[mhale]

Actually, this was the topic of my thesis for my Master's degree.

Link: http://flowdelic.com/2005/03/03/learning-from-open-source/

Abstract:

In this paper, I study the workings of several successful Internet-based collaborative communities to identify what it is that enables them to succeed, even thrive, despite the highly-dispersed nature of their collaboration. This research reveals that while the practices and tools used by the referenced communities are important to their success, the most critical difference lies much deeper, in the economic-basis of their organizational structure. This economic mode of production, described by Yochai Benkler as “commons-based peer-production”, is studied to answer two key questions: First, does this economic model, in itself, encourage more successful virtual teamwork? Second, is the peer-production model of collaboration fundamentally tied to the open source model or can it also be applied in a commercial context to create proprietary products?

A key source for the paper was "Coase's Penguin, or Linux and the Nature of the Firm" by Yochai Benkler.

Link: http://www.benkler.org/CoasesPenguin.html

In this paper Benkler describes a mathematical model for human motivation, which accounts for influence of money. Highly recommended read.

Edit: fixed name typo