Novell Employee Review

Current Employee – been working at Novell full-time for more than 10 years

Pros – Since its acquisition by The Attachmate Group, Novell has begun to undergo some important changes in culture. On the positive end of things, there is a stronger focus on Sales and on the customer. Within the Novell Business Unit, the engineering team has new life! Important improvements in products are being released much more regularly.

Cons – But, unfortunately, the new company is also heavily silo'd now and strongly hierarchical. There is much less cooperation between BU's and between departments than there used to be. There is much more defending of turf. Managers and Directors who wish to collaborate for the good of the company generally have to do that under the radar. There is a strong hierarchy in place. It requires position power to communicate effectively between groups. To speak up a level is difficult. Information is held confidentially, often even from the people who need to be doing the work that requires that information. It is a strange dynamic.

Advice to Senior Management – Loosen up communication and trust your people. You have a huge store of experience and talent of long-term employees that is being squandered. This is probably the biggest driver of attrition.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend