What does a history of observed outcomes show a buyer that a credential does not?
From MCC-001, an essay: a hypothesis, not a measurement.
The short answer
What actually happened when the participant was asked to deliver. The essay argues that a credential establishes identity and a certification attests to a capability, while a history of observed outcomes lets a buyer examine delivery itself.
As published in the issue
A credential can establish identity, and certification can attest to a capability. A history of observed outcomes lets a buyer examine what happened when a participant was asked to deliver.
The sentence above is quoted from the essay as published and is not re-written here. The essay, its date and the address it was published at are below.
Why it matters
Identity and capability are claims about a party. Delivery is an observation of it, and delivery is what a buyer is paying for.
Source
- Issue
- Machine Commerce Conditions: MCC-001 — September 2026
- Published
The terms
The terms this question uses are defined in the glossary.
Where our own record speaks to this
These are measured answers, each counted over its own population on its own date. This page links them and quotes nothing from them.
Corrections and disputes
Corrections to this issue are on the corrections register, and this answer reads from the record rather than from a copy.