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[G75]Genetic And Environmental Factors
by Alexander Roulinski, Ale

For the last 140 years, scholars have been preoccupied with identifying the exact factors that influence one's IQ. The numerous studies on the subject have led most scientists nowadays to the belief that one's IQ is determined by a variety of both genetic and environmental factors, although there is contention about the exact weight of each.

The majority of studies on intelligence have shown that environmental factors account for about 25% of the differences in people's IQ scores. The factors that have been of greatest interest to scholars include prenatal development, nutrition, birth order, home and family environment, and the effects of schooling.

Prenatal development

Scientists have discovered many factors during a woman's pregnancy that could affect a child's cognitive development. Among them are:

… the mother's health, including her nutrition and smoking and drinking habits during pregnancy, her age and the number of previous pregnancies, the interval since her last pregnancy, blood type and Rh incompatibility of mother and fetus, her history of X-ray exposure, and her red blood cell count, to list a few (Jensen; 169).

Nutrition

Despite researchers' initial belief that nutrition played a significant role in a child's cognitive development, so far, there has been no substantial evidence that differences in nutritional habits have a noticeable effect on IQ, unless a child has suffered severe and prolonged malnutrition in early childhood.

Birth order

Surprisingly, statistical data shows that birth order can somewhat affect IQ:

Each successive child born into a family has, on average, a slightly lower IQ, by about .7 IQ point, than the previous born child… A parallel effect is found on scholastic achievement as well (Jensen; 171).

Home and family environment

One of the factors that many people attribute an important role to in mental development and differences in IQ is home and family environment. The latter encompasses variables such as:

… neighborhood, the number of rooms in the home ... the number of magazines and books, the parents' educational and occupational level, family income, whether private music lessons and dance lessons are given to child, membership in established organizations, and travel experiences (Jensen; 173).

Schooling

In addition, scholars have also examined the effects of schooling on a child's IQ. They have discovered that differences in school quality have no detectable influence on a child's intelligence test scores. What proves to be of greater significance is regular school attendance, especially in elementary school.

Genetic factors

Besides environmental influences, most scientists today believe that genes also play a part in determining one's IQ. However, there is currently an intense debate whether genetic or environmental factors are the deciding influence.

To sum up, science has come a long way in understanding the different factors that shape one's intelligence. However, there are still contentious issues that need to be clarified.

References:
Jensen, Arthur R. Straight Talk About Mental Tests. New York: The Free Press, 1981. 168-190.


A company that chooses to implement an international project is obligated to conduct a thorough research in order to understand if such project is viable and can be brought to life in a certain country. Numerous factors have to be taken into consideration and investigated; it has to be done objectively from the point of view of the host country in which business will be performed. Thus the home company can ensure the realization of the project in specified terms with regards to projected profits and spending funds.

While analyzing foreign environment companies have to pay close attention to various factors that will effect, or help if used efficiently, future success of business in a new economy. First of all it is necessary to carefully examine the firm's competitive position and understand if a project is able to bring profit in the global industry. Adequate financial resources, successful global ventures in the past, risk levels that a company is able to undertake and growing international demand are those few questions that need to posed before a firm can make any projections as to doing business abroad. There are also factors that are directly connected to specific projects and situations and that influence the outcome of the venture and have to be considered.

In case when a company is ready to start international project in terms of its internal situation, it has to study issues and challenges that are caused by macro economical and other environmental factors. Legal and political factors are essential for the implementation of the project abroad and each country has its own laws and regulations that could be of negative or positive influence which greatly depends on the nature of business. Economic condition of the host county is a core issue in deciding where and when project will be carried out and if it is feasible at all. Such environmental issues as GDP, inflation fluctuations and population growth have to be considered in order to comprehend conditions in which business will operate. Infrastructure and geography are among other factors that will affect the project or not allow its execution in case a host county has severe weather conditions or undeveloped infrastructure; for instance unpaved roads and no electrical power can easily fail the project in the very beginning and thus knowing such conditions is necessary. Security of the country in which project will be developed is essential as well, people make things happen and if they are in a dangerous environment it is priory impossible to do business. Workers who are knowledgeable about cultural differences in a host country are more likely to perform successfully as traditions and holidays can play a huge role in certain marketing campaigns and serve for the good image of the company.

Working in a foreign country requires a great deal of preparation and assessment of all possible differences that business is about to encounter. As was already said major role is deciding whether of not the project will be successful is comprehending macro environment of a new country. Studying its economical condition, security levels and infrastructure system is a core competence of a company who wants to be more successful that its competitors. In case when all of those factors are studied and considered advantageous for a new enterprise it is important to bear in mind that cultural differences can make all efforts void. Thus such countries as the United States must attentively analyze what changes have to be made in the business plan and what people are best suit for the its implementation. Often companies hire professionals already experienced in such ventures with foreign education who speak two or more languages. Those intermediaries who are familiar with host country's traditions and have social connections are great helpers in establishing a good image of the company abroad and in avoiding mistakes in a setting up period.

Selecting and training employees for the international project is very important for the future success of the company. Culture shock and coping with it are issues that have to be addressed to potential workers because people who cannot sleep at night of nervous breakdown are unable to work effectively. Consequently firms need to inform and train employees how to cope with cultural diversities and benefit from them to better manage in the new environment. Multiplicity of the factors that have to be thought through by the international project managers can be outstanding but successful implementation will be rewarded by monetary and personal contentment.

Article Source : Pg. 61

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Both Alexander Roulinski & Jeff Stats are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Alexander Roulinski has sinced written about articles on various topics from Education. . Alexander Roulinski's top article generates over 1300 views. to your Favourites.

Jeff Stats has sinced written about articles on various topics from Education Toys, Education and College Education. Jeff Stats is a staff writer at writing service Mindrelief.net. You can order highest quality custom college essay, term paper, and. Jeff Stats's top article generates over 1500000 views. to your Favourites.
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