Quick Answer
The correct answer is an entity-relationship diagram (ERD). This artifact is the right choice because it specifically models logical data requirements by visually mapping out entities like Customer and Order, their attributes such as CustomerID and Name, and the relationships between them, such as one-to-many links. For a CRM system, understanding how customer data connects to other entities is critical, and the ERD directly addresses that need. On the Certified Associate in Project Management CAPM exam, this question tests your grasp of business analysis tools used in project planning, often appearing in the requirements management domain. A common trap is confusing the ERD with a data flow diagram, which focuses on processes rather than data structure. To remember, think of ERD as the blueprint for data relationships: Entities, Relationships, and Attributes form the core, just like the letters E-R-A in the word “era” of data modeling.
This CAPM practice question tests your understanding of business analysis frameworks. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A business analyst is tasked with modeling the logical data requirements for a new customer relationship management (CRM) system. Which artifact should the BA create to show the relationships between customer entities and their attributes?
A context diagram
Why wrong: Context diagrams show system scope and external interfaces.
An entity-relationship diagram
ERDs represent data entities, attributes, and their relationships.
A user story map
Why wrong: User story maps organize stories for release planning.
A use case diagram
Why wrong: Use case diagrams show system behavior from user perspective.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
An entity-relationship diagram
The entity-relationship diagram (ERD) is the correct artifact because it specifically models logical data requirements by showing entities (e.g., Customer, Order) and their attributes (e.g., CustomerID, Name) along with the relationships between them (e.g., one-to-many). This directly addresses the task of modeling data for a CRM system, where understanding how customer data relates to other entities is critical.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
A context diagram
Why it's wrong here
Context diagrams show system scope and external interfaces.
An entity-relationship diagram
Why this is correct
ERDs represent data entities, attributes, and their relationships.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
A user story map
Why it's wrong here
User story maps organize stories for release planning.
A use case diagram
Why it's wrong here
Use case diagrams show system behavior from user perspective.
Common exam traps
The trap here is confusing a data modeling artifact (ERD) with process or interaction models (context diagram, use case diagram) or agile planning tools (user story map), leading candidates to pick a diagram that shows 'what the system does' rather than 'how data is structured'.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Context diagrams show system scope and external interfaces.
Detailed technical explanation
An ERD uses entities (rectangles), attributes (ovals or listed within entities), and relationships (diamonds or lines with crow's foot notation) to represent data structures. In a CRM system, an ERD would define entities like Customer, Contact, and Opportunity, with attributes such as CustomerID (primary key), LastName, and Email, and relationships like 'Customer places Order' (1:M). This artifact is foundational for database schema design, ensuring referential integrity and normalization.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the CAPM exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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Business Analysis Frameworks — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Business Analysis Frameworks — This question tests Business Analysis Frameworks — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: An entity-relationship diagram — The entity-relationship diagram (ERD) is the correct artifact because it specifically models logical data requirements by showing entities (e.g., Customer, Order) and their attributes (e.g., CustomerID, Name) along with the relationships between them (e.g., one-to-many). This directly addresses the task of modeling data for a CRM system, where understanding how customer data relates to other entities is critical.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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