Re: Are Oracle DBAs trivialized?

From: DA Morgan <damorgan_at_x.washington.edu>
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2005 08:15:08 -0700
Message-ID: <1113232286.177696@yasure>

Tim X wrote:

> DA Morgan <damorgan_at_x.washington.edu> writes:
>
>
>

>>Most DBAs are totally incompetent and deserve little if any respect.
>>
>>They were, past tense, competent when they learned their trade with
>>version 6.x or 7.x but they have not invested much effort in upgrading
>>their skills since then. They have self-defined their job as install,
>>manage users and schemas, patch, backup, and pray you don't have to
>>restore. They haven't read the Net Services book since it was 700 pages
>>which was a very long time, and more than 1000 new pages, ago.
>>
>>They have not learned App Server.
>>They wouldn't know an ear file from a jar file.
>>They have not learned RMAN
>>They have not learned DataGuard
>>They have not learned DBMS_XPLAN
>>They have not even learned to read a StatsPack.
>>
>>We are in the same position as were physicians before they started
>>policing their own ranks with certifications that had meaning and
>>requirements for continuing education to maintain certification. So
>>as our DBA community ages so does its skill set.
>>
>>Now I didn't say all ... so keep your flames appropriate to the
>>provocation.  ;-)

>
>
> Maybe I've been even luckier than I thought - the DBAs I've worked
> with have been very good. However, I would point out some mitigation
> for your observations - I'd suggest a big part of the problem here is
> the lack of time made available for DBAs to keep their knowledge up to
> date. while I do beleive every professional ha a responsability to
> maintain their specialist knowledge and a good part of it should be
> maintained in their own time, I also feel employers should be
> encouraging and supporting this process. Most of the DBAs I've worked
> with have been required to do large amounts of 'out of hours' work as
> well as their normal hours work. Ive had to fight and argue very hard
> to get the funds necessary to send our DBAs on training and to
> relevant conferences.
>
> The drop in skill amongst DBAs is probably paralleled with the drop in
> skill of developers generally. I've seen very little investment put
> into either area and have noticed a declining wage and increasing
> expectations for hours of work in both areas. Business/employes need
> to invest in these resources if they want long term benefits - but
> most don't.
>
> Tim

I agree with all of your points.

DBAs, and developers too, should insist on the cost of training being included with the cost of any upgrade planning.

-- 
Daniel A. Morgan
University of Washington
damorgan_at_x.washington.edu
(replace 'x' with 'u' to respond)

Received on Mon Apr 11 2005 - 10:15:08 CDT