Re: Can You Be the Judge?

"Niall Litchfield" <n-litchfield_at_audit-commission.gov.uk> wrote in message news:<3b20ac7a$0$12243$ed9e5944_at_reading.news.pipex.net>...
> I'd have thought that
>
> 1. This could easily be a 40 hour week for a single guy and
> 2. What happens to the company if he leaves?
>
> ISTM that the best Title for this post is IT Manager, not DBA.
>
> I'd probably recommend that he is given the Title of IT manager and the
> responsibility of training up the PC guy so that he can progress. This
> should also allow the well qualified position to provide strategic
> leadership and platform planning for the company (like when do we upgrade).
> Make him or her accountable to an appropriate director.
>
>
> --
> Niall Litchfield
> Oracle DBA
> Audit Commission UK
> "Steve" <schen_at_prodigy.net> wrote in message
> news:9fp6jc$4aca$1_at_newssvr06-en0.news.prodigy.com...
> > Even though this may not be tech related, it would arouse some interest
> > among tech guys. So please be a judge (or employer) for this guy's
> > performance:
> >
> > Title: dba (of course), or + sys adm
> > Firm Size: 100 users
> >
> > Database: Unix platform, Ora7, 7G size, 80M log archived daily on
 average;
> > two other dev dbs on Unix and NT.
> >
> > Job Scope: dba routine including backup/recovery, network and security
> > (Cisco router/firewall), NT/Unix box maintenance, Unix sendmail, NT
 exchange
> > server, dbmail, software testing, fax server. All things related to
 company
> > computing (form programming excluded only).
> >
> > Judging:
> > Is he overloaded/overworked? (with a guy helping some PC issue)
> > or
> > Is he not doing the job well/fast enough to upgrade ora7 to ora8i,,or the
> > latest.....in a timely manner?
> > or
> > Can you do it?
> >
> > Please reply to group.
> > (It's not my opinion)
> >

This could describe an easy job or continuous 60 hour weeks depending on how stable the platform/applications are. I know of UNIX admin who cruise the net all day because all they have to do is one upgrade/patch a year and one or two file recoveries for developers who 'rm' the wrong file. So this person comes to work, checks the backup logs, and lives the good life. It all depends on circumstances. If you have a demanding, unreasonable customer then even a relatively stable environment can be hell to put up with. My best guess is the DBA needs some help. What happens when he goes on vacation?

Could I do the job? With some training, yes, but a better question is would I work that job? How much does it pay? Probably not enough.

• Mark D Powell --