To improve data quality and avoid data skew, the data architect should create a picklist field with values sorted alphabetically for tracking shipping status on opportunity. A picklist field ensures that only valid values are entered and prevents typos or variations in spelling. Sorting the values alphabetically makes it easier for users to find and select the correct value. Data skew occurs when a large number of records are owned by a single user or have a single value for a field. Creating a picklist field with a limited number of values does not cause data skew, as long as the distribution of values is balanced and not skewed towards one value.