squeaky wheel system

English

Etymology

Derived from the saying "the squeaky wheel gets the grease".^[1]

Noun

squeaky wheel system (plural squeaky wheel systems)

1. The strategy in organizations of only responding to filed complaints while ignoring known but unvoiced issues.
   • 1993, Jeffrey Pfeffer, Managing With Power: Politics and Influence in Organizations, Harvard Business Press, →ISBN, page 406:

     The problem with the squeaky-wheel system is that the production of the squeaking diverts efforts from other activities, potentially of more benefit to the firm.

   • 2013, “Schmitz Explains Squeaky Wheel System at Scott Lecture”, in Colorado Law‎:

     According to Schmitz, the "squeaky wheel system" severely limits consumers’ rights because it discriminates against consumers based on their socioeconomic status.

   • 2011, Margaret J. Shepherd, The Visionbuilders' Manual: 9 Steps To Panoramic Success For Your Company, Career or Cause, Morgan James Publishing, →ISBN, page 174:

     It's easy to operate on the “squeaky wheel” system too, focusing on what causes distress in the moment. It takes conscious effort to live a day of clear intention.

   • 2020, Leonardo de Oliveira, Sara Hourani, Access to Justice in Arbitration: Concept, Context and Practice, Kluwer Law International B.V., →ISBN, page 22:

     As I have argued, pre-dispute arbitration clauses have been particularly powerful in the US to perpetuate differential access to remedies and justice in business-to-consumer dealings, producing a 'squeaky wheel system' in which only the most sophisticated squeaky wheels are sufficiently proactive in pursuing their complaints to get the limited assistance, remedies and other benefits that companies provide.

Translations

Translations

Dutch: piepsysteem (nl) n

References

1. “Schmitz Explains Squeaky Wheel System at Scott Lecture”, in Colorado Law‎, 2013