Correlation and Causation

May 17th, 2016

When overcoming obstacles do you know the difference between correlation and causation?

 

Today’s blog is by Margaret Stewart, Executive Assistant at SafeSourcing.

Have you ever wondered why some people find success while others don’t? Imagine there are two people doing the same kind of work, have worked the same amount of time, and work in the same area, yet one is far more successful. Now, let’s say one grew up in a distinguished neighborhood while the other did not. You may be thinking that that the one from a better neighborhood is most likely the more successful, but why?

People often associate a better upbringing with more success, which correlates to one’s ability to be successful themselves. Here is where correlation and causation become blurred. Often in our society, we deem that being raised by a successful community means one is more likely to be successful. But is it what causes success?

Now, what if I told you that of the two workers mentioned above, the one with the more successful business is the one from the less than distinguished neighborhood? You may be surprised because of how we correlate the two. One of the great things about our society is that there is often a chance for anyone to be successful, and coming from a disadvantageous background can cause more work, effort, and drive.

The case above is purely hypothetical, but demonstrates the difference between causation and correlation. Just because two things are correlated, does not mean one thing actually causes the other. Finding success can often mean seeking new ways of reaching people in business. This thinking outside the box mentality can help broaden one’s foundation, allowing for further reaching success. One underutilized example is the ever growing e-procurement industry. This industry can help businesses in multiple facets, including service, retail, and manufacturing industries. It can open up resources to areas a business might not even know is there.

For more information on correlating and causing success within e-procurement, or information about our Risk Free trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

http://safesourcing.com/ContactUs/tabid/60/language/en-US/Default.aspx

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