C_ARSUM Ariba Supplier Management Practice Question
A supplier management administrator needs to ensure that when a supplier's qualification expires, the supplier is automatically moved out of an 'Approved' state and blocked from receiving new purchase orders until requalified. Which mechanism in SAP Ariba Supplier Management supports this requirement?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming a notification or registration status change will block purchasing, when only lifecycle state rules tied to qualification expiration enforce eligibility automatically.
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
✓
Configure the qualification template with an expiration date and a lifecycle rule that transitions the supplier to a blocked or disqualified state when the expiration is reached.
Qualification templates can define validity periods and expiration dates, and lifecycle rules can automatically transition a supplier to a blocked or disqualified state when expiration occurs. This enforces purchasing eligibility without manual effort, unlike registration status changes, performance projects, or risk alerts, which do not automatically block purchase orders.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use a supplier risk alert to notify the buyer when the qualification expires, and rely on the buyer to block the supplier manually.
Why it's wrong here
Risk alerts are notifications, not enforcement mechanisms, and they do not change lifecycle state or block purchasing. Manual blocking depends on the buyer acting promptly and consistently. This approach leaves a window where expired suppliers could still receive purchase orders, violating the requirement.
- ✓
Configure the qualification template with an expiration date and a lifecycle rule that transitions the supplier to a blocked or disqualified state when the expiration is reached.
Why this is correct
Qualification templates support validity periods and expiration dates, and lifecycle state rules can automate transitions when those dates pass. A rule that moves the supplier to a blocked or disqualified state prevents new purchase orders until requalification. This directly satisfies the requirement without manual intervention.
- ✗
Create a scheduled performance management project that reviews the supplier annually and manually updates the qualification status.
Why it's wrong here
A performance management project measures delivery and quality; it does not manage qualification expiration or purchasing eligibility. Relying on manual status updates introduces delay and error, and the supplier could still receive purchase orders between expiration and review. It does not meet the automatic enforcement requirement.
- ✗
Set the supplier's registration status to 'Inactive' so that purchasing documents cannot reference the supplier.
Why it's wrong here
Registration status controls the supplier's onboarding record, not qualification-driven purchasing eligibility. Setting it inactive does not automatically respond to qualification expiration and may not block purchase orders in the intended way. It also conflates registration with qualification lifecycle management.
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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 SAP exam blueprint
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