MILWAUKEE, Aug 26, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Manpower received the prestigious CIO 100 award from CIO magazine in recognition of the company's operational and strategic excellence in information technology. This year's award focused on agility, honoring 100 organizations that respond quickly to changing business environments. It is the second consecutive year Manpower's IT group has been honored for its high standards and outstanding results. Once again, Manpower is the only staffing company recognized.

One of the primary IT accomplishments that contributed to Manpower's inclusion on the list is the development and launch of an online order function for the Manpower Business Resource Center, an online HR information and service center designed for small- and mid-size businesses. Online ordering enhances the hiring process and saves time for customers who want to request a quote, place and track orders for staff, or review candidate credentials from the Web. The tool has proven popular with customers who, to date, have placed more than $3 million in online orders.

"In order to succeed in a rapidly changing industry like staffing, a company must have an agile IT department," said Peter Stockhausen, CIO for Manpower in North America. "Customers benefit from our innovative, best-in- class technology, and we use that same strategic know-how when helping employers overcome HR challenges. The agility of Manpower's IT department is a reflection of the entire company's ability to act quickly and appropriately in a fluctuating business landscape."

According to CIO, IT agility not only generates positive business results, it also leads to continued organizational success. "With the economy rebounding, companies will seek out and capitalize on new opportunities as they emerge," says Abbie Lundberg, editor-in-chief, CIO. "Those best positioned to succeed are the agile enterprises, able to move and change quickly; to create advantage in a world in flux. This year's CIO 100 winners have all the hallmarks: agile operations, technology, staffing and governance models. We celebrate their achievements and expect to see great things from them in the years ahead."

The CIO 100 is now in its 17th year of annually recognizing the top 100 companies that exemplify a particular aspect of business or organizational excellence. The recipients of this year's CIO 100 were selected through a comprehensive process, lead by CIO editorial staff and members of its expert panel.

About Manpower

Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN) is a world leader in the employment services industry, offering customers a continuum of services to meet their needs throughout the employment and business cycle. The company specializes in permanent, temporary and contract recruitment; employee assessment; training; career transition and organizational consulting services. Manpower's worldwide network of 4,300 offices in 67 countries and territories enables the company to meet the needs of its 400,000 customers per year, including small and medium size enterprises in all industry sectors, as well as the world's largest multinational corporations. The focus of Manpower's work is on raising productivity through improved quality, efficiency and cost-reduction, enabling customers to concentrate on their core business activities. In addition to the Manpower brand, the company operates under the brand names of Right Management Consultants, Jefferson Wells, Elan, Brook Street and Empower. More information on Manpower Inc. is available at http://www.manpower.com .

SOURCE Manpower Inc.

Margaret Gerstenkorn of Manpower, +1-414-906-6336,
margaret.gerstenkorn@na.manpower.com

http://www.manpower.com

Copyright (C) 2004 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.

News Provided by COMTEX