Ottawa, ON May 1, 2008 -- A new study by Creelman Research asserts that companies who use employee performance and talent management technology can achieve numerous benefits that are especially important during an economic downturn. These include better decision making about their workforce, an improved ability to manage and align organizational and employee goals, and tighter management control. Authored by human capital analyst David Creelman, the report identifies examples of this type of skillful management among customers of Halogen Software, a leading provider of web-based employee performance and talent management software.

When a down cycle hits, C-level executives need to recast their thinking from growth to conserving strength. As the economy changes direction, executives want to groom their top performers and drive changed goals throughout their organizations quickly. Traditional, paper-based employee performance and talent management has not been an effective steering tool because it is too slow, but technology has changed this. With technology, executive teams can take a company-wide view of talent, run short performance management cycles or even implement “as needed” changes, driving new goals through the system quickly.

“Infrastructure that helps organizations get the most out of their existing talent is a good investment even in a downturn because of the short payback time,” said David Creelman. “The time it takes to get a solution in place is just one to three months. Real world experience shows over and over how a system can begin providing a return after just two quarters, based on better agility and control.”

Engineering and architecture firm WHPacific uses Halogen technology as a key development process. “It is a tough time in our industry. We have to be careful to provide honest and accurate feedback to the individuals who work for us so we can assess their value to the company,” said Juliana Cobb, corporate counsel at WHPacific. “We don’t use the Halogen system to hammer people down. We use it mostly as a tool to help them climb up the ladder and find how they can become more valuable. It is one of our most important investments.”

“In uncertain times, employee and talent management programs should not be switched off, but how you use your systems may change,” added Creelman. “Your system ought to focus less on reward and more on control. Solutions like those from Halogen can help with decision making about talent, provide a mechanism to quickly drive changes through the company and tighten the reins to more closely manage the company.”

For more information on managing employee performance and talent in a down cycle download the Creelman Research white paper.

About Halogen Software
A recognized industry leader with over 1000 customers worldwide, Halogen Software makes powerful, simple-to-use and affordable employee performance and talent management applications. The company offers a complete suite of web-based products that automate, simplify and integrate employee performance management, 360/multi-rater feedback, compensation management, succession planningand learning management. Halogen’s offering makes HR best-practices accessible to companies of all sizes and its healthcare, financial services and professional services specific suites meet the unique needs of these industries. Halogen is consistently recognized
by the industry and its customers for its exceptional implementation and support services, and has won multiple awards for its corporate leadership and product innovation, including HR Technology Product of the Year. For more information, visit www.halogensoftware.com.

Media contact:
Maggie Patterson
PR Consultant, Halogen Software
T: 613-989-1866
E: mpatterson @ ripnet.com

This press release was distributed through eMediawire by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: www.HRmarketer.com) on behalf of the company listed above.