Operation: Managing amidst Complexity

Abstract

We examine the diversity of officials who now work in embassies and the ensuing challenges in pursuing a ‘whole of government’ policy, interagency cooperation, and in expecting ambassadors to function like chief executives; the role played by intelligence agents, defense attachés, and others; managing human resources; the growing importance of locally engaged staff, as well as the dangers of overdependence; the use of interns; and methods of grievance redress. We also consider how the major powers try to influence receiving states to change or pursue policies that favor the major power’s interests through advocacy as well as public diplomacy, in contrast to developing countries, which usually work within the system, and how such actions stretch the provisions of the 1961 Vienna Convention. We consider the complex management challenges for embassies and efforts to improve performance, applying methods borrowed from the corporate world.