Workload type to be managed by a database management system (DBMS) is a key consideration in tuning the DBMS. Allocations for resources, such as main memory, can be very different depending on whether the workload type is Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) or Decision Support System (DSS). The DBMS also experiences changes in workload type during the normal processing cycle of the DBMS. It would be preferable for the database administrators to recognize the significant shifts of workload type that demand reconfiguring the DBMS to maintain acceptable levels of performance. Disclosed is a workload type classifier module, used by a DBMS, for recognizing workload types so that the DBMS may then manage or adjust its performance and reconfigure its resources accordingly. The classifier may be constructed based on the most significant workload characteristics that differentiate OLTP from DSS. The classifier is then used for identifying changes in workload types contained in a workload.