Sumitomo Heavy Industries CIO and Head of ICT Division Harada Kazuhiro (原田和浩) discussed at CIO Leadership Live Japan his view of IT as a driving force for creating corporate value, major DX initiatives undertaken in the past, and the future of IT organizations.
Sumitomo Heavy Industries Executive Officer, CIO and Head of ICT Division Harada Kazuhiro (原田和浩) regards IT not merely as a means of implementing and operating systems, but as a driving force for creating corporate value, and emphasizes the importance of continuing to generate value after implementation.
His past work has included manufacturing-related core systems, supply chain development, store-system overhauls and DX initiatives. In particular, he discussed his experience overseeing a comprehensive overhaul of a fast-food chain’s store systems, an initiative that took approximately 5 years and involved an investment on the scale of tens of billions of yen. He emphasized the importance of rigorous design, quality control, project management and communication among stakeholders, as well as making effective use of systems after implementation.
To build a strong IT organization, leaders themselves must continue learning with humility, while creating an environment in which people can act autonomously. He positions organizational transformation through collaboration between digital and IT functions across departmental boundaries as a means of optimizing the group as a whole and enhancing corporate value.