In this study of race relations, undertaken for the United States Navy, three attribution theories of racism are examined: racism of the individual; racism related to institutional procedures; and racism related to poor management training. Each of these theories corresponds to a specific intervention program which the Navy implemented to reduce racial tension and discrimination. The three programs are described in terms of the models of attribution of discrimination sources. It was concluded that if policy makers attribute problem sources to any one of the three locales, without allowing for changes in the institution itself, then a likely consequence is the generation of inappropriate intervention programs which can produce no change. (Author/RLV)