Novell finding its way back in competitive, fast-paced tech business

David Bradford, a senior vice president and general council for Novell from 1985 to 2000, said his company did not make the adjustments necessary to keep up with other top software firms. In 1985, every company in the world needed what Novell sold, he said.

"What the company probably should have done is to remain focused on its core success with the network operating system," he said. "Continue to optimize that and continue to do things … in the open source market to be more successful."

Bradford also said Novell was slow to "capture and understand better" the importance of the Internet, which was another contributor to the company's inability to stay competitive.

Still, he said he has "high hopes" for the future of Novell in the wake of its acquisition by The Attachmate Group.

"They've got to find the right niches to go after to be successful and to leverage their core strengths and move into adjacent, (broad) and fast-growing markets," Bradford said. "That's the challenge that Novell (and) Attachmate have in the future." 

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