SF-Data-Arch Master Data Management Practice Question
A data architect at a financial services company is designing a master data management solution for 'Product' data. The company has multiple source systems: Salesforce, a legacy ERP, and a product information management (PIM) system. The architect must ensure that the golden record for each product is always the most trusted version. Which factor is most critical when defining survivorship rules for product attributes?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that the most recent value or the majority value is always the most trusted, when source authority per attribute is the key determinant.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The source system's authority for that specific attribute.
Survivorship rules must prioritize the source system that is most authoritative for each attribute. For product data, different systems may be authoritative for different attributes: the PIM for descriptions, the ERP for pricing. This attribute-level authority ensures the golden record contains the most trusted values. Recency, volume, or data type do not guarantee trustworthiness.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The recency of the attribute value across all source systems.
Why it's wrong here
Recency is important but not always the most critical. A recent value from an untrusted source could be incorrect. For product data, source authority often outweighs recency. For example, a PIM system may be authoritative for marketing descriptions even if an ERP has a more recent but less accurate value. Recency alone is insufficient.
- ✗
The number of source systems contributing to the attribute.
Why it's wrong here
The number of sources does not determine trustworthiness. More sources can introduce conflicting values, and majority rule is not always appropriate. Survivorship should be based on source authority, not volume. This factor is irrelevant to determining the most trusted version.
- ✓
The source system's authority for that specific attribute.
Why this is correct
Survivorship rules should prioritize the source system that is most authoritative for a given attribute. For product data, the PIM system is typically the authority for marketing attributes, while the ERP is authoritative for pricing and inventory. This ensures the golden record reflects the most trusted value. It is the most critical factor because it directly determines trustworthiness.
- ✗
The data type of the attribute (e.g., text, number, date).
Why it's wrong here
Data type affects how values are compared and stored but does not determine which source is more trusted. A text field from a PIM and a text field from an ERP can both be valid; the type alone does not resolve conflicts. It is a technical detail, not a survivorship criterion. It does not address trustworthiness.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Salesforce exam blueprint
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