Questionmark Partners with Genesys Software Systems to Bring Integrated Competency Assessment and Management to Market

For Immediate Release

Questionmark Partners with Genesys Software Systems to Bring Integrated Competency Assessment and Management to Market

Feature-Rich Testing and Analysis Helps Companies Identify Competency Gaps for
Prescriptive Employee Development and Training

STAMFORD, CT and METHUEN, MA – March 5, 2003 – Questionmark, a leader in testing and assessment software, and Genesys Software Systems, the developer of PeopleComeFirst Learning, a learning and competency management system, today announced an integration and referral partnership. The alliance will bring customers an integrated solution for assessing and analyzing employee competencies, identifying skill gaps, and prescribing, managing, and tracking training and other learning resources for employee development.

With Questionmark™ Perception™, a feature-rich, wizard-based assessment authoring tool that includes a delivery engine and reporting tools, companies gain the ability to quickly and easily create individualized competency assessments for a variety of purposes including certification, mastery measurements, new employee evaluation, and compliance requirements. When Perception is used in conjunction with PeopleComeFirst Learning, companies can analyze and report on skill gaps by comparing employee assessment scores with required competency levels for specific jobs; prescribe training and other learning resources to meet deficiencies or strengthen performance; and track and manage employees’ development progress.

“This integration partnership brings the first truly comprehensive competency assessment and management solution to market,” said Steve Munini, chief developer of PeopleComeFirst. “Companies can now practically and reliably assess competency strengths and weaknesses throughout the organization without outside consulting assistance. And, with PeopleComeFirst, employees can focus their training and development activities on the skills identified as most critical to job performance and overall business strategy.”

“While most learning management systems can track and manage testing related to courses and other training, we’re giving companies the ability to use assessments in a much more powerful way,” said Eric Shepherd, president of Questionmark. “Companies can create and use assessments to more accurately identify and understand competency strengths and weaknesses in any part of the organization -- whether in conjunction with internal or external certification programs, government compliance requirements, or mission-critical business skills.”

Perception can be used to develop virtually any kind of test or survey without programming skills or HTML expertise. Wizards allow users to incorporate up to 18 different types of questions and to build in sophisticated functions such as randomization, feedback based on responses, and flexible scoring. Results can be analyzed and feedback given at three different levels -- by score, topic, or item.

In addition to competency management, Web-based PeopleComeFirst Learning prescribes, tracks and manages all types of training, including e-learning courseware, corporate libraries, leader-led training, seminars and conferences, and virtual classrooms. Training resources can be directly related to the competency requirements identified for specific jobs or classifications of employees. PeopleComeFirst Learning can also perform detailed cost tracking and cost allocations, as well as highly flexible scheduling and registration procedures.

About Genesys Software Systems:
PeopleComeFirst, a web-based learning and competency management system, is the newest addition to the Genesys portfolio. Recent adopters of PeopleComeFirst include Land’s End, the world's largest catalog retailer, and NetBank, the country's largest Internet bank.

Headquartered in Methuen, MA, Genesys Software Systems offers an extensive solution suite for comprehensive payroll, human resources, benefits, and learning and competency management. All products and services are based on a high-performance, Web-native architecture that enables users to conduct day-to-day business activities - including complex payroll production, data entry, reporting and inquiries - with a standard Web-browser interface.

For the past eight years, hundreds of clients have depended on Genesys Software Systems for outsourcing services for confidential, mission-critical business and employee data. Facilities include a state-of-the-art data center with extensive security, backup, and redundant systems. For more information, visit www.peoplecomefirst.com and www.genesys-soft.com or call Lisa Rowan at (800) 580-5450.

About Questionmark:
Founded in 1988, Questionmark has more than 1,600 customers worldwide, including JP Morgan Chase, Lucent Technologies, Schlumberger, University of Michigan Health System, Walgreens, Hewlett Packard, Office Depot, Citigroup, and the USDA Forest Service. Applications include diagnostic tests, skills assessments, course evaluations, partner and professional certifications, and employee and customer surveys.

Questionmark’s testing and assessment software gives educators, professional trainers, and business managers the ability to create, administer, and analyze tests and surveys over the Internet, corporate networks, or individual PCs. Features for protecting data and tester privacy are automatically built in. Without programming skills, users can create virtually any kind of test or survey, with built- in wizards to incorporate sophisticated features such as up to 18 different question types, feedback based on response, and flexible scoring. Tests can also include videos, graphics, and other supporting media. For detailed information, visit www.questionmark.com or call (800) 863-3950.

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