What is the purpose of exit criteria?

Exit criteria serve the essential purpose of defining the conditions that must be met before testing can be considered complete. This involves specifying the required outcomes or thresholds that indicate whether the testing objectives have been satisfied. By establishing clear exit criteria, teams can ensure that they have achieved sufficient coverage of the test requirements, that the necessary quality levels are met, and that any critical issues have been addressed before moving forward in the software development lifecycle. This allows for informed decision-making regarding the conclusion of testing activities.

Identifying when to stop testing is vital; it helps manage resources efficiently and ensures that the testing process remains focused and time-effective. Not having clear exit criteria can lead to either premature closure of testing or unnecessarily extending the testing phase, potentially impacting the project's timeline and resource allocation.

In contrast, the other options relate to different aspects of the testing process. For instance, determining how many tests to design is related to test planning, while identifying when to start testing pertains to project scheduling and readiness. Additionally, specifying who will carry out the test execution falls under resource allocation and personnel management. Each of these aspects is important in the overall testing process but does not capture the primary role of exit criteria as a mechanism for determining when testing is sufficiently complete.