Not from perspective of design, but from open source software development.
1. Positive PR
2. External targeted contributions. For example, most people submitting patches to open source software are facing some issue as a user. If they are experiencing the issue others may also be experiencing similar problems. This is a much better way of driving development compared to doing it post expensive market research.
3. Marketing
4. Recruiting vehicle
5. Increasing the size of markets. For example Google is trying to bring more people online with Android to increase the size of search market.
1. Positive PR
2. External targeted contributions. For example, most people submitting patches to open source software are facing some issue as a user. If they are experiencing the issue others may also be experiencing similar problems. This is a much better way of driving development compared to doing it post expensive market research.
3. Marketing
4. Recruiting vehicle
5. Increasing the size of markets. For example Google is trying to bring more people online with Android to increase the size of search market.
6. Commoditizing complements http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/StrategyLetterV.html
7. Reducing the cost of training new employees
8. Increasing their influence in which direction to take the industry. For example setting standards for server hardware with Open Compute Project.
9. Free testers
10. Improving employee morale