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Analysis Summary

Introduction

The Vet school's primary business application, UVIS (Universal Veterinary Information System) is built upon Oracle's database management system (DBMS). The system has been in production for three years and from time to time experiences slowdowns in various areas of the application over time. Management is struggling to fully understand the nature of maintaining the system over time as the size of the data continues to grow. It is often difficult for the technical staff to discuss application performance issues along with the cause and effect and the corrective actions that can be taken to improve application performance, especially since performance boosts can be gained via many different aspects of the total software solution.

Purpose

The purpose of this course is to present various application performance tuning options, why they are necessary, and when to perform them.

Performance Gap Analysis

  1. Limited Resources:
    The managers tend to be stretched for time as they manage more than one unit and thus tend to look at only the big picture. There are no readily available courses or knowledgebases that cater to the non-technical manager's level of expertise.
  2. Lack of Motivation:
    The business managers often believe that grasping the technical terms and concepts are beyond their reach. The technical staff often seems to be talking in their own language or jargon and the manager doesn't try to ask for clarification for fear of appearing ignorant.
  3. Lack of Knowledge and Skills:
    The business managers typically have little or no technical background and must rely on the technical staff's expertise to aid them in resource planning.

Performance Assessment

Actual Performance Desired Performance Primary Cause % of Discrepency
Cannot define the terms used to describe source of performance problems. Have enough grasp of technical vocabulary and jargon to be conversant with technical staff.
  • Non-technical background.
  • Technical staff doesn't explain terms.
  • Managers do not ask for clarification from technical staff.
 30%
Unable to explain concept of client/server architecture. Identify components of client/server architecture.
  • Concept means more than one thing.
  • Never fully explained to management.
 10%
Cannot distinguish application layers. Identify application layers and performance tuning options within each layer.
  • Rarely exposed to concept.
  • Not clearly defined in system design documents.
 10%
Does not differentiate various performance tuning options. Differentiate between various tuning options and valuate worth of performing each.
  • Not exposed to day-to-day maintenance chores.
  • Little understanding of why system slows down.
  • No knowledge of client/server or application layers issues that affect speed of application.
 40%
Fails to comprehend full job of technical staff. Grasp the scope and manitude of effort for technical staff to identify and correct bottlenecks in application performance.
  • Non-technical background.
  • Just want the job done and don't care how.
  • Technical staff doesn't take time to explain job duties.
 10%

Instructional Goals

The managers must first learn the vocabulary and terminology used by software developers before they can understand the nuisances of tuning a database application. Thus, the principles of instructional sequence and decomposition should be used to break down subject and organize instructional material such that enabling objectives are presented in logical order and adequately supports the performance objective.

  1. Knowledge:
    Define the various terms utilized in discussing tuning options.
  2. Comprehension:
    Differentiate between various performance tuning options.
  3. Application:
    Estimate ROI for implementing suggested performance tuning efforts.
  4. Analysis:
    Compare relative worth of carrying out a performance tuning recommendation.
  5. Synthesis:
    Plan appropriate resources for ongoing performance tuning efforts.
  6. Evaluation:
    Judge the relative value of each performance tuning action.

Learner Analysis

Learner Group

The learners in this group consists of four top-level managers at the Vet Hospital who are directly responsible for ensuring the current system meets their users' needs while satisfying the support of their area's business functions.

Characteristics

The average age of this group is over 50 and all have at least a Ph.D. in Veterinary Medicine. The individuals in this group have been at their current job function an average of five years.

Numbers

There are four individuals in this group and based on past turnover rates, all will likely remain in current positions for the foreseeable future.

Location

Training is to take place in one of the conference rooms, which offers access to a computer and overhead projector.

Experience

All individuals have been in the field of veterinary medicine for multiple decades and have a solid understanding of their business unit's functions. However, experience with managing an IT system and enhancing the functionality of the system is somewhat limited. Two of the individuals played a large part in initial design and development of the current system, so do have some background in system design process, but not necessarily in system maintenance process.

Attitude

The individuals are concerned about system performance and ensuring the system stays up and running around the clock with acceptable response time to their unit's employees.

Skills Related to Delivery Mode

Training methods that utilize visual cues and introduces basic concepts in more laymen terms initially will most likely be successful with this group.

Resource Analysis

Content Resources Technology Resources Instructional Facilities Human Resources
  • Excerpts and diagrams from Oracle SQL High-Performance Tuning
  • Excerpts from 101 Oracle Performance Tuning
  • Definitions from www.webopedia.com
  • Example scenarios and performance tuning solution from current system
  • Session trace reports that demonstrate before/after statistics
  • Whiteboard along with markers and eraser.
  • Computer with performance tuning application and system software installed.
  • LCD projector to display computer's screen on wall.
  • Conference room with appropriate technology installed is available.
  • Up to 10 learners can be present.
  • The conference room can be reserved for training purposes.
  • This training road-map is heavily dependent on identified facilitator as he is also the subject matter expert.
  • Course can also be laid out so that other SMEs can utilize in similar business setting to train.
mwlang@cybrains.net
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