Development-Lifecycle-and-Deployment-Architect Salesforce Certified Development Lifecycle and Deployment Architect (SP24) Questions and Answers

 The two deployment tools that will support the request are the ANT Migration Tool and VS Code with Salesforce Extension. These tools allow the developers to deploy metadata components from one Salesforce org to another, and also to maintain and modify the code locally in their own machines. Change Sets and Developer Console are not suitable for this scenario, because they do not support deploying to multiple orgs or working offline.

How to test existing functionality to ensure no regressions are introduced is a decision that the Architect should make when planning for releases, as it is part of the quality assurance process and helps to ensure that the new changes do not break the existing functionality. When to test a new UC feature release is also a decision that the Architect should make when planning for releases, as it is part of the release schedule and helps to coordinate the testing activities with the development and deployment activities. Whether Salesforce will wait to upgrade the pod until after a UC release is complete is not a decision that the Architect can make, as it is determined by Salesforce and depends on the release window and the pod assignment. How to roll back to the previous Salesforce release if there are issues is not a decision that the Architect can make, as it is not possible to roll back to a previous Salesforce release once the upgrade is done.

Pairing with the administrator and reviewing each change as it happens is the best way to handle the situation of discovering a Sev0 defect in production. This way, the architect can ensure that the changes are done correctly and quickly, without compromising the quality or security of the application. The architect can also provide guidance and feedback to the administrator, as well as monitor the impact and outcome of the changes. Denying the suggestion, explaining that only developers are certified to make changes, or calling the security team are not advisable actions, as they can delay the resolution of the defect, increase the damage, or create unnecessary conflict.

The deployment script will fail because the new field is not known for the previous API version 35. The Metadata API version determines which components and fields are available for deployment. If a component or field is introduced in a later API version than the one used for deployment, it will not be recognized and will cause an error.

The best deployment tool for UC to use to manage their deployment process in an automated fashion is the Force.com Migration Tool, as it is a command-line tool that uses the Metadata API to deploy components from one org to another, and can be integrated with version control systems and continuous integration servers. Option A is not a good choice, as Workbench is a web-based tool that does not support automation or scripting. Option C is not a good choice, as Change Sets are a point-and-click tool that require manual steps to create and deploy. Option D is not a good choice, as Force.com IDE is a desktop tool that does not support automation or scripting.

The development model that is optimized for this need is to use unlocked packages to deploy the global code and allow each country to create its customized unlocked package extensions. This model can help maintain the global standardization and consistency of the code, while also providing the flexibility and autonomy for each region to customize some aspects of the code for their specific needs. Unlocked packages are a type of second-generation packaging that can be created and installed using the Salesforce CLI or APIs, and can be upgraded or uninstalled as needed. Unlocked package extensions are a type of unlocked packages that can depend on and extend another unlocked package or a managed package. See Unlocked Packages for more details.

 To address the bug in production, the architect should recommend the following approaches: Investigate potential data impacts, fix the bug in a hotfix branch, and seek stakeholder approval for the hotfix. Investigating the data impacts can help assess the severity and scope of the bug, and determine the best course of action to mitigate any data loss or corruption. Fixing the bug in a hotfix branch can help isolate the change and avoid introducing any other changes from the current sprint. Seeking stakeholder approval for the hotfix can help ensure compliance with the regulatory requirements and governance policies.

Program team and executive sponsors are two user groups that an architect should recommend to join the COE. A program team is a group of people who are responsible for managing and delivering the Salesforce projects and initiatives. They can provide the COE with the technical expertise, best practices, and project management skills. An executive sponsor is a senior leader who supports and advocates for the Salesforce program. They can provide the COE with the strategic direction, business alignment, and funding support.

 The test class will fail and the developer will see a message stating: Methods defined as TestMethod do not support Web service callouts. This is because the test class cannot make a real web service callout, as it would depend on an external service that may not be available or reliable. Therefore, the developer needs to use the Test.setMock() method to specify a mock class that simulates the web service response. The test class will not skip the web service callout, nor will it make the actual callout. It is possible to save the test class without the Test.setMock() statement, but it will not run successfully.

