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Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Future Psychology Essay -- essays research papers

The Future Many time periods have been interesting to those who were living in them. Things aren’t going to change overnight, even if they change rapidly. Some issues are enormous, fundamental and long-term, such as male dominance, social victimization, or urban sprawl. Meanwhile other critical issues play a smaller part, such as disposable packaging, youth crime, family arguments that lead into gunfire and screeching tires. Some things definitely must go because they affect our survival prospects like military overkill, dangerous chemicals, or fast population growth. Many matters are debatable such as alcohol-abuse, risky scientific research or biased nationalism. We might say goodbye to such things as war, secrecy, faceless social disaffection, and public powerlessness. Soon enough it could be goodbye to dangerous stress, tobacco, burgers, serial killings, muggings, and smog. Times change. Many of today’s accepted virtues might one day be judged as crimes against humanity and natu re, which leads to the question: What kind of world do you want to live in? Our ancient habit is to stumble backwards into the future. We feel that we as individuals make little difference, as if history and the future just happen at us. Obscure plans, which have guided people forward in the past, have now rendered themselves useless. There are no known maps to show pathways into the future. We’ll need to consider back to our hearts, common sense and basic human capabilities. We’ll need to consider the deep issues at stake and make deep choices about them. This idea of disaster is actually an aide. It activates resourceful survival instincts. The human race needs to change course. There are so many causes of large-scale disaster that it would need whole libraries to contain it. While there is no way of knowing whether such possibilities could become real, it is valuable to consider options and to make ideal adjustments, without fear, to help structure research and planning and to consider worst-case effects. We need to make a list of likely models and dimensions of disaster, to value responses to them and also values helpful factors that are to our advantage. This is risky business, but no government likes entertaining out in the open. Yet, it has been done secretly in and governments. We witness inhumanity, abuse, and scandals in dail... ...gically is not going to happen. Logic and rationality have become part of the problem. Interestingly, we come to this element of perception just as we approach the Millennium. The coming century is likely to be portrayed by multiple revisions and radical changes in social structures, human values and beliefs. Tragedies from the past, cultural frictions, withdrawal-flashbacks and exhaustion are also on the agenda. It’s likely that different parts of the world will go through different scenarios. Some parts rising to the moment and others going horribly wrong, but there could be a center of breakthrough going on, a process of giving birth to a newly, sophisticated civilization. There could be much more happiness in coming times. Possibly that’s what many of the young being born today are coming for. The link of world change lies with us now in our current societies and situations. Whether or not it is because it is the turn of a millennium, this keen situation nevertheless exists. Our options are dynamic change or acquired crisis. Destruction is not really an option. It is a meaningless end met before our time. It doesn’t make sense of our history.

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

The Fallibility of Man Exposed in The Bible Essays -- Religion Biblica

The Fallibility of Man Exposed in The Bible The story of the Golden Calf illustrates the inherent fallibility of man. It starts out when the people ask Aaron to â€Å"make us gods, which shall go before us.† Despite the fact that God had spoken to them just days earlier commanding them not to make themselves any graven images, Aaron doesn’t argue too strongly against this, immediately asking them to turn over any gold jewelry they have so that he may make them a figure of worship. This choice of material symbolizes man’s covetous nature, perhaps also implying that Aaron feared to go against God’s wishes directly, and so he chose gold in the hope that the people would be loathe to part with it. However, they readily hand over their wealth, which Aaron makes into a statue of a golden calf. In this too, Aaron compromises; while the people asked him to make them â€Å"gods,† he chooses to make a single figure, and states that it is the God that brought them out of Egypt. This concession is intended to sooth God’s wrath when he sees what the Israelites have done. The people seem to be remarkably unconcerned with Moses’ whereabouts at this point considering the fact that he just brought them out of Egypt and is leading them to the Promised Land. In this story they seem to treat him with a great deal of suspicion, stating that they â€Å"wot not what is become of him,† which implies that he’s abandoned them, and that they’re ready to move along without his guidance. This seems ironic, given that he is all that saves them from God’s wrath for this very incident. Upon seeing this idolatry, the Lord becomes enraged, and tells Moses to leave so that he may d... ...ll every man who played a part in the creation of this false icon, even friends or kin. This done, Moses returns to face God in hopes of prevailing upon him to forgive his people. In the conclusion of the story, Moses confesses to the Lord, stating that â€Å"this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold,† reiterating the prior thought that men were worshipping material values over God himself. Moses asks that God destroy him with the rest of his people if he will not grant them forgiveness, implying that the thought of god’s displeasure so disturbed him that he would rather die in hopes of averting this disaster. While God denies him this, he grants that those guilty of the sin shall only be plagued with misfortune, rather than destruction, as he planned earlier. Thus the people are given mercy, but not forgiveness.

