A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to analyze sort options associated with an input table and a comparison table. It is determined whether a consistent sort can be performed by a first database associated with the input table and a second database associated with the comparison table. A first sort operation is performed on the input table at the first database and a second sort operation is performed on the comparison table at the second database when a consistent sort can be achieved. Sort operations on the input table and the comparison table are executed at a common sort engine when a consistent sort cannot be performed by the first database and the second database.