 The Metadata API is mainly used for file-based deployment, such as deploying an application from a Developer Edition org to the AppExchange, or from a sandbox org to a production org. The Ant Migration Tool is a wrapper around the Metadata API, so it is not a direct use case for writing code to call retrieve() and deploy() methods. The Salesforce CLI (SFDX) uses the Source-Driven Development model, which relies on the source code as the source of truth, rather than the Metadata API.

Test classes should execute under various profiles to ensure that the code works for different user permissions and sharing settings. Test data must have positive as well as negative data to cover all possible scenarios and edge cases.

Two software development methodologies that an architect should suggest to solve the issue of visibility are Scrum and Kanban. Scrum is based on the value of openness, which means that the team members and stakeholders share information and feedback regularly and transparently. Kanban is based on the principle of making everything visible, which means that the team uses a visual board to track the progress and status of the work items. Waterfall is not a good methodology for visibility, as it does not allow for frequent communication and feedback. DevOps is not a methodology, but a culture and practice that aims to improve collaboration and delivery across the software development lifecycle.

The sandbox types that the architect should recommend for batch data testing are Partial Copy sandbox and Full sandbox. These sandbox types allow the testing of large data sets that are similar to the production data. Developer Pro sandbox and Developer sandbox have limited storage and may not be able to accommodate the data needed for the batch data testing.

The best option is to send a package.xml file with associated metadata in a .zip file to the Release Management team, as this will allow them to use the Metadata API to deploy the components to the production org. Option A is not feasible, as change sets cannot be downloaded from sandboxes. Option B is not sufficient, as the readMetadata call only retrieves the metadata information, not the actual components. Option C is not reliable, as the audit trail may not capture all the changes made in the sandbox.

The three benefits of using a partner development org over an individual development org in this scenario are:

• Partner development org has a greater number of licenses available for the team. This means that the developers can test their app with different user profiles and permissions, and also invite beta testers to provide feedback2.
• Partner development org offers higher API limit. This means that the developers can use more API calls to integrate their app with external systems or services, and also leverage the Salesforce APIs to automate their development and deployment processes2.
• Partner development org offers more storage. This means that the developers can store more data and files in their org, and also use more features and components that require storage, such as Big Objects, Platform Events, or Lightning Web Components2.

The other options are not benefits of using a partner development org over an individual development org in this scenario, because:

• Only partner development org supports managed beta testing. This is not true, as both partner development org and individual development org can create and distribute managed beta packages3.
• Partner development org never expires. This is also not true, as partner development orgs have a 12-month expiration period, which can be extended by request

 Generating a code review checklist to ensure consistency between reviews and different reviewers and conducting a review that combines human efforts and automatic checks by the tool to detect all flaws are two recommended practices to follow when conducting secure code reviews, as they can help improve the quality and security of the code and reduce the risk of vulnerabilities or errors. Focusing on the aggregated reviews to save time and effort, to remove the need to continuously monitor each meaningful change is not a good practice, as it can miss important details or changes that can affect the code functionality or security. Using the code review software as the tool to flag which developer has committed the errors, so the developer can improve is not a constructive way of conducting code reviews, as it can create a blame culture and discourage collaboration and learning. See Secure Coding Guidelines for more details.

 Sandboxes should be refreshed based on the needs of the project and the development lifecycle. Production is the only pristine environment, so it is a good practice to refresh sandboxes from production regularly to ensure data and metadata consistency. Integration sandboxes should be refreshed frequently, not rarely, to avoid conflicts and errors when integrating code from multiple developers. Development environments should generally be refreshed after each working feature has been successfully migrated, to avoid accumulating unnecessary changes and to start fresh for the next feature.

