undocumented rules
[/ˌʌndɒkjuˈmɛntɪd ruːlz/]
noun phrase
regras não documentadas
1. Rules or guidelines that exist in practice but are not formally written down, published, or officially recorded in any official documentation
The company operates on many undocumented rules that employees learn through experience rather than training materials.
A empresa opera com muitas regras não documentadas que os funcionários aprendem através da experiência em vez de materiais de treinamento.
2. Implicit expectations or behavioral norms that are understood but never formally established or recorded
In software development, there are often undocumented rules about code formatting that senior developers follow.
No desenvolvimento de software, frequentemente existem regras não documentadas sobre formatação de código que os desenvolvedores sênior seguem.
This term is particularly relevant in corporate and tech cultures in both Brazil and the USA, where organizational hierarchies and workplace dynamics often involve unspoken expectations. In Brazil, navigating undocumented rules is often tied to the concept of 'jogo de cintura' (knowing how to adapt and navigate social/professional situations). In American workplaces, understanding undocumented rules is frequently associated with office politics and workplace culture. The term reflects the gap between formal policies and actual organizational practice.
NYC Slang
the unspoken game / the way things work around here
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