The Big Picture and the Ten Deliverables

Abstract

What are the deliverables of the database administration role? How likely is it that the deliverables will be completed if you cannot articulate what they are? “Deliverables” are not the same as “current priorities,” because priorities change from day to day; performance improvement may be your priority today, but it may not be your priority when performance returns to acceptable levels. Deliverables are not the same as “assigned tasks,” either, because assigned tasks change from day to day; resetting passwords for forgetful users may be one of your assigned tasks today, but you may not have do it any more if, for example, your organization begins using self-service technology or single sign-on technology, or if the task is assigned to a Service Desk. An example of a deliverable is “databases hat meet the needs of the business”—the deliverable does not change from day to day. If there is only one database administrator in the organization, then it is the individual’s deliverable. If database administration is performed by a team, it is a shared deliverable.