Kanban can help clarify whether value is being delivered to the business by using metrics, like lead time and throughput, which increase transparency. Lead time measures how long it takes to complete a work item from the time it is requested, and throughput measures how many work items are completed in a given time period. These metrics can help the business stakeholders see the progress and performance of the development teams, and align their expectations with the reality. Kanban does not respond to unplanned work and changes by dropping everything and jumping on the new request, as this would disrupt the flow and quality of work. Kanban does not make use of the Salesforce Agile Accelerator, as this is a tool for managing agile projects. Kanban does limit work in progress, but this is not the main reason why it can help clarify whether value is being delivered to the business.

C and D are the best approaches to develop customizations once and make them available in both orgs, as they use packages that can be installed and updated in multiple orgs. A is not a good approach, as it does not allow for versioning and dependency management of the customizations. B is not a good approach, as it does not support deploying metadata components between orgs.

The architect should recommend backing up the existing metadata using the ANT Migration Tool. To roll back deployment, deploy again to production using backed up metadata. This strategy allows the team to restore the previous state of the production org in case of any issues with the deployment. Creating a sandbox from production to take the backup of existing metadata is not necessary and may take longer time. Using destructivechanges.xml to delete new components is not a reliable way to roll back deployment, as it may not remove all the dependencies and references. Manually deleting new components is also not a feasible option, as it may be error-prone and time-consuming.

User centered design is a process that involves understanding the user needs, preferences, and behaviors before building the solution. This way, the solution can be tailored to the user’s goals and expectations, and increase the likelihood of adoption and satisfaction. Using Lightning Web Components, stopping development, or sending communication emails are not effective ways to overcome the problem of unused features.

B and D are the correct answers, as partner developer edition orgs and developer edition orgs are the appropriate environments for creating a managed package. A managed package is a collection of application components that are locked and versioned, and can be installed and upgraded in multiple orgs. A is incorrect, as developer pro sandbox orgs are not suitable for creating a managed package, as they are copies of a production org that are used for development and testing purposes. C is incorrect, as production orgs with LMA are not suitable for creating a managed package, as they are used for managing the licenses and subscribers of a managed package. You can learn more about this topic in the Package Development Model module on Trailhead.

 Refreshing a Partial Copy sandbox every weekend and including an appropriate sandbox template will allow UC to train the users on samples of production data and delete all the data generated during the training session at the end of the week. Loading data using data loader is not necessary if the sandbox template includes the relevant data. Developer Pro sandboxes have limited storage and may not be able to accommodate the data needed for the training.

 Using a Source Control system alongside a multi-sandbox development strategy has several advantages, such as performing code reviews before promoting to a pre-production sandbox, keeping a history of changes made by each developer, and creating a branching strategy that tracks each feature or change separately. Automatically deploying changes from sandbox to production is not an advantage of Source Control, but rather a function of a Continuous Integration tool. Acting as a backup in case of catastrophic data loss is not an advantage of Source Control, but rather a benefit of having a sandbox strategy.

 In the Metadata API, the External Object metadata type represents external objects. In the Metadata API, the Custom Object metadata type represents external objects.

A Port management tool is a tool that can support a project involving a large distributed development and testing team, by providing features such as requirements management, defect tracking, collaboration, and reporting. A Port management tool can also integrate with other tools, such as code repositories, testing tools, and deployment tools, to provide a comprehensive view of the project status and progress. A Spreadsheet is not a suitable tool for managing requirements and defects, as it is prone to errors, duplication, and inconsistency. A Code Repository is a tool that stores and manages the source code of the system, but does not manage requirements and defects. Wave is a tool that provides analytics and insights on data, but does not manage requirements and defects.

 Extracting each permission set, committing and merging to source control, and running through CI checks is the best strategy to bring the issue of failing SOQL statements to the developer’s attention earlier. This way, the developers can review the changes made by the administrators, and ensure that they do not break any existing functionality or security rules. Asking administrators to only make changes to profiles instead would not solve the problem, as profiles can also affect SOQL queries. Creating a sandbox refresh strategy to ensure each sandbox is refreshed every day would not prevent the issue from happening, as the changes made by the administrators would still be propagated to the sandboxes. Advising developers to switch to SOSL queries that are more robust instead would not address the root cause of the issue, which is the lack of visibility and control over the permission sets.

