<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 11

                       XCELLENET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

               Computation of Earnings Per Share of Common Stock
           For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 1997 and 1996
                   (amounts in thousands, except per share)


<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                For the Three Months Ended     For the Six Months Ended
                                                                         June 30,                      June 30,
                                                                ---------------------------    -----------------------  
                                                                   1997              1996         1997          1996     
                                                                ----------         --------    ---------     ---------   
<S>                                                              <C>                <C>          <C>           <C> 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding                8,160            7,204         7,816       7,167    
                                                                                                                        
Add  - Shares of common stock assumed issued upon exercise of                                                           
    stock options using the "treasury stock" method as it                                                               
    applies to the computation of primary earnings per share          --               679           778         699    
                                                                  -------         --------        ------      -------   
                                                                                                                        
Number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding           8,160            7,883         8,594       7,866    
                                                                                                                        
Add  - Additional shares of common stock assumed issued upon                                                            
    exercise of stock options using the "treasury stock"                                                                
    method as it applies to the computation of fully diluted                                                            
    earnings per share                                                --                --           --          --    
                                                                  -------         --------        ------      -------   
                                                                                                                        
Number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding                                                               
  assuming full dilution                                            8,160            7,883         8,594       7,866    
                                                                  =======         ========        ======      ====== 


Net income (loss)                                                 $   (32)        $    363        $1,097      $1,229
                                                                  =======         ========        ======      ====== 


Earnings (loss) per share:

    Primary                                                       $ (0.00)        $   0.05        $ 0.13      $ 0.16
                                                                  =======         ========        ======      ====== 

    Fully diluted                                                 $ (0.00)        $   0.05        $ 0.13      $ 0.16
                                                                  =======         ========        ======      ====== 


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A single presentation of primary earnings per share is made on the Consolidated
Statements of Operations because the effect of assuming full dilution is
insignificant in each period presented.