To ensure consistent communication through the various communication channels, particularly at middle and senior management levels, it is essential that there are consistent 'vertical' internal communications. For example, the government party's contract management personnel must communicate with the contract director to ensure they have a common understanding of the status of the relationship, and are delivering consistent messages to their private party counterparts. If this is not done, differences in perspective may create or mask problems in the relationship. For example, the contract director may regard the relationship as successful, and be unaware of significant friction between junior contract management personnel and their private party equivalents.