Re: Are Oracle DBAs trivialized?

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

-- 
Tim Cross
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