OVERVIEW OF ADMINISTRATION FUNCTIONS - Database Design and Development: An Essential Guide for IT Professionals - page 427

Data integration and design. No direct responsibility. Provide advice on possible
data types and formats.
Information framework. Evaluate different DBMSs and participate in the final
selection. Determine hardware and system software upgrades for the proposed
database system; examine compatibility with selected DBMS. Evaluate productiv-
ity software from a technical viewpoint.
Physical implementation. Perform physical database design. Prepare disk storage
and allocate space for database components. Install DBMS. Complete data dictio-
nary entries in cooperation with DA. Load data from file conversions for initial pop-
ulation of database. Assist other IT professionals in project team in testing and
verification of loaded data. Assist in user training.
Data quality. Incorporate edits and constraints through the facilities of the selected
DBMS. Add all the necessary entity integrity and referential integrity constraints.
Include proper controls such as locking mechanisms to eliminate problems from
concurrent database updates.
Data security. Grant and revoke data access privileges to authorized users on the
basis of established security policy. Monitor database access to detect unauthorized
access.
Data availability. Back up database at regular intervals. Establish and test
database recovery through the use of log files. Follow recommended maintenance
schedule.
Database system performance. Monitor disk space usage and allocate additional
space as and when necessary. Continuously monitor database usage; create or drop
indexes according to changing access patterns. Perform DBMS upgrades. Recom-
mend hardware and system software upgrades based on increased usage.
Skills, Knowledge, and Experience
Having examined the roles and responsibilities of the DA and the DBA in a number
of ways and from different perspectives, you must now have a reasonable idea of
the types of skills and expertise required to perform these administration functions.
Once again, be guided by the general focus of each function. The DA is more of a
managerial type than a technician; the DBA is more of a technical expert than an
overall manager. That does not, however, imply that the DA is devoid of any tech-
nical knowledge or that the DBA has no managerial tasks at all.
Let us summarize the types of skills, knowledge, and experience needed for the
two administration functions.
Data Administrator Must be able to see the big picture and perceive the overall
information requirements. Must have strong appreciation of the significance of
information as a corporate asset. Should be able to communicate effectively with
all levels of users and information technology professionals. Must possess good