Why Fraggle Rock reminds me of many Tech Companies
Let’s start with the Doozers! Always working behind the scenes and rarely in the spot light. Honestly, they rarely talked to anyone who wasn’t a Doozer. These guys (and gals) are your stereotypical Development shop. Throw in IT, DM, Engineering, and/or Networking for good measure.
Next up — Red Fraggle. Full of energy and confidence, always competing with the other Fraggles — Red is unique in that she is the only one who regularly interacts with the Doozers. And she is always ready to throw a good party. Red is clearly the Product and/or Product Marketing group.
Mokey Fraggle is your quintessential people person (er, Fraggle). She is a counselor to the others and always ready to assist with a problem. If your tech company has a solid HR department — she fits the bill. Otherwise, it must be an episode she didn’t appear in.
What can be said about Boober Fraggle? He is full of worries and rules. He has documents for everything and is always warning the other Fraggles when he senses danger. Finally, he is the one who handles all the laundry. Boober is Legal, Compliance, and Audit all rolled into one.
Wembley is a Fraggle near and dear to my heart. He is always engaged in epic decision making. Where should he go? What shoud he do? What other fraggle should he spend time with? Rest assured when the other fraggles get themselves in a jam, Wembley is there to get them through. He is clearly the Analytic team.
Ok, this one is too easy. Uncle Traveling Matt spends his time wandering the “Land of the Silly Creatures”. And although he often misinterprets them — he regularly sends back reports to his nephew Gobo. Uncle Matt is clearly the sales team. I wonder if he had an expense account?
That brings us to Gobo. The nephew to Uncle Matt, but not really a sales guy. He spends his time exploring close to home. He is bold and confident and always up to a new challenge. He is the epitome of Business Development.
There is another group of Fraggles that occasionally comes to town. When these guys show up, it turns everybody on their ear. They often cause more problems than they solve but there is always a lesson or two to take away. These Fraggles are known as the Consultants… I mean the Minstrels.
Finally, lets not forget who the Fraggles turn to when tough decisions need to be made. She is not exactly easy to get hold of and sometimes her answers are a bit vague. She is Majorie “The All-Knowing Trash Heap” and at the Fraggle’s tech company — she is the Exec Team.
“You are in the presence of… The all-knowing… Trash Heap! Nyaaaah!” Philo & Gunge
Originally published at www.linkedin.com.
