Developers and DBAs - can they work together?

[BJCooperIT]

I am a consultant who has a problem. What is a developer to do when the support DBAs have different priorities and are resistant to requests?

I am working on a government data conversion contract for a new database and need to have an Oracle parameter changed (this is a show-stopper for me). I politely requested the change via e-mail last Friday. Tuesday I received a return e-mail that I thought was almost hostile in its tone. "Why are you asking it to be set so high? What formula are you using to get this number? Currently it is set to ###, is this not sufficient?"

My knee-jerk reaction was "No, it is not enough or I would not be experiencing the problem!" but instead I responded professionally and outlined answers to his questions in a factual manner with out emotion. I understand that he has other tasks and does not know my capabilities, but why would he assume I would have been selected for this contract without the necessary talents? I also know that not everyone has "people" skills, but this is the typical reaction I have received from DBAs on several contracts.

I needed to have another Oracle parameter set-up and it took 2 months for them to do 2 minutes work. In the meantime my deadline does not slide and they put me further and further behind since I was not able to test my code. This on top of the fact it took the department 9 weeks to get me a computer and I still do not have a development database. Just how long can you read manuals to stay busy?

In my previous contract (government also) the DBA who was responsible for putting Oracle Discoverer EUL in production and just decided it was too difficult and that he did not have time...so he did not do it. The users still cannot run reports 8 months later.

I guess what I am asking is what do I need to do to insure that the DBAs feel like we are teammates instead of competitors?

Bribes, donuts, sports tickets?

(select * from life where brain is not null)
Consultant/Custom Forms & PL/SQL - Oracle 8.1.7 - Windows 2000

 

[Onyxpurr]

This is why I like smaller companies in which you are the DBA and programmer. Or you sit across from that person.

My current DBA is a state away and according to other IT people here, is a beginner in SQL server.

She's a nice enough person, I just wish she'd communicate more!

It's frustrating to ask the DBA if they can meet an ETA, they say yes, you still tell the customer ETA+padded time, and you still don't meet your deadline and without any communication from the DBA that they were going to be late in the first place.

My fingers are starting to hurt from crossing them so much.