Chapter 8. Integrating unit testing into the organization

 

This chapter covers

  • Becoming an agent of change
  • Implementing change from the top down or from the bottom up
  • Preparing to answer the tough questions about unit testing

As a consultant, I have helped several companies, big and small, integrate test-driven development and unit testing into their organizational culture. Sometimes this has failed, but those companies that succeeded had several things in common. This chapter draws on stories from both camps as it looks at the following topics:

  • Becoming the agent of change— The initial steps you should take before introducing any changes
  • Ways to succeed— Things that contributed to successful changes in a process, based on my experience
  • Ways to fail— Things that can destroy what you’re trying to do, also based on my experience
  • Tough questions and answers— The most frequently asked questions when introducing unit testing to a team

In any type of organization, changing people’s habits is more psychological than technical. People don’t like change, and change is usually accompanied with plenty of FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) to go around. It won’t be a walk in the park for most people, as you’ll see in this chapter.

8.1. Steps to becoming an agent of change

8.2. Ways to succeed

8.3. Ways to fail

8.4. Tough questions and answers

8.5. Summary