Various techniques are described for improving the performance of a shared-nothing database system in which at least two of the nodes that are running the shared-nothing database system have shared access to a disk. Specifically, techniques are provided for changing the ownership of data in a shared-nothing database dynamically, based on factors such as which node would be the most efficient owner relative to the performance of a particular operation. Once determined, the ownership of the data may be changed permanently to the new owner, or temporarily for the duration of the particular operation.