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Chantilly, Va. - June 16, 2008 - In a recently released global survey of learning management systems (LMS) - software for delivering and analyzing training via the Internet - Meridian Knowledge Solutions LLC earned the top cumulative score among 11 LMS providers.

The independent survey, conducted by The eLearning Guild, polled 1,252 e-Learning professionals from around the world about their views on LMS. In May 2008, the Guild published its findings in a 220-page report titled "Guild 360º Report on Learning Management Systems."

In addition to rating LMS software, the Guild's research found that LMS use varies by industry. Pharmaceutical makers, for instance, tend to be the heaviest users of LMS software, with 87.5 percent stating they use a system. The smallest concentration of LMS users are local government, with 33.3 percent running an LMS.

On an 11-point scale - with one representing the best rating and 11 the poorest - Meridian scored first, second or third in 19 of 20 categories covered in The eLearning Guild's report.

Survey respondents gave Meridian first-place ratings for:

• "ease of use for learners,"


• "ease of use for [LMS] administrators,"


• "integrating with LCMS (learning content management systems),"


• "support for different models of learning,"


• "support for complex business process models,"


• "helping people perform their jobs better,"


• "support for talent management," and


• "support for immersive learning simulations."

"Employers buy LMS for different reasons. But the report clearly shows that if owning a system that's easy for people to use is a top priority, then we believe Meridian's LMS ought to be considered because it excels at this," said Elizabeth Harris, partner and co-founder of Meridian. "Similarly, if any of the other 19 categories by which The eLearning Guild measured an LMS is important to an employer, then buyers owe it to themselves to evaluate Meridian."

According to the Guild's research team, large employers with tens of thousands of employees are often the harshest critics of LMS because so many users touch the software. Meridian, along with several of its largest competitors, caters to many of these large public- and private-sector employers. In spite of this, Meridian garnered above-average ratings - and in many cases top ratings - in categories such as usability and living up to promises.

"We view the Guild's research much like the people's choice award for e-Learning," remarked Harris. "For 10 years, we've poured our energy into designing a cutting-edge LMS that keeps up with what employers truly need in the way of learning- and knowledge-management. I suppose the Guild's research proves the race is not always to the swift."

"The Guild's 360° Report on Learning Management Systems is the most comprehensive vendor-neutral report ever published," stated Steve Wexler, director of research and emerging technologies for the Santa-Rosa California-based eLearning Guild. "Because of the large number of fully vetted responses, the findings in this report are a statistically accurate reflection of the tens of thousands of e-Learning professionals - designers, developers, and decision makers - that comprise the Guild."

For more information about Meridian, visit www.meridianksi.com.

To follow Meridian on Twitter, visit http://twitter.com/meridianks.