Lesson+2+The+Problem

In order for Georgia Pacific management to better evaluate its employees and ensure the already downsized team in place is operationally effective, we must:

· Identify the current database services metrics and best practices · Identify GP’s metrics and processes · Benchmark GP’s metrics and processes · Identify areas for improvement

The industry faces numerous challenges in determining the standards for DBA metrics due to the broad range of the definition of a DBA role itself. The DBAs fall into the following categories:

· **System DBA**- focuses on technical rather than business issues, and includes responsibilities such as installing new DBMS versions, setting and tuning system parameters, and ensuring appropriate storage for the DBMS. · **Database Architect**- focuses on involvement of new design and development work, typical responsibilities include creating logical data models, translating logical data models into physical database designs, also creating backup and recovery strategies for new databases. · **Database Analyst**- not well defined in the industry, often referred to as “Jr. DBAs”, perform a role similar to database architects, or database administrators. · **Data Modeler**- responsible for a subset of the data architect’s responsibilities. · **Application DBA**- focuses on database design and the ongoing support and administration of databases for a specific application · **Task-Oriented DBA**- focuses on a specific DBA task; these positions are rare outside very large IT shops. · **Performance Analyst**- focus only on the performance of database applications · **Data Warehouse Administrator**- focuses on performing in-depth data analysis to monitor and support the data warehouse environment.

Source: A conference call with a Gartner analyst