Centra to Host Online Conference on Change Management; Conference Will Address the Steps Needed to Embed Collaboration Into the Fabric of an Organization's Change Initiatives

Business Wire, August 24, 2004

LEXINGTON, Mass. -- Centra Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTRA), a leading provider of specialized solutions, delivering software and services for online business collaboration, today announced that it will host the industry's first online conference focusing on the issues around managing change. The latest in a series, this eConference will provide up-to-date coverage of all aspects of change management - such as communication, coaching, measuring, rating, and reviewing - by offering a variety of sessions delivered by today's most authoritative sources.

The two-day virtual event, to be held on Tuesday, September 14, and Wednesday, September 15, will feature a series of interactive online presentations by leading IT analysts and Fortune 500 executives, including Gartner Group, Wyndham International, Legg Mason, Schering-Plough, Hershey Foods, and Osram Sylvania. In addition to case studies, strategy discussions, and research findings that illustrate how real-time communication and collaboration can contribute to effective change management initiatives, the eConference will feature a keynote address by an industry leading technology expert.

Dr. Robert Kriegel, author of the best selling book, "Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers," will kick off the program on September 14 with a keynote session, "Developing Change-Ready People and Organizations." This session will define the key initiatives that will help your organization align change with corporate strategy by defining the requirements and behavior changes that will ensure success. This will be followed by two afternoon tracks that focus on specific tactics and strategies for business and IT executives. Session topics include "Deploying Oracle CRM at Underwriters Laboratories" and "Enforcing FDA Standards at Schering-Plough." On September 15, Lou Latham, principal analyst for the Knowledge Workplace at Gartner Group, will provide an online keynote address examining the ways organizations can manage change by using collaboration tools to train, inform and persuade in real time. Afternoon sessions include "Six Sigma Certification at Osram Sylvania" and "Managing Change during the First Union/Wachovia Merger."

"One of the biggest challenges companies face is having the ability to respond quickly and effectively to the routine of rapid change in their business environment," said James L. Freeze, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Centra. "We believe this eConference gives participants both strategic and tactical advice that can help them assess the impact and risk of change holistically and proactively, and ensure that corresponding changes can be made to their communication and collaboration environments."

In a recent survey of companies that currently use collaborative solutions, Centra found that 90 percent of the respondents said they expect their collaboration needs to climb within the next 12 to 24 months. Of those respondents, the vast majority indicated that "change management" was the largest barrier to expanding usage of online collaboration - more than twice an influencing factor over other considerations (technical/network constraints, budget limitations, additional benefits).

Events Listing and Registration Information

"Managing Change Through Online Collaboration" will take place on Tuesday, September 14 and Wednesday, September 15. To register and for a complete list of eConference sessions, visit www.centra.com/events/cmeconference.asp. There is no charge to attend and all sessions will be delivered directly to attendees' desktops using Centra's IP voice-enabled Web conferencing software solution. Participation requires a PC, Web browser, minimum network connection of 28.8 kbps, speakers and a microphone. For business professionals who are unable to attend, most sessions will be recorded and available for viewing at www.centra.com beginning on Tuesday, September 21, 2004.

Centra has been recognized by Gartner Group as a leader in the Web conferencing Magic Quadrant. Among the leaders, according to Gartner, Centra has the greatest completeness-of-vision based on factors that include scalability, range of features and size of installed base.

About Centra

Online business collaboration solutions from Centra create workforce efficiencies and enable organizations to share and exchange business-critical information with geographically distributed customers, partners, prospects and employees. Centra's solutions integrate real-time collaboration and departmental business processes with specialized applications that increase sales effectiveness, improve collaborative learning and accelerate enterprise application rollouts and customer acquisition initiatives. Currently available in 12 languages, Centra solutions can be deployed as on-site software or through its ASP service and are supported by an active ecosystem of value-added partners, including Siebel, PeopleSoft, SAP and Deloitte Consulting. Organizations across every major industry and market sector choose Centra, including Wyndham International, Weyerhaeuser, Underwriters Laboratories, BMW and Stanford University. Headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts, Centra serves a worldwide customer base throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia. For more information, visit www.centra.com.