https://apurvashrey.com/tags/research/Recent content in Research onHugoenSat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400https://apurvashrey.com/blog/why-causal-thinking-matters/Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400https://apurvashrey.com/blog/why-causal-thinking-matters/<p>Suppose a retailer rolls out a new inventory management system across 200 stores. Six months later, stockouts are down 15%. The VP of operations is thrilled. But should she be?</p> <p>Maybe those stores were already trending downward in stockouts. Maybe the economy shifted. Maybe a competitor exited the market, changing demand patterns entirely. The 15% figure is real, but what it <em>means</em> is not at all obvious. To say the new system caused the improvement, you need something more than a before-and-after comparison. You need causal thinking.</p>