hsano

Hatsuo Sano         To Japanese

Blog: A Blog on Trends in Business System Development(Japanese  only)

Areas of Expertise

1. General Salesforce (excluding component programming)

2. Architecture Design

3. Operational Review, Operational Process Design, and Operations Management

4. Business Design Based on Data-Oriented Approach (DOA) Data Modeling

Motto

1. Design with a Spirit of Hospitality

   • Balancing the perspectives of end-users, project leaders, and decision-makers.

2. Acting for Customer Success

3. Managing Operations as a "Project" and Providing Member Guidance

   • Establishing clear objectives and deadlines to create a sense of achievement.

My Perspective on Business System Development Today

In June 2010, I voluntarily resigned from a manufacturer-affiliated SI company after 27 years of service. The IT landscape is now filled with affordable cloud services like Google Apps, along with numerous free software solutions. Some tools enable systems to function without coding once the upstream design is completed.

However, despite these advancements, failed projects that result in losses of millions or even billions of yen are still prevalent. Various measures have been implemented to prevent project failures, but many solutions fall short. In the U.S., the approach is to break projects into small, manageable units and review outcomes incrementally (Agile). Conversely, in Japan, large-scale methodologies from organizations like NASA are being adopted under the name "formal methods," using checklist-based validation to minimize rework.

There are multiple reasons why projects fail, but the fundamental issue is that neither developers nor clients have a clear vision of the final system's operational state. While the functionality of the software itself may be understood, the critical aspect is how the system integrates with real business operations.

Agile is a methodology that emphasizes early and incremental verification of functional software. While it is a rational approach, its challenge lies in the difficulty of estimating the total cost and timeline in advance, making it hard for SI vendors to commit to fixed-price contracts. It is only feasible if the client’s IT department has sufficient technical expertise and workforce for in-house development.

Formal methods, on the other hand, rely on thousands to tens of thousands of checklists to prevent omissions. However, given their considerable overhead, they are only viable when there is ample time and budget. Though still in the research phase, the high overhead costs are a concern.

Even the most skilled system engineers (SEs) cannot guarantee a successful system merely by flawlessly implementing specifications. Systems often suffer from significant gaps between specification and implementation. From the SI vendor’s perspective, blindly following client instructions can serve as a justification, leading to the delivery of flawed systems despite recognizing their deficiencies.

A win-lose communication approach does not foster the creation of good systems. Engineers must go beyond the surface of client requests and discern their true needs.

I am convinced that adopting Salesforce is the fastest solution to this challenge. From 2011, I spent nearly four years at Salesforce.com as a pre-sales consultant, advocating its advantages. However, I realized that Osaka lacked skilled Salesforce developers, prompting me to transition back into a development firm.

I am available for consultations not only on Salesforce but also for broader system development needs, including facilitating connections to the most suitable experts. Please feel free to reach out.

Certifications

• January 2025: Salesforce Certified Data Cloud Consultant

• September 2020: Salesforce Certified Service Cloud Consultant

• July 2020: Salesforce Certified System Architect (Credential ID: 00015245)

• July 2020: Salesforce Certified Development and Lifecycle Designer

• June 2020: Salesforce Certified Integration Architecture Designer

• April 2019: Salesforce Certified Identity and Access Management Designer

• September 2017: Salesforce Certified Application Architect (Credential ID: 00002943)

• September 2017: Salesforce Certified Sharing and Visibility Designer

• July 2017: Salesforce Certified Data Architecture & Management Designer

• January 2017: SkyVisualEditor Certified Engineer

• May 2016: Salesforce Certified Platform Developer

• January 2016: Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder Transition Exam

• February 2014: Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator (ADM211)

• September 2012: Salesforce Certified Administrator (ADM201)

• December 2009: IT Service Manager (Japan Information Processing Certification)

• June 2007: Technical Engineer (Database) (Japan Information Processing Certification)

• December 2006: Information Security Administrator (Japan Information Processing Certification)

• Additional Certifications: Special Information Processing (1988), Network Specialist (1989), Project Manager (1995), Construction Supervisor (Analog Category 2, Digital Category 1)

Work Experience

• February 2017 – Present: President, NPO IT Study Banquet

• September 2015 – Present: TerraSky Co., Ltd. (Osaka Office)

• December 2011: Salesforce.com (Osaka Office)

• October 2009: NEC System Technologies (Secondment)

• April 2001: NEC Nexsolutions (Company name change after five-company merger)

• April 1984: Joined NEC Information Service (Locations: Senri Chuo → Hommachi-Kawaramachi → OBP)

• March 1984: Graduated from Kansai University, Faculty of Law