mstapp

No, page objects (AKA page models) are a recommended but optional pattern in TestCafe.

We use them on my team because they make the tests more readable and keep us from having copies of the same selectors in multiple places, but you can easily use TestCafe without them.

Company culture is an interesting topic. Here's a link to another useful take on the subject from an agile coach's blog (not me). His formulation is that culture is "how we do things around here to succeed," which is from a book by William Schneider. http://agilitrix.com/2011/03/how-to-make-your-culture-work/