Health Benefits of Namaz or Salah.

Namaz The Best Exercise (STD: V, VI, VII, and VIII) What is Namaz? Namaz is the Urdu word for Prayer. The Arabic word for Prayer is Salah. Namaz is the form of Worship of Allah S. W. T performed by Muslims. Namaz is one of the most important of the 5 pillars of Islam. Allah S. W. T has mentioned the benefits and the importance of Namaz as many as 500 times in the Holy Qur’an. Apart from the spiritual benefits that Namaz offers to Muslim worshippers, it is also one of the best forms of exercise that one can do on a regular basis. Namaz has been made compulsory for Muslims 5 times daily the five times are: Fajr: Early morning just before sunrise. It consists of 4 Rakats. Zuhar:: Afternoon paryers post the period of Zawaal (when sun is perpendicular to earth). It consists of 12 Rakats. Asar:: Post afternoon and before Sunset. It consists of 8 Rakats. Maghrib: Just after Sunset. It consists of 7 Rakats. Isha: Late evening after the Sunset is complete and darkness of the night is complete and the cooling effect of the atmosphere begins. It consists of 17 Rakats A Rakat is one complete cycle of Standing, Bending, Prostrations and subsequent Sitting or Standing up again in the Namaz. Each posture of the Namaz has a standard defined procedure and recitations that are observed by every Muslim irrespective of where he lives or what race he belongs to. Muslims follow the methods as taught to us by Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu-Alaihi-Wasallam). Praying Namaz requires one to be clean in all respects, be it’s the physical self, the surroundings or the intent. No matter how hard a person prays or for how long he lies in prostration (Sajda), unless his intention are clean and motives selfless, the Namaz will not be accepted by Allah. It is required that a person ensures the surrounding is clean and free from sins where he intends to offer Namaz. The Prophet (Sallallahu-Alaihi-Wasallam) advised that except for the washroom or where one relieves himself and the graveyard, Allah has made the whole world as a place of worship for his believers. Namaz makes us disciplined and brings feeling of regularity and gives a direction to our daily life, 5 times a day, if we make it a routine to get up on hearing the Azaan, do the Wuzu (ablutions) and head for prayers, either in a congregation or alone, we feel a sense of Time Management in our daily chores. Interestingly there are various similarities between some of the postures of Namaz and Yoga! Now let us see some beneficial effects of different Namaz postures. Different Namaz Postures And Their Benefits: Posture 1 Name: Niyyat (Takbeer-e-Tahreema) First Takbeer in standing position to begin prayer Instructions: Bring hands, palms open, up to ears, and place thumbs behind earlobes, as â€Å"Allahu Akbar† (God is Great) is uttered. Beneficial Effects: It relaxes our body, straightening back improves posture and improves concentration. It also sharpens our vision by focusing on the floor. Posture 2 Name: Quayam Instructions: After you have touched your earlobes and said Takbeer bring down your hands and place your hands below the navel In this posture your sight should be fixed where you are going to perform Sajdah (Prostration), Place right wrist over the left, Wrap your left wrist with the thumb and the little finger. Rest the remaining fingers on the left forearm; Make sure your hands are tied below the navel, Beneficial Effects: It relaxes legs and back and extends concentration. It stimulates heart, thyroid and other important function of our body. Posture 3 Name: Ruku' (pronounced Rukoo) Instructions: Bend down at waist, placing palms of hands with fingers spread over knees. Back is parallel to ground, such that if a glass of water were on the back, it would not spill. Eyes looking down, directly ahead. Beneficial Effects: Blood is pumped down into upper torso as our muscles are stretched it also tones our muscles. This posture improves personality, generating sweet kindness and inner harmony. Posture 4 Name: Qauma Instructions: Stand straight again with you hands by your sides Beneficial Effects: It relaxes body and releases tension. Posture 5 Name: Sajdah Instructions: Go down to a kneeling position by placing both hands on knees, lowering oneself slowly and easily onto knees, then touch the head upon the ground so that the following seven body parts are in contact: forehead, two palms, two knees, toes of both feet. The end position of this posture is given below. Beneficial Effects: It prevents growth of flabbiness in the mid section and increase flow of blood in the head, including eyes, ears, nose and lungs; allows mental toxins to be cleansed by blood. It increases elasticity of joints. Posture 6 Name: Jalsa Instructions: Sit on your