CORRECTING and REPLACING META Group Finds More Organizations Using Internal Communications to Improve Employee Morale.

Business Editors

CORRECTION...by META Group, Inc.

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 15, 2004

In BW5032 issued June 15, 2004: Third graph, first sentence of release should read: Carol Wallace, director of marketing communications at Siemens Business Services, Inc., a $6 billion IT services firm, agrees that her company's internal communications efforts are among the most important in keeping employees engaged and productive. (sted xxx a $6 million IT services firm...).

The corrected release reads:

META GROUP FINDS MORE ORGANIZATIONS USING INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS TO IMPROVE EMPLOYEE MORALE

More companies are implementing internal communications strategies as a response to low employee morale, according to META Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: METG), a leading provider of information technology research, advisory services, and strategic consulting.

In its 2004 IT Staffing and Compensation Guide, based on the results of a comprehensive study of more than 650 information technology organizations, META Group indicates that communications represents a significantly greater response category this year over last year, suggesting that companies faced with morale as a prolonged area of concern are realizing they must do more to address this issue proactively through their communications practices.

Carol Wallace, director of marketing communications at Siemens Business Services, Inc., a $6 billion IT services firm, agrees that her company's internal communications efforts are among the most important in keeping employees engaged and productive. Providing all employees with solid updates on current projects as well as inspirational messages from the company's executive leadership are among tactics the company employs regularly.

"Today's global environment requires companies to leverage communications methods such as e-mail, the intranet, and voice mail to create a sort of 'global water cooler' that keeps everyone in the know about the company's direction, current projects, and future plans," said Wallace, whose company measures employee morale with an annual internal survey. "It's easy to keep morale high when the business is doing well, but even when things could be better, consistent internal communications buoys morale because employees feel connected."

Among the many areas of high concern to IT organizations this year, few are as evident as employee morale, according to META Group. In fact, among the more than 650 companies surveyed for this year's IT staffing guide, more than 72 percent indicate that low IT employee morale is currently a serious issue in their organizations -- a problem that could spell longer-range turnover, lower productivity, and less overall shareholder value to the organization as a whole if not addressed.

In addition to companies focusing on improvement of internal communications, META Group found companies using morale-boosting activities such as employee recognition, skill and career development, and special events. Only six percent of companies surveyed provided bonuses or hired more staff as part of their efforts to improve morale.

About the Report

META Group's 2004 IT Staffing and Compensation Guide is the industry's most definitive source of IT staffing and retention-related research, containing the latest facts, figures, and guidance required for attracting, compensating, and retaining business-critical IT talent. The 900+ page report provides an exhaustive analysis of the most current best practices in human capital management, plus detailed models, illustrations, and recommendations. The report is offered with an online, keyword-driven navigation tool that enables customized queries of the compensation data, based on industry, geographic location, organization size, and number of IT personnel. For more information about the 2004 IT Staffing and Compensation Guide, visit www.metagroup.com or call 800-498-META (6382) or [phone].

About META Group

META Group is a leading provider of information technology research, advisory services, and strategic consulting. Delivering objective and actionable guidance, META Group's experienced analysts and consultants are trusted advisors to IT and business executives around the world. Our unique collaborative models and dedicated customer service help clients be more efficient, effective, and timely in their use of IT to achieve their business goals. Visit metagroup.com for more details on our high-value approach.