The 80-20 rule suggests that:

The 80-20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, indicates that a small percentage of causes lead to a large percentage of the effects. Specifically, in the context of this question, the principle states that approximately 80% of problems can be traced back to roughly 20% of the causes. This means that if you can identify and address these key causes, you can significantly reduce the number and severity of problems.

In practice, this understanding allows organizations to prioritize their improvement efforts, focusing on the most impactful areas rather than spreading resources too thinly across all potential issues. Effectively managing these vital few causes can lead to substantial improvements in efficiency and effectiveness.

The other options do not accurately convey the essence of the 80-20 rule. For example, linking problems to costs or occurrences does not capture the fundamental relationship between causes and their resulting effects. Opting to focus on trivial matters, while often necessary, diverges from the principle's emphasis on identifying and addressing the most significant causes that generate the majority of problems.