Can you introduce yourself?

I am Juha Korhonen and I’m from Espoo, Finland. I have been specialising in testing for 15 years and in software test automation for 10 of those. I’ve been working at ALTEN Finland for about 5 years now, having started in Comiq, a leading specialist in software quality assurance and DevOps services, which then became ALTEN in 2018. 

What is your expertise and how did you acquire it? 

In my work, I am primarily focused on test automation implementation for software testing. I use Robot Framework, a generic open-source automation framework for acceptance test-driven development (ATDD), as well as continuous integration with the GIT repository. Additionally, several other members of the team are involved in supporting test automation implementation. 

In my most recent project, I used test-driven implementation when there were many test cases. Hence, test data is the factor. In a previous project, I used more ATDD once there was a different type of testing. 

What does a typical day look like in your position? 

I create and update/maintain automated test cases. Test automation runs are done daily or by request and are ideal for regression testing, as they are more efficient than manual testing. Test cases must be created and updated once the system under test changes. 

Once the test automation implementation is completed, my job usually entails analysing the test results and moving forward. 

Based on those given results, I can assess what in the system needs maintenance, needs to be updated, and if there are bugs to report.  

Can you tell us about one specific project in which you were able to highlight this expertise? 

In every project, we apply the latest and best expertise available. Additionally, knowledge and skills gained from previous projects are valuable for the current ones. Expertise builds over time, project by project. While it’s hard to pinpoint one specific project, the ones involving new challenges or innovative tasks contribute significantly to growing our expertise. Each project adds to our collective knowledge, enabling continuous improvement. 

What is the most challenging aspect of your job/area, and how do you approach overcoming it?

The most challenging point is that the systems in customer environments are slightly different. This poses limitations on what can be done. To overcome this, I’m using what I’ve learned from my previous project experiences and having insightful discussions with the people involved in ongoing or new projects. 

In what ways do you continuously seek to improve your skills and stay updated with industry trends? 

I believe that once you’ve gained enough experience, you are better equipped to find solutions for a potential new client. The best team to support any type of transformation is one where everyone brings their own area of expertise to the table! In this way, it is easier to learn, apply, and combine knowledge. You may even offer better solutions to future clients yourself. 

What aspects of our company culture do you find most motivating or inspiring?  

The best part about working at ALTEN is its work environment. People are welcoming, and once you begin working on different projects, it almost feels like you are working at a new job for each new project because they are all very diversified. 

If you could describe your work philosophy in one sentence, what would it be?

Once you start learning new things, you are able to move forward and help others through better approaches.