EXHIBIT 24.1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                         (Employee Stock Purchase Plan)


          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, an officer
and/or director of SEQUENT COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC., does hereby constitute and
appoint KARL C. POWELL, JR., JOHN McADAM and ROBERT S. GREGG, and each of them,
his or her true and lawful attorney and agent to do any and all acts and things
and to execute in his or her name (whether on behalf of Sequent Computer
Systems, Inc. or as an officer or director of said Company, or otherwise) any
and all instruments which said attorney and agent may deem necessary or
advisable in order to enable Sequent Computer Systems, Inc. to comply with the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any requirements of the Securities and
Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of shares of Common Stock of
Sequent Computer Systems, Inc. issuable pursuant to the Employee Stock Purchase
Plan, including specifically, but without limitation thereto, power and
authority to sign his or her name (whether on behalf of Sequent Computer
Systems, Inc. or as an officer or director of said Company, or otherwise) to a
Registration Statement on Form S-8 and any amendment thereto (including any
post-effective amendment) or application for amendment thereto in respect to
such Common Stock or any exhibits filed therewith; and to file the same with the
Securities and Exchange Commission; and the undersigned does hereby ratify and
confirm all that said attorney and agent shall do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

DATED: February 16, 1998.

                                            KARL C. POWELL, JR.
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                            Karl C. Powell, Jr.

                                            JOHN McADAM
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                            John McAdam

                                            STEVE S. CHEN
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                            Steve S. Chen

                                            MICHAEL S. SCOTT MORTON
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                            Michael S. Scott Morton

                                            ROBERT W. WILMOT
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                            Robert W. Wilmot

                                            ROBERT S. GREGG
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                            Robert S. Gregg