| p>The role of the database administrator (DBA), or | | | | work closely to define the data dictionary that the |
| data architect, cannot be over-emphasized in an IT | | | | system will use. Data elements should be defined |
| project. The purpose of IT is the capture, storage, and | | | | consistently throughout the system and the source for |
| retrieval of business information to further the | | | | these definitions should be the database data |
| organization's core business objectives. In today's | | | | dictionary. |
| environment all the information that used to be | | | | Ideally, you should involve the data architect in design |
| captured on paper records is now captured in | | | | reviews and code reviews to ensure that the |
| electronic records that must be stored for retrieval in | | | | applications being designed utilize the database |
| an electronic repository. This requires the use of | | | | properly. Your architect may not have the bandwidth |
| relational databases for all but the smallest, simplest | | | | to attend each of these reviews. In that case, ensure |
| applications and the use of relational databases | | | | that they at least review designs and approve them. |
| requires the skills of a database administrator and/or | | | | Development and testing environments require an |
| data architect. | | | | instance of the database under development. This |
| There is little difference between the skill sets | | | | would normally be the responsibility of the DBA and if |
| possessed by data architects and those possessed | | | | your project has the benefit of a data architect and a |
| by database administrators. The difference tends to | | | | DBA it will be the DBA who installs the databases. If |
| be in the focus of the two roles. Database | | | | your project does not have a DBA, you'll have to rely |
| administrators are responsible for the health of the | | | | on your data architect to install the databases, or beg, |
| database and the data it manages. This responsibility | | | | borrow, or steal a DBA for the purpose. The installation |
| will include the architecture of new data and database | | | | of test databases should always be contingent on the |
| dictionary as the business grows and changes. | | | | system under development meeting the criteria for |
| Database changes may occur as a result of a project | | | | promotion to the testing phase. |
| which delivers new functionality, or in response to | | | | Testing data is always a contentious issue for every |
| changes in the existing data. The focus of the | | | | project. Assembling test data is not the responsibility of |
| database administrator is overall health of the | | | | the DBA but the DBA should be made responsible for |
| database and the data it contains, including database | | | | refreshing databases with the set of test data they |
| availability, performance, and access. The data | | | | are given. Assign responsibilities for the gathering, |
| architect is a role that tends to come with the | | | | "massaging" (making the existing data compatible with |
| implementation of the initial database instance and | | | | the new database), and inserting the test data. The |
| large expansion projects. It is the database architects | | | | testing team must identify the data they need to |
| job to ensure that the database design and data | | | | perform their testing. This data will very likely be a mix |
| dictionary are optimized to support the data storage | | | | of "system" generated data and user generated data. |
| retrieval and performance goals of the project. | | | | The system generated data includes such things as |
| The key difference between the two skill sets is the | | | | the organization's product inventory, customer list, etc. |
| emphasis on operational activities and the health of the | | | | while the user generated data will include items such |
| database on the one hand and the emphasis on the | | | | as customer orders. Assign a team member |
| performance of the database on the other. The | | | | responsibility for identifying and capturing system data. |
| database administrator will inherit the work of the data | | | | Any "massaging" necessary will likely have to be done |
| architect if one is employed to design a database, or a | | | | by the DBA or data architect. Test plans should make |
| database extension, as part of a project. They will be | | | | use of a common set of user generated data, data |
| responsible for support of the database they designed | | | | that wouldn't normally be generated as part of a test |
| if one is not. Other than this difference the skill sets are | | | | case, so that the same data is used across multiple |
| very similar, indeed most database courses make no | | | | test cases. Once this data has been identified and |
| distinction between the two roles. This article will treat | | | | assembled it is turned over to the DBA for |
| the two roles interchangeably; the best practices | | | | maintenance and each time test environments must |
| described here are applicable to both roles. The only | | | | be refreshed, the databases should be cleansed and |
| time a different approach is required is when you have | | | | repopulated with this data and the system data. |
| both roles on the project in which case you will be | | | | Your data architect should be a SME for purposes of |
| required to distinguish between the two roles and | | | | risk identification and change request analysis. The |
| assign each role the work they are best suited for. | | | | architect should attend team status review meetings |
| Large database supported projects require the data | | | | and report on their progress with database |
| architect skill set and the project manager should | | | | development. Change requests that could entail |
| ensure that the person assigned to this role on the | | | | changes to the database should be analyzed by the |
| project possesses the architect skill set and | | | | data architect to verify and quantify the impact of the |
| experience. This is a role which is critical to the | | | | proposed change. |
| success of your project so if there is someone you in | | | | Database architects are critical to the business of |
| your organization who meets your requirements | | | | developing a system which meets the organization's |
| secure them for your project by identifying them as a | | | | performance requirements. Your job is to determine |
| critical resource in your project charter. Smaller | | | | what these requirements are. The data architect's job |
| projects may be served by the architectural skill set | | | | is to identify the database structure, data dictionary |
| possessed by the DBA. You should go over the | | | | and any hardware and software requirements the |
| DBA's background and check for training and | | | | database would need to meet these objectives. |
| experience in database design and performance. | | | | Although I've left this issue to the end, it is something |
| Previous experience on a database creation project | | | | that should be addressed early in the planning phase. |
| would be ideal. | | | | Design of the database is not an exact science but |
| You will have to recruit the database architecture skill | | | | procuring the right hardware and software at the |
| set externally if it isn't available within your organization, | | | | outset should allow you to meet your objectives. |
| or if the experience isn't deep enough. Look for a data | | | | Finding out that the database you've built does not |
| architect with experience in large database projects | | | | meet your needs during a testing phase will add time, |
| with a deep knowledge of the relational database your | | | | effort, and cost to your project. |
| project is using. All relational databases manage data | | | | The project will have a database, data dictionary, |
| the same way but each has its own unique set of | | | | scripts, and maintenance tools to hand off to the DBA |
| tools and without knowledge in this area the architect | | | | at the conclusion of the project. If your project |
| will have too much catching up to do to contribute to | | | | engaged the organization's DBA as a stakeholder |
| your project. Your architect should also have | | | | rather than a team member you will need to plan |
| experience in database normalization so that your | | | | training so that there is a knowledge transfer between |
| design will follow the best practices for relational | | | | the data architect and the DBA. |
| databases. Data modeling is also a skill your architect | | | | The tips and advice offered in this article are only part |
| should possess. If your organization does not have | | | | of the work you will be required to do to plan, monitor, |
| anyone with these skills and you are prevented from | | | | and control the work of the architect for your project. |
| recruiting externally, or cannot attract this skill set, | | | | The rest of your work should be guided by the best |
| consider training your DBA. Make sure that you | | | | practices of project management and I know of no |
| schedule the training early enough in the project so | | | | better single source for these than the PMBOK (R). To |
| that the DBA is on board for the planning phase. | | | | learn these best practices and demonstrate to |
| Your database architect should work closely with the | | | | employers or clients that you have mastered them, |
| solutions architect so that system design and | | | | take a PMP (R) course or any PMP (R) exam |
| database design align. The best way to do this is to | | | | preparation training and then pass your PMP (R) |
| ensure that each attends the other's design sessions. | | | | certification exam. This web site contains details on |
| Your database architect can only design an efficient | | | | PMP (R) certification and also offers a product, AceIt |
| database if they know how it will be used by the | | | | (C), which has been successful in preparing candidates |
| system and the system's users. That is where the | | | | all over the world to pass their certification exam. |
| solutions architect can help. They will also have to | | | | |