A suitable branching policy to recommend for multiple development teams that work on separate streams of work, with different timelines, is trunk-based development. This policy allows each team to work on their own feature branches, and merge them to the main branch (trunk) frequently, using pull requests and code reviews. This can help avoid merge conflicts, ensure code quality, and enable continuous integration and delivery. Leaf-based development is not a valid branching policy, as it is a term used to describe the nodes in a tree data structure. GitHub flow is a specific implementation of trunk-based development, but it is not a branching policy by itself. Scratch-org-based development is not a branching policy, but a development model that uses scratch orgs as ephemeral environments. See Trunk-Based Development for more details.

Integrating an agile issue tracker with software testing and continuous integration tools can provide the following benefits:

• Developers can see automated test statuses that commit on a specific user story, which can help them identify and fix any errors or failures quickly.
• Developers can use the committed code’s build status directly on the user story record, which can help them track the progress and quality of their work.

To track Salesforce metadata throughout the development lifecycle across sandboxes and production, the architect should recommend using an AppExchange or third-party tool that is specialized in Salesforce deployment. These tools can provide features such as version control, dependency analysis, automated testing, and rollback capabilities. Using an Excel sheet to track deployment steps and document the SFDX commands is not a reliable or scalable solution, as it is prone to human errors and does not provide any automation or validation. Using ChangeSet to track deployed customizations is also not a good option, as ChangeSet is limited in the types of metadata it can deploy and does not support versioning or dependency management. Using Salesforce SFDX commands to deploy to different sandboxes is a possible solution, but it requires a high level of technical expertise and does not provide a graphical interface or reporting capabilities.

An unmanaged package is a suitable option for deploying an application from a contractor’s own Salesforce to UC’s Salesforce environments. An unmanaged package allows the contractor to share the application code with UC, while giving UC full control and ownership of the code. An unmanaged package also does not require a namespace prefix or a security review.

The architect should recommend generating mock data that mimics production data shape and volume, and performing data masking on full sandbox after a refresh. These options allow the team to create realistic data sets for testing without violating the regulations that prohibit the use of production data in non-production environments. Requesting a partial sandbox copy after the next Salesforce release is not a valid option, as partial sandboxes are refreshed on demand and not tied to Salesforce releases. Using Query Analyzer in production is not a way to perform data volume testing, as it only analyzes the performance of SOQL queries.

The first step in establishing a governance framework is to identify the relevant stakeholders from within the organization to obtain their goals and objectives. This will help to define the scope, roles, responsibilities, and processes for managing the Salesforce initiatives. The other options are possible steps to take later, but not the first one.

The package development model relies on source tracking to automatically track the metadata changes in the package project. However, not all metadata components are supported by source tracking, and some changes may need to be tracked manually. For example, changes to profiles, permission sets, custom metadata types, and custom settings are not supported by source tracking. You can find the list of unsupported components here1. No manual tracking is required for the changes that are supported by source tracking, nor for the changes made via the Setup UI, as they are automatically captured by the package development model.

Creating transparency by being honest and clear about timing, planning, and obstacles is one of the Scrum principles, as it helps to build trust and collaboration among the team and the stakeholders. Delivering working software is also a Scrum principle, but it does not mean that the software should not be changed if it is working. Respect is another Scrum principle, but it does not imply that a developer should not test the software, as testing is part of the development process. Embracing change is also a Scrum principle, but it does not mean that the scope should change every day, as that would make it impossible to deliver value and quality.

Escalating and communicating to stakeholders the risk and mitigating it by allocating additional resources or extending the timeline of the project to support the new requirement based on stakeholders’ input are two actions that should be performed to mitigate the risk. These actions help to manage the scope change and ensure that the project is delivered with the expected quality and functionality.

 The best way to leverage the Metadata API to communicate the metadata components to the release management team is to use unlocked packages. Unlocked packages are a collection of metadata components that can be easily deployed and updated using the Metadata API. They also provide versioning and dependency tracking features that can help ensure the integrity and compatibility of the components. Providing a spreadsheet, a change set, or an audit trail are not effective ways to use the Metadata API, as they do not capture the full metadata information and require manual intervention.

