What does a test strategy provide for an organization?

A test strategy is essential for guiding an organization in its testing efforts and ensuring alignment with business objectives. It outlines the overarching approach to testing, which includes a high-level description of the different test levels (such as unit, integration, system, and acceptance testing) and the associated testing activities that will be performed at each level. This strategic overview helps to establish the standards, principles, and practices that the organization will follow in the testing process.

By providing clarity on the goals and scope of testing initiatives, the test strategy ensures that all stakeholders have a shared understanding of what testing should achieve and how it fits within the overall development process. It serves as a foundational document that can guide and govern the more detailed aspects of testing, such as test planning or the specific test cases to be developed later.

In contrast, the other options focus on more specific, tactical aspects of testing rather than the strategic vision. A detailed list of test cases is part of the test design and execution phases, a step-by-step guide for executing tests pertains to test execution procedures, and a specification for automated tests would outline the technical implementation details rather than the high-level strategy for testing within the organization.