Nicholas, a longtime hotel manager for Wyndham, was meeting with Sophie, a regional manager, and telling her about his recent decision not to fire a front desk employee about whom several guests had complained. Nicholas discussed the four stages of the decision process. He said, "I first identified the problem, and then I gathered alternative solutions. I evaluated each choice and selected a solution. I then implemented my decision to not fire the employee but instead to provide him with additional training. Finally, I followed up with an evaluation of the solution I’d chosen." Nicholas is using the ______ process.