ADMIN

What Is Database Management?

By Michelle Knight on January 1, 2018

Database Management allows a person to organize, store, and retrieve data from a computer. Database Management can also describe the data storage, operations, and security practices of a Database Administrator (DBA) throughout the life cycle of the data. Managing a database involves designing, implementing, and supporting stored data to maximize its value. Database Management Systems, according to the DAMA DMBOK, include various types:

• Centralized: all the data lives in one system in one place. All users come to that one system to access the data.

• Distributed: Data resides over a variety of nodes, making quick access possible. “Rather than rely on hardware to deliver high-availability, the Database Management software…is designed to replicate data amongst the servers” allowing it to detect and handle failures.

• Federated: Provisions data without additional persistence or duplication of source data. It maps multiple autonomous databases into one large object. This kind of Database Architecture is best for heterogenous and distributed integration projects. Federated Databases can be categorized as:

  • Loosely Coupled: Component Databases construct their own federated schema and typically requires accessing other component database systems through a multi- database language.

  • Tightly Coupled: Component systems use independent processes to construct and publish into an integrated federal schema.

• Blockchain: A type of federated database system used to securely manage financial and other types of transactions.

Other Definitions of Database Management Include:

• A “product used for storage and organization of data that typically has defined formats and structures”. Database management is categorized by their basic structures, to some extent, by their use or deployment.” (Gartner)

• “Administration tasks pertaining to managing records, storage space and backups.” (Microsoft Technet)

• “A computerized data-keeping system. Users of the system are given facilities to perform several kinds of operations on such a system for either manipulation of the data in the database or the management of the database structure itself.” (IBM)

• “Different Data Models currently used to structure the logical view of the database: relational, hierarchical and network.” (Department of Computer Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison)

• Processes around “Sharing, storing, protecting and retrieving an ever-increasing amount of data.” (AICPA)

• “The monitoring, administration and maintenance of databases and database groups across an enterprise.” (Oracle)

Businesses Need Database Management to:

• Run business operations.

• Organize and track customers, inventory, and employees.

• Ensure adequate query performance.

• Keep up with “paperless” consumer demands.

• Store data of distinct types.

• Automate processes.

7 Essential Calendar Management Skills

1. Pick Your Calendar Management Tool - A Physical Organizer Or An App

Choosing the perfect organizer for yourself is key.

A book with sticky notes might work for some while others might have a penchant for a digital calendar app!

Although, the tactility of a physical calendar or organizer is quite simple - it comes at a price. It’s easier to forget and neglect what you’ve scribbled down in your physical organiser.

On the other hand, a digital calendar app lets you -

1. Set reminders for specific tasks

2. Update, remove or edit tasks

3. Access your organisation data easily

4. Save a lot of time!

Thanks to smartphones and technology, they’re quite portable too! This is not to say that physical tools for organising your work (notebooks, diaries and so on) are not useful at all.

Because let’s face it - physical or digital, the goal of the organiser tool is to help you manage your time effectively. What you choose depends on what you’re most comfortable with.

It’s just that the feasibility of physical organiser tools in the 21st century pales against the charm and practicality of their digital counterparts.

2. Use The Eisenhower Matrix For Calendar Priority Management

Choosing an organization tool isn’t enough – you’ve got to prioritize.

The first step to prioritizing your work is to break down and analyze the importance of every task.

To make this simpler, consider using “The Eisenhower Matrix”. Used as a priority manager, it helps build a priority management calendar. Beyond that, the security of your online manager tool should be your priority as well. For this purpose, you can apply various security system tools, like cooltechzone.com or some other similar ones. In such a way you’ll build your calendar having confidence in your Eisenhower Matrix proper system activity.

Important and urgent

This represents tasks that are important tasks and need to be done within a very specific amount of time. This normally includes tasks someone else has asked to do with a set deadline. You’re likely to have no trouble prioritizing and finishing these tasks, but make sure that you’re not confusing urgency with importance.

Important but not urgent

The Second quadrant represents important tasks with a slightly relaxed deadline. These tasks should be placed in the middle of the week. The tasks that fall into this category tend to be those that are important but have long term goals and benefits. This is where you’ll have the highest tendency to fall behind.

Urgent but unimportant

The third quadrant consists of the tasks that are urgent but less significant. Here’s where you use the power of “delegation”. Outsource the job to a colleague or someone more suitable. If the task is unavoidable try placing it in the later half of your work day. Try to consciously place distractions that seem urgent but have low benefits into this block - for example, you likely don’t need to be checking your emails and messages all day long, even though they feel urgent.

Unimportant and not urgent

The tasks here are those that are neither very important nor extremely urgent. Try to remove these tasks from the day if possible. This will give you more time to finish and help you singularly focus on the ones that fall in the rest of the quadrants. This is where most distractions can be placed - such as checking social media, non-work related conversations, and watching the latest YouTube video.

Now that your task priorities are set, you can begin arranging them for efficiency.

3. Start Task Batching

Task batching is about clubbing together similar tasks to save time and energy.

By grouping similar tasks together you get to singularly focus on one type of work for a certain amount of time - rather than spreading it out throughout the day and doing it haphazardly.

Advantages-

• Eliminate distractions

• Reduce stress

• Improve focus

• Saves time and effort

Try to use it along with its two distant cousins - Time Blocking and Time Boxing. Put the three together and you’ve got a foolproof productivity-enhancing system.

4. Calendar Blocking For Time Management

You begin by dividing your day in the form of blocks.

Every block represents a special task or a group of tasks that need to be completed. This process is also referred to as calendar blocking time management.

For example, a block can be assigned for just writing proposals. Every proposal you sent must be well researched and written without any typos. To save your time and effort on making proposals, you can use professionals’ help and buy essay papers to manage your work time efficiently. Here you are assigning a time interval for every group of tasks.

