What is the main risk if exit criteria are not met before test implementation?

When exit criteria are not met before test implementation, one of the primary risks is the possibility of delays in the project schedule and the emergence of unexpected quality issues. Exit criteria represent the conditions that must be satisfied before moving to the next phase, including the completion of specific tests or the achievement of certain quality metrics. Failing to meet these criteria can indicate that the product or feature has not reached the necessary standards for readiness, which can result in additional rework, prolonged testing cycles, or a need to revisit earlier phases of the project.

Consequently, this lack of compliance with exit criteria can significantly disrupt the project timeline, lead to resource contention, and create a cascading effect on subsequent activities planned based on the assumption that the exit criteria had been satisfied. Furthermore, without confirming that all defects are resolved and quality standards are met, the likelihood of undetected issues surfacing during production increases, ultimately compromising the product's quality perceived by end-users.

In contrast, other options such as increased stakeholder engagement, reduction in test execution time, and improvement in test accuracy do not align with the risks related to unmet exit criteria. They do not generally reflect the negative implications associated with inadequate adherence to quality assurance practices during the testing life cycle.