Maximizing human potential 4: Fueling open-source contribution beyond the workplace
At TIER IV, we are committed to our vision of making autonomous driving accessible to all. But achieving that goal means more than advancing autonomous driving – it also means continuously evolving the systems that support the people who create the technology.
Recently, we’ve been reviewing our policies and practices to create a workplace where employees can more easily embody our core values. Our goal is to create an environment where each individual can maximize their abilities, work in their own way, and collaborate with colleagues from diverse backgrounds while supporting and respecting one another.
This blog series offers a glimpse into how we are reimagining the way people and teams work at TIER IV. In this installment, Kei Shimizu shares the goals behind an initiative launched in October that allows employees to work on open-source development outside of TIER IV.
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What comes to mind when you think of side employment? People take on extra work for many reasons, such as skill development, career advancement, achieving personal goals, or earning additional income. As part of broader work-style reforms, the Japanese government has been encouraging such work, and social perceptions around it are changing. More companies are also permitting side employment as part of their talent strategy, seeing it as a way to support career development, foster innovation and offer more flexible work options.
Driving growth in the Autoware ecosystem
TIER IV leads the development of Autoware, open-source software for autonomous driving, and works to strengthen the community and infrastructure around it. Open-source software refers to software whose source code is publicly available and can be freely used and modified.
Within the Autoware ecosystem, companies, research institutions and individual contributors around the world collaborate to advance the software by sharing knowledge and technology. This collaborative approach makes it possible to develop autonomous driving systems tailored to regional requirements and vehicle platforms more efficiently and cost-effectively than a single company could on its own.
The continued development of Autoware is essential to TIER IV’s long-term success. With this in mind, we revised our internal guidelines to enable employees to contribute to the Autoware ecosystem through paid work, subject to prior confirmation that their core responsibilities and well-being will not be affected.
Through this initiative, we have created opportunities for employees to develop skills beyond their primary roles, while contributing to the advancement of Autoware. Rather than simply allowing work outside the company, the aim is to maximize the benefits for employees and TIER IV, supporting the growth of the open-source ecosystem.
Designing and implementing entirely new HR initiatives requires significant time and resources. However, TIER IV’s stance on side-employment is not new in itself. By shaping an existing idea around the company’s own perspective and priorities, the initiative has delivered additional value.
As TIER IV advances the deployment of autonomous mobility, we will continue putting structures in place that support our employees and the evolution of our technology.
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TIER IV is always on the lookout for passionate individuals to join our journey. If you share our vision of making autonomous driving accessible to all, get in touch.
Visit our careers page to view all job openings.
If you’re unsure which roles fit your experience, or if the current job openings don’t quite match your preferences, you can register your interest here. We’ll contact you when a suitable role becomes available and arrange an informal interview.
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