: Facilitates tracking the workflow for reviews so managers can efficiently manage the process.

Pricing and Operating Requirements

Site license pricing for Performance Impact 2.0 Hosted Edition starts at $4,500 for one year; site license pricing for the Intranet Edition starts at $8,000. Additional modules and services, including training, customization and consultation, are also available. System requirements for Hosted: Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 through 5.1 and a PC desktop; for Intranet: Microsoft Windows NT® Server 4.0 or Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Enterprise Edition, Microsoft Transaction Server, Microsoft Internet Information Server, and Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 through 5.1. Hardware configuration is determined by customer usage requirements.

About KnowledgePoint

Since 1987, KnowledgePoint (a division of CCH INCORPORATED) has been a leading developer of knowledge-based human resource management solutions, providing Windows-based, intranet, Web and hosted employee management solutions for the enterprise, small businesses, HR professionals and individual managers. With the creation of HRTools.com, KnowledgePoint provides the most comprehensive, trusted and widely distributed online business center helping small to mid-sized employers manage their employees. Contact KnowledgePoint at 707-762-0333, via email at kp@knowledgepoint.com or on the Web at www.knowledgepoint.com.

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