A method for implementing distributed database management system operations on a computer cluster. The method includes defining ownership relationships between a plurality of computers in the computer cluster and a plurality of data nodes in the computer cluster, wherein a distributed database management system operation can be directly carried out by a first computer only on those data nodes owned by the first computer. The method further includes monitoring database usage characteristics. The method further includes carrying out a re-architecture step in response to the database usage characteristics by redefining ownership relationships to improve the efficiency of the distributed database management system operations.