Salesforce Certified Data Architecture Practice Test

What should Universal Containers do to maintain data quality when tracking shipping status in Opportunities?

1. Create a picklist field with values sorted alphabetically.

2. Create a Master-Detail relationship to custom object ShippingStatus_c.

3. Create a Lookup to custom object ShippingStatus_c.

4. Create a text field and make it an external ID.

The correct answer is: Create a picklist field with values sorted alphabetically.

To maintain data quality when tracking shipping status in Opportunities, creating a picklist field is a strong choice. This approach ensures that users can only select predefined values from a list, which minimizes the risk of data inconsistency that can arise from free-text inputs. When values are controlled and sorted alphabetically, it facilitates ease of use for users and enhances the accuracy of reporting and data analysis. The standardized entries in a picklist help prevent issues related to misspellings, varied terminologies, or differing formats, ultimately enhancing the integrity of the data. This approach is particularly effective in environments where consistent language or status definitions are critical for operational efficiency. By using a picklist, it eliminates ambiguity, making it clear what each status means and ensuring everyone in the organization tracks shipping status uniformly. While other options like creating a Master-Detail relationship or a Lookup to a custom object can improve data organization and relationships, they do not directly address the quality of the data input for shipping status as effectively as a picklist field. Similarly, using a text field as an external ID would not provide the necessary constraints needed for maintaining consistent data quality in the status tracking.