In my own experience, I notice that there is wide interpretation and discrepancy in what is commonly described as protocol or protocol services in the public sector. It is somewhat vague in its assets and executive role. An incoming visit to a city as part of a program of a state visit can be a good example of the wide scale of interpretation of protocol. In preparation, but even during the visit itself, too many protocol experts are involved. At least six protocol chiefs claim a role; those of the incoming head of state, the government of the incoming visitor, the receiving head of state, the government of the receiving head of state, the local (province) services, the cities governments. In this type of preparation, it is often difficult to keep track of the various backgrounds of the visit, but it all comes together in the focus, intention and the script of the visit. Bringing us back to the core function.

In government, protocol is mainly ceremonial and covers all habits and rules in what to say, do, how to behave, as it was created in royal households in Europe several centuries ago. As we all know, the prominent example is Louis XIV and his court at Versailles. But even today protocol's role is to make sure there is no chaos in prominent meetings and celebrations. It is a system of rules that explain the correct conduct and procedures to be followed in formal situations. It is the role of the stage manager in theater.

This trend is confirmed in literature. In an article in 1998, Erik Goldstein talks about the development of protocol and the shifting habits of behavior between organizations and the division between ceremonial conduct and the conduct of the relation itself. In An Expert's Guide to International Protocol by Gilbert Monod De Froideville and Mark Verheul, the authors write that protocol can contribute to diplomatic and business successes, based on the assumption that it focuses on the executive process.

To conclude this short exploration, I would propose the idea of governmental protocol as a high-quality event management. It's an executor of Strategic Relationship Management, and it focuses on the executive process.