1. Why is the identification of the real problem the first and most important step in the decision-making process? How does attribution theory explain mistakes that can be made as managers and employees work together to explain why the problem occurred?

Identification of the real problem is critical because it ensures that the group will be “treating the problem instead of the symptom.” Attribution theory suggests that individuals will tend to look to external causes to explain their own failure. This could bias the problem-solving process.