8 SAP MDG Interview Questions (With Sample Answers And Tips)

Updated 3 September 2023

SAP Master Data Governance (MDG) allows companies to define, monitor, manage and improve master data across different teams and departments. It provides an integrated database of customer, product and supplier information accessible via an intuitive, and flexible dashboard. If you are applying for the roles of a business analyst, business process architect, SAP consultant or other data management roles, the recruiter might ask questions on SAP MDG as part of the hiring process. In this article, we discuss a few SAP MDG interview questions and sample responses, and share tips to help you prepare for an upcoming interview.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are associated with Indeed.

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8 SAP MDG Interview Questions With Sample Answers

Here are a few SAP MDG interview questions you can expect the hiring manager to ask:

1. Can you list a few benefits of SAP MDG?

SAP MDG helps businesses improve the quality of their business information by using a centralised hub for master data management. The interviewer might ask this question to evaluate if you are aware of the fundamental benefits of SAP MDG.

Example: SAP MDG helps businesses centralise their heterogeneous systems into a single trusted data source. For example, you can create, maintain and distribute master data across SAP, and non-SAP systems. It also offers other beneficial features like automated approval workflows for master data creation. Finally, it helps businesses improve data quality, enforce compliance and reduce operating costs.

2. What are the two ways to deploy SAP MDG?

The interviewer might ask this question to evaluate if you have the technical knowledge and skills to deploy SAP MDG appropriately, depending on project requirements. You can explain the two deployment modes in your answer and give examples of when to use each.

Example: We can deploy SAP MDG in co or hub methodologies. In co-deployment, the SAP MDG functionality is deployed in a system we use for transactional processes like procure-2-pay or order-2-cash. In hub deployment, SAP MDG runs on a dedicated SAP S/4HANA instance that handles master data processes exclusively. The hub then distributes master data to the other systems.

3. How do you add comments and attachments to a workflow?

Employers often prefer candidates who exhibit collaborative skills that improve overall workplace efficiency. For example, the ability to add comments and attachments to your SAP MDG workflow makes it easy for your teammates to work cohesively. In your answer, you can explain how to add comments and links using the change request header.

Example: In SAP MDG, we can add comments, links and documents via the change request header. This makes it easy for the next user processing the workflow to understand the process. The system discards the comments added using this method at the end of the workflow. To overcome this limitation, we can also assign documents to the master data object. These documents are stored in the DMS and the system creates an archive link that is still available after the workflow is finalised.

4. What are the differences between SAP MDG and SAP MDM?

Master Data Governance (MDG) and Master Data Management (MDM) are two SAP solutions that help businesses maintain and manage master data. While these two applications might feel similar, they have distinct differences and usage purposes. The interviewer might ask you to compare two similar techniques or applications to evaluate if you have comprehensive knowledge of the SAP framework. You can use examples in your answer to clarify the differences between these applications.

Example: The core difference between SAP MDG and SAP MDM depends on how data is distributed. In MDM, the data is stored in one sub-system and is distributed to other systems from there. For example, a company might use the MDM to pass information from the ERP to the CRM when customer data changes. MDG makes data accessible to multiple sub-systems. For example, if you require customer information from both the ERP and CRM, you can use the MDG as it stores data only once, instead of maintaining it in two separate locations.

5. What is master data and what are its types?

SAP MDG helps businesses create a trusted, current view of master data shared across departments and teams. This helps to improve process efficiency and decision-making. The interviewer might ask a few fundamental questions like these to determine if you have a robust theoretical understanding of SAP MDG so that you can use it to solve different workplace challenges. In your answer, briefly explain master data and list its other types.

Example: Master data refers to the mission-critical information necessary for smooth business operations. It contains information about customers, employees, suppliers and other non-human resources, including products, services, assets and business locations. For example, product master data contains attributes such as product number, price, category, features, materials and other necessary data points. Similarly, asset master data contains information about the businesses' tangible and intangible assets like equipment, inventory and trademark. Maintaining an accurate, updated and reliable record of master data helps businesses make informed business decisions.

6. Can you explain the process of creating and managing master data in SAP MDG?

The interviewer might ask this question to evaluate if you have a thorough knowledge of various processes in SAP MDG. Provide a detailed step-by-step guide to creating and managing master data.

Example: The first step is to define the data fields for the master data. Depending on the type of master data, this can include customer name, address, phone number, vendor information and material description. The next step is to create a data template for each master data type. The third step is to populate the templates with master data. You can do this manually by entering information directly into the SAP system or importing data from external sources, such as databases or spreadsheets.

Once you have populated the master data, the next step is to validate it to ensure it is consistent and accurate. The next step is to get a business analyst or data steward to approve if the data is accurate and meets the company's standards. Once data is approved, the final step is to update and monitor it regularly so that it continues to be accurate and relevant. You can monitor data quality by using SAP dashboards or data quality reports.

7. How would you integrate external user groups into the master data workflow?

The interviewer might ask advanced questions like these to evaluate your critical-thinking skills. In your answer, you can specify that even though by default SAP MDG is not available to external users, there are a few creative ways to bypass this limitation.

Example: Generally, the SAP MDG is an internal application available only to employees within the organisation. There may be situations where trusted external users like vendors and suppliers require access to master data. In such scenarios, you can use dedicated applications like SAP Ariba or SAP C/4HANA to provide access to external users. Both these applications provide passwords and access rights to external parties to access master data.

8. Which SAP user interfaces can you use with SAP MDG?

As an SAP MDG consultant, you might also work with other SAP applications. This question determines your knowledge of the overall SAP framework.

Example: SAP MDG uses web-based interfaces based on WebDynpro and SAP Fiori. It does not have any GUI-based user interface. Users can log in to the Fiori Launchpad and search for master data or request changes to the master data. As SAP MDG uses the same authorisation concepts such as SAP ERP or SAP S/4HANA, you can see and manage only the master data for which you are authorised.

Tips To Prepare For A SAP MDG Interview

Here are a few tips to help you attend an upcoming SAP MDG interview with confidence:

Be prepared to share details about your previous experiences. Consider describing the modules you have used in past projects and your level of expertise in each module to help showcase your suitability, and relevance for the position.
Highlight your training or coursework. Employers often prefer candidates who have additional training in SAP MDG. Describe the courses and certifications you have completed to showcase your interest and expertise in master data management, and governance.
Review the job description. Reading the job description thoroughly can help you understand the role responsibilities, helping you structure your answers to suit the employer's requirements.
Use the STAR interview technique to answer behavioural questions. The situation, task, action, result (STAR) response technique helps you describe a previous challenge and elaborate on the steps you took to overcome it, achieving the desired results for your previous employers.