Joe is a freelance consultant specializing in SQL Server scalability. The common approach to database performance tuning seems to be a laundry list of techniques with no unifying theme. Try random items until something works. Over time, one might develop a feel for what is likely to work in a given situation. This is art. Science is about knowledge. This starts with reverse engineering the details of the SQL Server cost based optimizer, and then developing a quantitative model for the true cost of SQL operations, until one can predict performance characteristics in advance. Joe has also develop several free tools (www.qdpma.com) for SQL Server performance troubleshooting.