Problems have historical pasts and first need to be identified through facts. Causes of problems are often based on previous events and occur in the context of the existing environment and aura of their times. Frequently, team members are aware of the root causes of problems and can identify them quickly. Management-dominated problem solving, is more expeditious but less apt to identify root causes.

There are three types of problems. Deciding which type problem exists helps team members focus more clearly on the issue and provides structure to the problem-solving process. Analytical problems call for data, facts, and logical thinking; problems that need creative solutions call for brainstorming and imagination; and judgmental problems require intuition and policy. Problems represent a gap between an unsatisfactory current situation and a desired future state. Problem solving is a process used to proceed from the unsatisfactory to the desirable.

The end state, knowing when "we" get there, is determined through an evaluation and monitoring process where teams identify the causes, the person responsible for tasks, and the solution steps needed to reach the end state. Effective decision making is essential to the success of an organization. Effective decisions come from analytical thought and logic and dominate the intuition and experience factors. Early decision-making models emphasized top-down decisions by administrators and the use of logical, sequential steps to arrive at solutions.