The best option is to ensure the sandbox will be on the release preview, which means it will be upgraded to the new platform release before the production environment. This will allow the team to test the deployment in a realistic scenario and catch any potential issues. Option A is not ideal, as the staging and production support sandboxes will not be on the same platform version as the production environment. Option C is also not ideal, as the production support sandbox will not be on the same platform version as the production environment. Option D is risky, as the staging sandbox refresh may not complete in time for the go-live.

To delete metadata with a deploy() call, two things are needed: a package.xml file and a destructiveChanges.xml file. The package.xml file specifies the API version and the components to be deployed, while the destructiveChanges.xml file specifies the components to be deleted. The API version does not have to be the current one, as long as it is compatible with the components. The purgeOnDelete option is not required, as it only determines whether the deleted components are stored in the recycle bin or not.

The best way to stop the rollbacks from happening is to ensure report metadata is exported daily and that it is merged into the developer branches before the next release. This way, the reports and dashboards will be up to date and consistent across all environments. Using a third-party data warehouse is not a solution, as it does not address the root cause of the rollbacks. Removing the executive’s ability to change reports is not a good practice, as it limits their flexibility and autonomy. Backing up and reimporting the reports before and after the release is not a reliable or scalable solution, as it can introduce errors and inconsistencies.

The best way to ensure that tests execute predictably is to ensure that unit tests generate their own test data, as this will avoid any dependency on the existing data or metadata in the org, which may vary across environments3. Option A is not correct, as ensuring that Record Type IDs match both Production and Sandbox orgs is not a reliable way to ensure test predictability, as Record Type IDs are not guaranteed to be the same across orgs, and may change due to refreshes or deployments4. Option B is not correct, as ensuring executed Apex test run as valid users is not a sufficient way to ensure test predictability, as valid users may have different permissions or profiles across orgs, and may not have access to the required data or metadata5. Option D is not correct, as ensuring unit tests execute with seeAllData=true is not a recommended way to ensure test predictability, as this will make the tests dependent on the existing data in the org, which may not be consistent or isolated.

A workflow and a trigger are considered minor changes that do not require alignment with a Salesforce major or patch release. However, they still need proper testing, training, and change management before being deployed to production. Therefore, the architect should plan this as a minor release with training and change management.

Utilizing Heroku Connect to provide test class data is not a recommended method of creating test data in Salesforce, as it can introduce unnecessary complexity and dependency on an external system. Referencing data from middleware directly within your test class is also not a good practice, as it can make your test class unreliable and dependent on the availability of the middleware. Hosting a mock endpoint to produce sample information from an endpoint and loading a CSV as a static resource and referencing it in a test class are both valid methods of creating test data in Salesforce, as they allow you to isolate your test class from external factors and ensure consistent results. See Create Test Data for Apex Tests for more details.

C is the correct answer, as creating a custom metadata type and including this in your deployment to production is the best way to manage this deployment. A custom metadata type is a metadata component that can store important configuration data, such as custom settings, and can be deployed along with other components, such as Apex classes. A is incorrect, as scripting the deployment of all functionality via the Force.com Migration Tool is not a good way to manage this deployment, as it does not address the issue of deploying the custom settings that hold the configuration data. B is incorrect, as manually deploying and populating custom settings in production using a change set is not a good way to manage this deployment, as it can introduce errors and inconsistencies, as well as require additional steps and permissions. D is incorrect, as manually deploying and populating the custom settings in production prior to the Apex class deployment is not a good way to manage this deployment, as it can create dependency and timing issues, as well as require additional steps and permissions. You can learn more about this topic in the [Custom Metadata Types] module on Trailhead.

The recommended strategy for deploying a large volume of metadata is to identify metadata dependencies, create logical groupings, and deploy in the right order. This can help avoid errors and ensure a smooth deployment process.