Every White line between tasks is a transition period. With the help of time blocking you can reduce it even more.

Advantages

• Reflect on the previous week’s deliverables to assess and plan better for the coming week.

• Make sure you get plenty of time to relax and unwind as well. A healthy mind is key to giving your 100% to everything that you do in life.

5. Start Time Management With Time Boxing

Although it sounds similar to time blocking, the concept behind time boxing is slightly different.

“Time blocking” means you set aside a block of time to do a very specific set of tasks. In that particular time block (or period), you don’t do any other task.

Your focus is to finish that particular set of tasks in that particular time block only. Whereas in “time boxing”, you allocate a fixed amount of time to a planned task. Once the time is up, you stop working on that task.

Advantages

• Sets deadlines for your tasks

• Helps avoid procrastination

• Helps deliver work on time

• Ensures equal priority is given to every task

6. Assign A Day Theme

If you’re an executive, chances are your day-to-day responsibilities differ throughout the week.

Every type of task will demand a different kind of energy.

For example, a webinar or powerpoint presentation will require a whole lot of preparation and energy. Therefore, there’s a lot of merit in placing such tasks after a well-rested holiday or break.

This will give some extra time for preparation if the executive wishes to prepare early. The exhaustion parameter will be removed here. Thus resulting in a more effective and better performance.

The meetings or the final sales for clients can be arranged at the end of the week. All the meetings or sales can be scheduled and tackled on that day.

Many CEOs and executives running multiple companies usually use day theming for giving fair time and attention to each company. This proves effective as it is more streamlined.

Grab our simple “Calendar Management Do’s and Don’ts infographic here!

Click here to get the "Calendar Management Do’s and Don’ts infographic here!"

7. Optimize Your Calendar

“Get Clear, Get Current and Get Creative!” - David Allen( Getting Things Done)

As rightly said in David Allen’s book ‘Getting Things Done’, we need to take a break and analyse the results of our “scheduling”.

To do this, follow these three steps -

STEP: 1 Get Clear

Review the past week calendar and look if something was missed out or needs a revisit. This will give you a perspective of ‘what to do next?’.

STEP: 2 Get Current

Analyse upcoming tasks and prepare for them beforehand. This will help stay updated and proactive. This will tell you ‘How To Do It?’.

STEP: 3 Get Creative

If done well, time management and calendar management will enable your creativity, not halter it. If you’re not managing your time well, you’ll find yourself occupied with the urgent tasks, whether they are important or not.

Follow this process until a highly optimized version of your calendar is achieved.

Bonus: Key Considerations For Any Calendar Management System

A very crucial aspect of monitoring productivity is balancing your work and personal lives well.

From this balance stems mental energy, positivity and overall well-being - all crucial to ensure a healthy working mind.

This is how you can create a personal and professional calendar -

Adopt a holistic approach

• Reflect on the previous week’s deliverables to assess and plan better for the coming week.

• Make sure you get plenty of time to relax and unwind as well. A healthy mind is key to giving your 100% to everything that you do in life.

Be mindful of travel and logistics too

• As executives and business-owners, travel could be an integral part of your work. Make sure your calendar and schedule accounts for jet lag and the corresponding exhaustion.

• Delegate more or take up tasks of less severity when travelling extensively.

Productivity Hours

• Every person has a specific period of time when he/she feels more proactive and therefore, is able to do more. Figure that time out for yourself – are you a morning person or a night owl? Do you not have a specific preference?

• Once you’ve figured that out, try to finish tasks that need the most mental energy during that time – as this is when the cognitive abilities of the brain are at its peak. Processes like data analysis or reports of audits are a few examples.

Rescheduling

• Understand there are going to be times when distractions could get unavoidable. You could get derailed from your calendar routine. Accept and move past it keeping in mind that discipline is key. Even if you miss some things sometimes, try to circumvent such situations as well as you can.

• If a task is not done in its intended time, reschedule it instantly. Do it before the day ends. Or do it the first thing the next morning. But make sure you reschedule it.

Buffers and Breaks

Taking breaks is a must. Don’t go about working around the clock like a robot. Because you’re not one!

You could schedule some phone calls or last-minute additional work during that time - but remember, not every empty slot needs to be filled.

Occasionally, these empty slots can be utilized to do many other things.

The point is to be productive - optimise the way you work. But nothing’s going to work if you’re exhausted or burned out. New Layout- The calendar layout can be changed at this time and redesigned.

After a hectic work run, it’s good to have a break or a small vacation if possible. This would refresh the mind and prepare you well for the next run.

Catchup and Revisit- If some projects or meetings were missed or not given enough thought, then this is the time to revisit those.

Reduce Rigidity

While following the calendar like a North Star, make sure that it does not start controlling you.

In times of mismanagement, you should be able to think and act calmly. Rescheduling some or the other task will always be an option.

Make sure not all tasks you do in a day are too important or too urgent. If some tasks have a tighter deadline, the next set of tasks shouldn’t be more relaxed.

“ A 40-hour time-blocked work week, I estimate, produces the same amount of output as a 60+ hour work week pursued without structure.”- Calvin C. Newport

Final Thoughts

Calendar Management is a skill to structure and optimize output.

All the aspects need to be carefully planned to avoid any imbalance in the system. Health and the ability to work well are directly proportional. If one goes down the drain, the other will too.

Key Takeaways

• Prioritize tasks based on importance and urgency.

• Work on similar tasks together.

• Block specific periods of time in a day for specific tasks.

• Keep analysing and adjusting the calendar to better suit your needs.

• Make sure your calendar does not impede your work-life balance.

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