What can occur as a result of lookup skew?

Lookup skew occurs when a lookup field in a relational database (like Salesforce) has an uneven distribution of relationships, typically where multiple records reference a single record. This situation can lead to complexity in data relationships because it creates a scenario where a single record is referenced by many others, which can complicate data integrity and make it more challenging to manage these relationships.

For example, if a large number of records point to one individual record, it can become difficult to make changes or enforce consistency across those relationships. This can also lead to performance issues when trying to query or aggregate data because the database may struggle with numerous dependencies tied to a single source. Hence, the complexity in data relationships is a key consequence of lookup skew, making it critical for organizations to monitor and manage their data structures effectively.

The other options, while relevant to various aspects of data management, do not specifically address the implications of lookup skew. Enhanced performance and immediate scalability are not direct consequences of lookup skew, as these situations typically arise from well-structured and maintained databases. Similarly, system-wide data retention improvements would not inherently result from the imbalances presented by lookup skew.