C_ARSUM Ariba Supplier Management Practice Question
A supplier manager needs to update the qualification status of a supplier from 'Registered' to 'Qualified' for a specific commodity. They have completed all required questionnaires and approvals. However, the system does not allow the status change. What is the most likely reason?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that completing questionnaires automatically qualifies the supplier; however, the qualification process must be fully approved before the status can change.
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 qualification process for the commodity is not yet complete or has not been approved.
The supplier cannot be moved to 'Qualified' until the qualification process for the specific commodity is fully completed and approved. This includes all questionnaires being submitted and reviewed, and any required approvals being granted. If any step is pending, the system will prevent the status change. The other options are less likely because the supplier is already 'Registered', and permissions or tax ID issues would typically manifest earlier in the process.
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 user does not have the required permission to change supplier status.
Why it's wrong here
While permissions can prevent status changes, the scenario implies the manager has the necessary role to manage qualifications. If permissions were the issue, the manager would likely be unable to access the qualification process at all. The most common reason for the system blocking the status change is incomplete qualification steps, not permissions.
- ✗
The supplier's registration has not been approved by the buying organization.
Why it's wrong here
If the registration had not been approved, the supplier would not have reached the 'Registered' status. The scenario states the supplier is already 'Registered', so this is not the cause. The issue is specifically about changing to 'Qualified', which requires different prerequisites.
- ✗
The supplier has not provided a valid tax identification number.
Why it's wrong here
Missing tax identification would typically prevent registration or cause a data quality issue, but it is not a direct blocker for qualification status change. The system may allow qualification even if some registration data is incomplete, as long as qualification requirements are met. This is not the most likely reason for the blockage.
- ✓
The qualification process for the commodity is not yet complete or has not been approved.
Why this is correct
In SAP Ariba, a supplier can only be moved to 'Qualified' for a commodity after the qualification process for that commodity is fully completed and approved. If any step (e.g., questionnaire review, approval task) is pending, the status change is blocked. This is the most likely reason given the scenario, as all other prerequisites appear met.
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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
This C_ARSUM practice question is part of Courseiva's free SAP certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the C_ARSUM exam.