Voice of the DBA

Author: way0utwest

  • Mining for Quitters

    This editorial was originally published on Jun 10, 2009. It is being re-published as Steve is on vacation.

    I thought this was pretty interesting, a story about a story about Google trying to figure out which people are likely to quit. Apparently Google is worried about losing talented workers, like  those they’ve taken from Microsoft, Yahoo, and other places. Actually they haven’t taken anyone. They built a company that excited people and anyone that wants to get a job there (and can), should be allowed to go work there.

    Some people have decided they don’t want to stay, and quite a few executives, and Google wants to try and see if they can keep them. So they are looking for signs that a person might think about leaving, and then hopefully doing something about it. And in typical Google fashion, they’ve built an application that crunches data to identify those people likely to leave.

    I think it’s great, especially in an age where it seems so many companies don’t care if you stay or go. While there’s no guarantee that they’ll be able to convince people to stay, at least they can make an attempt to convince them. Sometimes that’s all takes. Show someone that you care, and that you want to keep them around, and many times they might decide to stay. And perhaps it’s in response to this note that the Justice Department in the US considers any agreement among tech firms illegal. Even if it’s an understanding not to poach each others’ executives.

    With any technology, there’s a flip side as well. Who knows if employees at Google will try to “game” the system, fake the data that shows the might leave, and then see if they can get a raise or some other benefit from the company. It might not work for all employees, but it might work for some.

    It will be a flawed system, but it’s a good idea. It’s a good use of business intelligence computing to try and protect the company’s most valuable assets: its people.

    Steve Jones

    The Voice of the DBA Podcasts

    Everyday Jones

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    Today’s podcast features music by Everyday Jones. No relation, but I stumbled on to them and really like the music. Support this great duo at www.everydayjones.com.

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  • The Effective Cell Phone

    I’ve written a bit about phones recently as I’ve experienced the switch back to iOS from Android. There are a few other posts in this series:

    I wanted to stop and take a moment and think about design of cell phones for a minute. I think that Android, iOS, Windows Phone 8, and other systems have their own strengths and weaknesses. Even though I prefer iOS, I wouldn’t want that to be the only choice for everyone.

    However why should the choice stop there? I think Apple has done a great job with their App Store, and while I don’t like their censorship of applications, I do appreciate their certifying and curating apps. I just wish they’re allow more applications, and more importantly, more defaults.

    What does a smartphone do?

    If I think about what a smartphone, I am looking for it to have these functions:

    • Make and receive phone calls
    • Manage voice mails
    • Manage contacts
    • Handle text messages
    • Browse the web
    • Get email
    • Work with my calendars
    • handle navigation
    • provide keyboard for input
    • provide voice to text services

    I’m sure there are other things. For example, being able to connect with various other platforms (twitter/facebook, etc) from within any application. Maybe I am concerned about text to speech capabilities, or more. When I look back at Android, I appreciated the variety of keyboards that were available. Like most people, I quickly settled on one (Swype), but I did try out the Swiftkey and KeyPal keyboards.

    Why doesn’t that make sense for all of the functions above? Perhaps I want a different dialer that somehow presents data differently, or makes phone calls in a different way. I’m imaging that I might want to route some calls through a service like Skype or Google Voice and some through cellular. I would love the ability to replace the default dialer with some other dialer, just as I could replace keyboards on Swype.

    Many of us have a favorite browser, but it’s not the default on your platform, you may find some links opening in another browser. I should be able to set the core default programs for functions on my platform, as I choose them. I don’t expect that any dialer, or calendar, or other service is allowed. There are core functions that need to be met, and I’d accept that the platform provider, or maybe store, would certify applications as working on the OS, but after that, I ought to be able to replace the default programs that can be run.

    Android is much more open about this than iOS or WP8 in many ways, and I’m not sure if everything above can be replaced. I know I could replace the dialer with Skype instead of cellular, but I’m not sure if all these functions can be replaced. If they can, then kudos to Android.

    I also know that some applications are available for all of these functions, or most of them, but I thought there were places I couldn’t set something as the default. I’m not ready to go back to Android and experiment now, but for sure I wish I had the ability to get automatic, default functionality from the phone in the way I want it.

    Ultimately Apple isn’t making money, or loyalty, on their dialer, or calendar. They make money on the platform, so build the amazing platform, but let other people provide more customizations, as you do now in app stores. Just allow consumers to make those defaults if they choose to.

  • Memories of 2013

    the holiday season and are not too busy at work.  I hope most of you had a great year in 2013, and with that in mind, I wanted to ask you a simple question:

    What’s your best SQL Server memory of 2013?

    Maybe it was when you solved a problem or completed a project successfully. Maybe it was an event that you enjoyed, like a SQL Saturday or conference? Maybe it was a talk or a conversation you had with another SQL Server professional. Perhaps it was some social event involving SQL Server.

    It could be something you laughed at, a situation that taught you something, or an inspirational moment. Share it with us today, and remember what you enjoy about working in this field.

    I hope you had multiple great memories in 2013 and will make more in 2014. Happy Holidays.

    Steve Jones

    Video and Audio versions

    Today’s podcast features music by Everyday Jones. No relation, but I stumbled on to them and really like the music. Support this great duo at www.everydayjones.com.

    Follow Steve Jones on Twitter to find links and database related items and announcements.
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  • It’s not the platform

    I agree with Brent. Actually, I’ve felt this way for years when I’ve been asked the SQL Server v Oracle question, or even earlier in my career when I was asked about Windows v Unix. The choice doesn’t matter that much and it’s not really the platform; it’s the people.

    Oracle is often seen as the top platform in our industry for handling relational data, but if you give a copy of Oracle 12C to many of the SQL Server staffs that read this newsletter, and it likely won’t scale too well. At least not until they learn a bit about how the platform works. The same is true of SQL Server, which is often given to many under-trained and under-qualified people with the idea that they’ll just make it work.

    We should all be aware that while platforms can be expensive, they really pale in comparison to the cost of the people that will build software on the platform. You certainly might save money with a cheaper platform if you’re buying software, but don’t forget that additional platforms do need additional training for your staff. As I told a friend recently, anyone can setup SQL Server and get it to run. Until it doesn’t.

    Education and investment in knowledge is one of the most important areas that technologies and their employers can spend time and money on. However, it takes both of them working together to ensure it pays off.

    Steve Jones

    Video and Audio versions

    Today’s podcast features music by Everyday Jones. No relation, but I stumbled on to them and really like the music. Support this great duo at www.everydayjones.com.

    Follow Steve Jones on Twitter to find links and database related items and announcements.
    Steve Jones Windows Media Video ( 13.1MB) feedMP4 iPod Video ( 15.5MB) feed

    MP3 Audio ( 3.3MB) feed

    Feeds are available at iTunes and Mevio

    To submit an article, rant or editorial,
    log in to the Contribution Center