1. Attention to detail Most mistakes happen from the smallest oversight in the
details, usually not following instructions or a process to the letter. Pay
close attention, and you will reduce the chances of looking careless to your
colleagues and employer. 2.Organised To have a systematic approach, bringing multiple jobs
together into one and documenting them is absolutely essential to minimise
mistakes and deliver projects to a high standard. 3.Methodical Patching, upgrading and most Oracle DBA tasks require very
precise steps which must be completed in order and in a systematic way.
Skipping steps and skimming over the detail will lead to errors. 4.Planning If you fail to plan, you plan to fail… I don’t think I need
to say anymore on this point! 5. Cautious A good Oracle DBA will never throw caution to the wind.
Changes should be fully tested, and regression tested, in a production
representative environment. The knowing Oracle DBA will know only too well what
happens if these precautions are not taken seriously. I have seen many
occassions when the unthinkable becomes the thinkable once in a production
environment and one part of the detail was overlooked and thought to be OK to
roll to PROD. 6.Thorough This area encapsulates all of the above. The good Oracle DBA
always has to be thorough in order to ensure high standards and minimise risk.
Oftentimes it is the Oracle DBA who is in the unique position to appreciate
just how many processes could be affected by one small change. This is often
the case where multiple, independent teams submit changes at the same time.
This is when thorough testing and adherence to agreed processes is critical. The above list is in no particular order and is certainly
not exhaustive. It is intended to highlight some key points which are often
overlooked. Many mistakes can be avoided by the insightful Oracle DBA who
adheres to the points above. And, more often than not, it’s the simple things
which matter the most.