According to R.B.Cialdini and his colleagues, here's how the Fundamental Attribution Error plays out in everyday life:

If you've made a mistake, an error in judgment, or a bad decision, you should admit the mistake, immediately followed by an action plan demonstrating that you can take control of the situation and rectify it. Through these actions you'll ultimately put yourself in a position of greater influence by being perceived as not only capable, but also honest
...research suggests that if you play the blame game - pointing your finger at external factors rather than at yourself - both you and your organization will likely end up as the losers. p.123.

References:
1. Yes!: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive (Hardcover), 2008.
2. Lee,F., Peterson,C., and Tiedens, L.A.(2004). mea culpa: Predicting stock prices from organizational attributions. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 15:108-16.