 To support application lifecycle methodology, you need tools that can help you manage the source code, automate the deployment process, and track the issues and bugs. A version control repository is a tool that allows you to store, track, and collaborate on the source code of your application. A continuous integration tool is a tool that allows you to automate the deployment of your code to different environments, as well as run tests and validations. An issue tracking tool is a tool that allows you to record, monitor, and resolve the issues and bugs that arise during the development and testing phases. A database management system is a tool that allows you to store, manipulate, and query data, but it is not directly related to application lifecycle methodology. A middleware is a software layer that facilitates communication and data exchange between different applications, but it is not directly related to application lifecycle methodology either.

 The following issues could be affecting their deployment times:

• The number and complexity of Apex tests will have a large impact on the deployment time, as the tests will take longer to run and consume more resources.
• Some components such as profiles, custom junction objects, and fields take longer to process than others, as they have more dependencies and validations to check.
• Users are working in the org during deployment can affect users and the deployment, as they can lock records or metadata components that are being deployed, causing errors or delays.

Going to a single-org strategy can provide several benefits, such as lower administration overhead costs, improved Chatter collaboration across different business units, and easier to get a 360-view of the customer. Consolidating the business processes and unifying the data model among all lines of business are not benefits of a single-org strategy, but rather challenges that need to be addressed during the org merge process.

Mock objects are needed when writing test classes to simulate the behavior of real objects or external services that are not available or accessible in the test context. Using a Mock allows the test class to bypass the dependencies of other objects, methods, state, or behaviors, and therefore, the developer has total control of their own code. This is especially useful when the code makes an HTTP callout, as the test class cannot actually call an external web service. A Mock is needed to provide a fake response for the HTTP callout. A Mock is not needed for the classes that extend the batchable interface, as the test class can use the Test.startTest and Test.stopTest methods to execute the batch jobs synchronously. A Mock is not a shortcut for bypassing long running processes, as the test class should still test the functionality and performance of the code.

The most probable reason why none of the sandboxes can be refreshed is that the org has reached the maximum number of active sandboxes allowed by the license. Deleting the full sandbox used for performance testing will free up one sandbox slot and allow the other sandboxes to be refreshed. The Partial Copy sandbox is not the cause of the problem, as it counts as one sandbox slot. Creating a Salesforce support case or contacting the Salesforce Account Team may not resolve the issue in a timely manner.

 In the change set model, the source of truth is a combination of the metadata already in the environment and the content of your change set, as you stated correctly. However, a change set cannot be retrieved from the developer’s workbench as a package, nor can it be pushed into the version control system. Change sets are only available within the Salesforce UI, and they are not compatible with version control systems. In the package development model, the source of truth is the metadata in the package project, which makes it easy to integrate to a version control system, as you stated correctly. Additionally, in the package development model, the best practice is to consider the dependencies and build them into the package so it can be deployed in any other target orgs. This ensures that the package is self-contained and does not rely on external components that may not exist in the target org.

The architect should recommend creating two second generation managed packages with the same namespace and setting the methods that should be shared with the @namespaceAccessible annotation. This will allow the Sales team to access the specific functions of the Service product without exposing them to other teams or customers. Creating two managed packages with different namespaces will not allow the Sales team to access the Service functions, unless they are declared as global, which will expose them to everyone. Creating a managed package with both products will not allow the separation of the products and the control of the functions. Creating an authentication function in the Service package will add unnecessary complexity and overhead to the solution.

The advice that a technical architect should provide in a Change Advisory Board meeting is troubleshooting strategies for deployment issues. This is because the Change Advisory Board is responsible for reviewing and approving changes to the IT environment, and the technical architect should provide guidance on how to resolve any potential problems that may arise during the deployment process1. The other options are not relevant for the Change Advisory Board meeting, as they are more related to the requirements analysis, design, or testing phases of the development lifecycle.

The creation and execution of Release Management processes are the responsibility of the Dev/Build Team and the Center of Excellence. The Dev/Build Team is in charge of developing, testing, and deploying the changes to the system, while the Center of Excellence is in charge of defining and managing the best practices, standards, and governance for the system. The Steering Committee is a group of senior stakeholders that provides strategic direction and oversight for the project, but does not create or execute the Release Management processes. The End Users are the people who use the system, but do not create or execute the Release Management processes.

