<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-10-10</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001141517</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LAWSON SOFTWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LWSN</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001206995</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COUGHLAN JOHN J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>380 ST. PETER STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST. PAUL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55102</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-10-10</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>8988</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>7.71</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>38641</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
<footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
<footnoteId id="F6"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>option - right to buy</value>
<footnoteId id="F4"></footnoteId>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0.5912</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-10-10</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3887</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>1997-06-01</value>
<footnoteId id="F5"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2006-05-15</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>common stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>3887</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>67450</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
<derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>option - right to buy</value>
<footnoteId id="F4"></footnoteId>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0.5912</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-10-10</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>12875</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>1997-06-01</value>
<footnoteId id="F5"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2006-05-15</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>common stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>67450</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>67450</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Sale made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 selling plan.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Excludes derivative securities reported in Table II.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">Includes 27,459 shares held indirectly through Lawson's 401(k) plan trust and 9,874 shares held directly.</footnote>
<footnote id="F4">For all other derivative securities beneficially owned, please see previous Form 4 filings.</footnote>
<footnote id="F5">Grant on 5/15/96 of option pursuant to Company 1996 Stock Incentive Plan. Option vests annually in one-fifth increments beginning on 6/1/97.  Option is 100% vested.</footnote>
<footnote id="F6">Includes 1,308 shares purchased on 7/02/03 in an exempt transaction under Rule 16b-3 under Lawson Software, Inc.'s Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ John Jay Coughlan</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-10-13</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

