Marriott gained external unity by inviting customers to training events, encouraging customer feedback in performance appraisal (e.g., forms available to customers in every Marriott hotel room), and communicating with customers extensively (e.g. the Marriott Honored Guest program). When strategic unity--of vertical, horizontal, and external levels--exists, businesses may focus attention and gain competitive advantage. Hewlett Packard has allocated extensive executive resources to developing the "HP Way" as a shared mindset for employees, suppliers, and customers, and as a central element of its business strategy. When new employees join the organization, the HP Way is discussed by senior managers in training programs and in various communication efforts in order to create vertical unity. A host of social functions and cross-functional meetings are held to discuss core corporate values and future directions, thereby building horizontal unity. Hewlett Packard engineers visit suppliers and customers to build ongoing relationships and to create an external unity. Strategic initiatives are more likely to be accomplished when a unity exists; unity evolves from focusing HR practices on the desired (shared) mindset, resulting in a competitive advantage.