Status  The first  of Protocol's concerns is for status or "face", the importance of which in personal or social terms has been stressed under etiquette. Face means an individual's self-esteem, general good image and social standing. Clearly, businesses wish  to give as much "face" to their clients as possible and avoid the risk that those from other cultures will  be offended by disrespect for their status

Procedures  With the objective of saving time and avoiding friction, Protocol is also concerned with procedures, not because one way of doing things is necessarily better than another, but because it is advantageous for everyone to follow the same rules- rather like driving on either the left or the right of the road but not mixing the  two.
.
Internally, businesses can avoid problems  of status and procedure by using Organization Charts and Procedural  Manuals without thinking of them in terms of Protocol.  International business, however, require some knowledge of that subject. Questions of precedence and procedure arise over such things as  correct forms of address, the order in which guests are seated, how flags are flown and so on.

When things go wrong     A classic example arose over the precedence of Ambassadors.  For hundred of  years, precedence was derived  from the perceived power of their state of origin. In these circumstances, how could one Ambassador give way to another without diminishing the status of his own country and facing retribution on his return there? For centuries, disputes arose and diplomats killed each other in duels.

The problem was eventually solved by international agreement at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Ambassadors would henceforward take precedence according to the date of their accreditation (the date when they presented their written credentials to the Head of the State to which they were appointed). 

This demonstrates a fundamental principle of protocol. Disputes should be avoided by reference to  objective, clearly recognizable and generally accepted criteria.  All other things being equal, one can, as a last resort, fall back on alphabetical order to see who gets the first place!

However, even if the criteria  are clear, what constitutes recognition and acceptance? Unless there is a clearly established international rule, as described above, protocol within any given  country depends on local rules and practice. These can vary from a  flexible approach, as in the United States, to very detailed legislation, as in some European states. On the political and diplomatic scene errors in protocol may cause embarrassment and disputes. In  a business context the more damaging results are likely to be the loss of valuable customers and potential profit.

Solution  In  protocol , therefore, the devil is the detail and you may often need specialist advice. Web Diplomat will be glad to provide it.  Use our telephone support line in urgent cases,  or let us know your requirements by web on-line form,  or through the e-mail link below.