There is nothing I love more than a good healthy debate about a controversial topic that I know is bound to cause opinions to flare.

This week I sent an article I read to a CEO of a local company whom I respect greatly and worked for directly at one point in my career. He's a talented professional who built a very successful business.

But there's one problem. He makes his entire sales team wear ties to work every day. And the worst part is, the majority of the time, they are not meeting face-to-face with customers. That's why I sent him the article by Richard Branson, a British businessman who is best known for his empire of companies under the Virgin name. The article was published on Entrepreneur.com on May 29. I came across it on my home page of Linked In.

Branson's views spawned some pretty aggressive back-and-forth between me and the CEO.

Branson focuses on the sometimes-hotly debated topic of dress codes in the business world. He refers to suits and ties in the office as “just another type of uniform,” and describes in a very candid way why he doesn't believe suits and ties are necessary in the majority of settings.

Branson's article is timely, and offers a compelling rebuttal to the old-school thought that ties are required.

It's fairly easy to make a good case for both sides of the argument. Even Branson admits he'll wear a tie to “ultra formal official occasions,” but at the same time points out that Tony Blair and President Obama are often seen tie-less.

So the question, naturally, shifts to the business world.

Are ties necessary? You might not be surprised at my answer: It depends.

Suits and ties are unnecessary the vast majority of the time. I work in a building where several of the world's largest technology companies have offices. And I can tell you that I have yet to see anyone at these companies walk the halls with a tie on. As a matter of fact, the vast majority of people are in jeans and casual shirts.

I am one who believes strongly in a professional appearance in any form of business. But the question is, what is considered to be professional appearance? This is where the debate begins.

If you are going to an interview, you better wear a suit and tie, regardless of the situation. If you are selling to bankers on Wall Street, I would suggest the same. And in most situations, you're much better off being over-dressed than the alternative.

That is always a good rule to follow. However, there is also a risk with being over-dressed.

As I pointed out to the CEO to whom I sent Branson's article, if you are selling something to a machine shop and show up in a suit and tie, you'll likely be laughed out the door (and get your suit dirty).

It's important to know your audience, and understand the expectations that people with whom you are meeting are likely to have. There is such a thing as going over the top.

In today's work environments, for better or worse, there has been a major shift away from wearing a tie to the office every day. The majority of companies I have worked with, and for, do not require a tie to be worn. However I do believe that in certain situations, those interfacing with customers should be dressed in professional business attire.

Suits and ties in the traditional office setting are becoming extinct. Regardless of how strongly you feel about the topic, it's important to understand and respect both sides.

It could be argued that ties are nothing more than a representation of a downward pointing arrow. It's not unreasonable to think that could be perceived as a subliminally negative image.

Thompson (cthompson@catch22solutions.com) writes Closing the Deal weekly for the New Hampshire Sunday News.