RE: So, What is a 'Production DBA'?

From: Orr, Steve <sorr_at_rightnow.com>
Date: Thu, 30 May 2002 08:51:13 -0800
Message-ID: <F001.0046FBE5.20020530085113@fatcity.com>

I'd take that pay differential thing with a grain of salt.

The definitions for Production DBA's, Apps, DBA's, and Development DBA's are merely organizational interpretations. Each organization custom creates these "titles" so PHB's can put labels on people.

In many cases a production DBA is merely a database babysitter and a Development/Apps DBA requires higher skills for the overall architecture. In other cases an apps "DBA" may just be someone who knows how to maintain a particular 3rd party application but their knowledge of the database engine is suspect. I once knew an "HR Database Administrator," AKA Apps DBA, who knew nothing about databases but lots about some weird, off the wall, non-mainstream, proprietary HR application. This person's skills were not marketable but their title was. ;-)

Aspiring chief cook and bottle washer,
Steve Orr

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2002 10:06 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L

Thanks to all who responded. The debate on the list is just as lively as the one around the water cooler. I did like the response about a 50% pay differential for production DBAs. That will make the bosses hair stand on end!

• Peter Barnett <regdba_at_yahoo.com> wrote:
  > We are having this debate. What is a 'Production
  > DBA'? Right now all of the DBAs do some of
  > everything. In an effort to focus more DBA time on
  > infrastructure, damagement is floating the idea of
  > Production and Applications DBAs. The DBA group has
  > loosely translated this into the group that is
  > always
  > on-call and the group that gets their weekends off.
  >
  > I would appreciate some input from those of you who
  > are Production DBAs.
  >
  >
  >
  > =====
  > Pete Barnett
  > Lead Database Administrator
  > The Regence Group
  > pnbarne_at_regence.com
  -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com -- Author: Orr, Steve INET: sorr_at_rightnow.com

Fat City Network Services    -- (858) 538-5051  FAX: (858) 538-5051
San Diego, California        -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists
--------------------------------------------------------------------

To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: ListGuru_at_fatcity.com (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). Received on Thu May 30 2002 - 11:51:13 CDT