1. A method for executing a database query in a computer system, comprising the steps of: invoking a database query; automatically assigning a primary query execution strategy to the database query; executing said database query according to said primary execution strategy; automatically monitoring execution of said primary execution strategy while performing said execution step to detect a condition indicating that said primary execution strategy is sub-optimal; and responsive to detecting a condition indicating that said primary execution strategy is sub-optimal, automatically initiating an alternate execution strategy for executing said database query.