We can already see this with a social network like Twitter. Unless you are already famous, you have to give in order for people to follow you. The more interesting or informative you are, the more connections you will get. These connections will increase your social reach and inform you of things you did not know, increasing the possibility of serendipitous encounters. Instead of competing with everyone on Twitter, you are cooperating to make the network of more value to everyone. As our organizations move to network models, cooperation (freely sharing without expectation of direct recompense) becomes the best long term strategy for work.
Cooperation is the foundation for network strength and worker value!! "From today's perspective, one might say that everyone has to be highly competitive. But the long term effects of hyper-competition will decrease the value of any network. A value network consists of both tangible and intangible asset transactions. Trust is an intangible asset. It enables knowledge to flow. People do not share with those they do not trust. "