On Tacit Knowledge in Academia

will not be enough. Any person entering a new group with the ambition of becoming a fully fledged, competent member has to learn to comply with its fundamental cultural rules. This applies also to academic departments. To function smoothly within the group of teachers, fellow-students and secretaries, the student needs a considerable amount of know-how. Most of it will be acquired slowly through the interaction with others and without anyone ever making a deliberate effort to teach others and without anyone ever making a deliberate effort to teach the newcomer the rules of the game. Nonetheless, failure to comply with these implicit rules will undoubtedly affect the student's standing within the group. In some disciplines and some departments, such a student will forever remain an outsider. If so, this may considerably increase his or her difficulties in making the grade. In other cases the consequences may be less serious, but they are bound to be felt.