What is initiation in the context of software testing?

Initiation in the context of software testing is the phase during which the main parameters and objectives of the test project are defined.

Key activities at this stage include:

• Defining testing objectives. What exactly needs to be tested and why?
• Defining the scope of testing. Which components, functions, or modules will be covered by tests.
• Risk assessment. Identifying potential problems and uncertainties that may affect the testing process.
• Defining success criteria. What will be considered a successful completion of the testing phase?
• Resource and timeline planning. Determining the necessary human resources, tools, and time.
• Defining the testing strategy. Choosing approaches, methods, and techniques of testing to be applied (e.g., manual, automated, regression).
• Creating a test plan. A document that describes all the above aspects and serves as a guide for the testing team.

The goal of initiation is to ensure a clear understanding of the task, agree on approaches and resources, and minimize uncertainties before starting the main work on designing and executing tests.