To reduce deployment time, UC can use the following strategies:

• Use recent deployment validations and the quick deploy feature, which can allow them to skip the validation step in production and deploy the changes faster, if they have already validated the changes in a sandbox within the last four days.
• Specify the test to run by using RunSpecifiedTests test level, which can allow them to run only the tests that are relevant to the components being deployed, instead of running all the tests in the org.

The most important factor to consider before recommending Performance testing is the number of concurrent transactions, as this will affect the response time and throughput of the system. Option A is not relevant, as unit tests are used to verify the functionality and quality of the code, not the performance. Option B is not related, as Apex Hammer failures are used to check the compatibility of the code with new platform releases, not the performance. Option C is not helpful, as debug log entries are used to troubleshoot errors and issues, not the performance.

The development model that the architect should recommend to be used by the consolidated development team is the package development model. This model allows teams to build release artifacts that can be tested and released independently from artifacts for other projects, using unlocked packages or second-generation managed packages. This model can help improve the modularity, reusability, and maintainability of the code and configuration, as well as enable source-driven development and continuous integration and delivery. The org development model is not a good choice for the consolidated development team, as it is based on working directly in an org and using change sets or metadata API tools to deploy changes. This model can lead to conflicts, dependencies, and governance issues, especially when working on multiple projects or with multiple teams. The change set development model is also not a good choice for the consolidated development team, as it is based on using change sets to deploy changes between connected orgs. This model can be slow, error-prone, and limited, as it does not support all metadata types, dependencies, or automation. The package development model does not allow packages to be created and deployed using declarative (point-and-click) development tools, without writing code. This is a wrong statement, as the package development model supports both declarative and programmatic development tools, and requires writing code to create and install packages using the Salesforce CLI or APIs. See Package Development Model for more details.

 A and C are the characteristics of an effective communication plan, as they enable feedback, collaboration, and transparency among the stakeholders. B is not a characteristic of an effective communication plan, as it does not account for changes in the stakeholder list or their communication preferences. D is not a characteristic of an effective communication plan, as it limits the information sharing and trust among the stakeholders.

This is the correct answer because Salesforce prohibits stress testing against production because it is a shared environment that hosts multiple customers and tenants. Stress testing against production may affect the performance and availability of the Salesforce service for other customers and violate the terms of service. Stress testing should be done in a sandbox or a developer edition org that is isolated from production.

 DOM changes introduced by a release can cause automated browser tests to need updating, as they can affect the way the browser interacts with the web page elements and the selectors used to identify them. New standard fields, metadata schema changes, and new Apex methods are not likely to affect automated browser tests, as they are mostly related to the backend functionality and data model of Salesforce. See [Automated Browser Testing] for more details.

 The change set performance may depend on the included components, especially if they are complex or have many dependencies. The change set may take more time than usual if it includes changes to permission sets and profiles, as these components require additional validation and processing. The change set may not take more time if it includes field type changes, new custom objects and fields, or other simple components.

Change sets provide an easy way to deploy related components, as they allow the user to select the components from a list and add them to the change set. They also provide a simple and declarative method for deployment, as they do not require any coding or scripting. Change sets do not provide the ability to deploy a very large number of components easily, as they have a limit of 10,000 components per change set. They also do not provide the ability to track changes to components, as they do not have any version control or history features.

The best option for UC is to refresh Stage now, and do not refresh UAT. This way, Stage will be on the preview instance and UAT will not. This will allow UC to test their application on both the current and the next Salesforce version, and ensure that they can release on the current version without any issues. Option B is incorrect because it is not necessary to check the Sandbox Preview Guide or refresh and redeploy to UAT. Option C is incorrect because it is too late to work with support to get on the preview instance after the cutoff dates. Option D is incorrect because it will result in both Stage and UAT being on the same version, which will not allow UC to test their application on the next Salesforce version.