Insights on Data Architecture and Management Designer

Both Sharing & Visibility designer and the data architecture & management designer certifications of salesforce focuses on the data side of critical business processes and applications (Salesforce being one of them). Lets try and look at them independent of the certifications and how the knowledge areas can be related to any business application that one is working on. let us also look at this from a point of view of a senior leader, architect, and decision makers and how exposure to these knowledge areas would be helpful and enriching. As I always say that any certification is a by-product of the knowledge gained when interpreted in conjunction with your the experience.

As against multiple laws of science let us agree that data can be created, data can be lost, exchanged, destroyed, can be transformed from one state to another to generate insights, identify inefficiencies and indicate risks. Good and efficient use of data can influence both top and bottom line of a P&L hence it is utmost important to move the data from the liability side of a balance sheet to the asset side.

The important aspect of any transformation is the mapping the flow from the origin to outcome (As-Is). Compare it with best practices and benchmarks. Identify what best suits your need based on the business vision and technology vision related to their outcome (To-Be). Identify gaps and propose solutions (Programs and Projects). Hence it becomes important to understand the lifecycle of data as well which I have shared at the start of this article.

Most of the knowledge areas are well spread over one or a combination of these boxes. The Salesforce Data Architecture and Management Designer exam measures a candidate’s knowledge and skills related to the following objectives:

• Data modelling and data base design
• Master data management
• Salesforce data management
• Data governance
• Large data volume considerations
• Data migration

The detailed exam guide is available at this link https://trailhead.salesforce.com/help?article=Salesforce-Certified-Data-Architecture-and-Management-Designer-Exam-Guide

Suggested approach for preparation:

First, please do not look at it just a salesforce certification but from an enterprise architecture point of view with larger picture and the enterprise landscape in mind. Since the questions in the exam would be scenario based hence the suggested approach would be to relate everything to the real work problem that you would have faced and what could be the best approach in standard condition (not particularly related to your organization). The idea of test is to check your decision-making capabilities when presented with possible solutions with every selected solution having a business outcome.

Second, a retrospective approach is helpful. Relate this to your past work, the decisions that you took in the past and what could have been done better. You will find most part of the knowledge areas as something you already know and either have already done or are doing. The preparation will put everything in context and will provide an industry standard name for ref. Frankly, I was able to relate many concepts even to my first ever project which I did during my first job with Mastek.

Thirdly, while preparing keep the 5W and H model in mind while you understand any knowledge areas?i.e. What is the best solution, why is that solution correct. how do I implement it. Make sure to limit your thoughts to the scenario given in the question. Read and re read the scenario and understand every statement mentioned. Sometimes the best answers are hidden in the question it self or even a minor points changes the solutioning approach.

Fourth, look at everything in conjunction with the business processes and outcomes. And how your decision would help the organization in achieving it business & technology vision and objectives .

Fifth, follow the rule of elimination. Eliminate the wrong answers which is obvious (only if you are prepared well).

Last, do not aim for perfection while you prepare. Just a suggestion and I may be wrong since the price you are paying is high (see below)

Material and ref links which I followed:

1. Salesforce Exam Guide: https://trailhead.salesforce.com/help?article=Salesforce-Certified-Data-Architecture-and-Management-Designer-Exam-Guide
2. Salesforce Trailmix (33 hrs and 20 mins) : And I did finish it all ?? https://trailhead.salesforce.com/en/users/strailhead/trailmixes/architect-data-architecture-and-management
3. YouTube videos, Salesforce videos, webinars and blogs: There are multiple. Choose the order of topics that you want based on the exam guide. This may require 12-15 hours depending on you speed. I chose 1.5x

Practice exams: There are many available on the web and believe me most of them have wrong answers. The best way is to look at them, answer to your best efforts, maintain and excel for your answers, and ref back to the web, blogs, YouTube and salesforce documentation to validate. The only help you get is understand the pattern.

Time: In addition to you experience (which is in years) it would require about 2-3 months

Cost: In addition to your personal family time (which is priceless) it would be USD400 + Taxes

Caution: Attempt this only if you are an experienced architect and/or is an aspiring architect and has experience over large scale project (even as a team member is ok). Else the theoretical knowledge may not do justice when it appears on your profile.

Hope this helps, please let me know if it does and do reach out if you need anything else. All the best!!