Another aspect of the "why work" bit perhaps would be the attempt to remove the anonymity that is liable to get in. As a company/project evolves and grows outward, participants are more likely to become 'anonymous'. Putting in structures that remove this undesirable trait also works as a motivating factor and, keeps ensuring that the employee finds value in participating.
Which is what I guess you write when you take the example of the Free Software and Linux world and tie in the recognition by peers aspect.
I find <cite> There’s a growing management pride in the act of shipping and not in the product itself. </cite> an interesting input. Especially because it perhaps lends itself to a further discussion. Around the concepts of whether 'shipping' as in the act of meeting a scheduled release time-frame does need to be underplayed when put in the context of the 'product' as in features.
Another aspect of the "why work" bit perhaps would be the attempt to remove the anonymity that is liable to get in. As a company/project evolves and grows outward, participants are more likely to become 'anonymous'. Putting in structures that remove this undesirable trait also works as a motivating factor and, keeps ensuring that the employee finds value in participating.
Which is what I guess you write when you take the example of the Free Software and Linux world and tie in the recognition by peers aspect.