A database statement, such as a SQL text, reuses the execution plan compiled for a similar SQL text found in memory if the value of a system parameter is configured for cursor sharing among optimally shareable SQL texts and the SQL text is optimally shareable with the similar SQL text found in memory. Reuse also occurs if the value of a system parameter is configured for cursor sharing among all shareable SQL texts and the SQL text is suboptimally or optimally shareable with the similar SQL text found in memory. For SQL text that is non-shareable with a similar SQL text found in memory, no execution plan sharing takes place.