The Release Status "Not Initiating" is designed to prevent new instances of a workflow from starting, while still allowing any existing instances to continue running to completion. This status is particularly useful during the workflow modification or testing phases, where administrators may want to prevent the workflow from affecting new records but need to observe the behavior of ongoing instances. By setting a workflow to "Not Initiating," it ensures that current processes are not abruptly stopped, allowing for a smoother transition during updates or maintenance periods, while safeguarding against the unintended impact on new records.References: NetSuite Help Center, "Managing Workflows"