left foot which should be flat the ground, keep your right foot upright with toes faceing the Qiblah and place your hands near the knees in a manner that the fingers face the Qiblah Beneficial Effects: It cleanses respiratory, circulatory and nervous system and brings lightness in body and emotional happiness. Posture 7 Name: Second Sajdah Instructions: Go down to a kneeling position by placing both hands on knees, lowering oneself slowly and easily onto knees, then touch the head upon the ground so that the following seven body parts are in contact: forehead, two palms, two knees, toes of both feet. The end position of this posture is given below. Beneficial Effects: It prevents growth of flabbiness in the mid section and increase flow of blood in the head which allows mental toxin to be cleansed by the blood. It increases elasticity of joints. Posture 8 Name: Quood (Qa'dah-e-Akhira) Last sitting Completing the Salat: Beneficial Effects: It detoxifies liver and stimulates action of large intestine. It improves digestion. Posture 9 Name:Salaam Saying peace to end the Namaz Instructions: Turn your head to the right shoulder and say Salam, then turn your head to the left and say Salaam Beneficial Effects: It is one of the best neck exercises. http://www. janathimessage. co. uk/kids/learning/namaz. html www. chishti. org Namaz The Best Exercise (STD: I, II, III, and IV) Muslims pray five times a day, which each prayer made of a series of postures and movements, each set of which is called a rak'ah. For praying Namaz we should not only keep ourselves clean but our surroundings and the place of worship should also be clean. Namaz teaches us to be disciplined and understand the importance of Time Management. It is the perfect combination of Ablution (Wudu) and Namaz that keeps our soul and body clean and healthy. Interestingly there are various similarities between some of the postures of Namaz and Yoga! Now let us see some beneficial effects of different Namaz postures. Posture 1 Name: Niyyat (Takbeer-e-Tahreema) Beneficial Effects: It relaxes our body, straightening back. It also sharpens our vision by focusing on the floor. Posture 2 Name: Quayam Beneficial Effects: It relaxes legs and back and extends concentration. Posture 3 Name: Ruku' (pronounced Rukoo) Beneficial Effects: Blood is pumped down into upper torso as our muscles are stretched it also tones our muscles. This posture improves personality, generating sweet kindness and inner harmony. Posture 4 Name: Qauma Beneficial Effects: It relaxes body and releases tension. Posture 5 Name: Sajdah Beneficial Effects: It increase flow of blood in the head, including eyes, ears, nose and lungs; allows mental toxins to be cleansed by blood. It increases elasticity of joints. Posture 6 Name: Jalsa Beneficial Effects: It cleanses respiratory, circulatory and nervous system and brings lightness in body and emotional happiness. Posture 7 Name: Second Sajdah Beneficial Effects: Knees forming a right angle allow stomach muscles to be developed. Posture 8 Name: Quood (Qa'dah-e-Akhira) Beneficial Effects: It improves digestion. Posture 9 Name:Salaam Saying peace to end the Namaz Beneficial Effects: It is one of the best neck exercises. http://www. janathimessage. co. uk/kids/learning/namaz. html www. chishti. org

Monday, September 30, 2019

Beowulf Assignment Essay

1) Leslie Webster: Archaeology and Beowulf 2) There are many difficulties incorporated throughout Beowulf which challenge the modern day reader but which are also significant factors in the overall literary experience of the text. One of the main challenges that presents itself, according to 1925 Watt and Chambers, is the translation of Beowulf, the oldest English epic, from archaic Anglo-Saxon English into modern day English, applied with the reader’s already established, own contemporary knowledge and conceptions of the language. Leslie Webster declares it is also possible to be led into a manifold of misinterpretations when combining the important elements of poetic description, complex historical features and archaeological accounts along with our own current preconceptions. For example, it could be seen as an advantage for the reader to have an academic knowledge of early medieval north-western Europe prior to reading Beowulf. However, Webster argues that this may very well act as a disadvantage, since this could influence and shape the reader’s comprehension of the poem as they try to apply and relate their own knowledge to the text. This will cause difficulties for the reader in understanding when the poetic description does not correspond with their knowledge of hard archaeological facts. Webster claims that archaeology is a ‘fragile and incomplete witness’ and can therefore not to be entirely accepted as truth. The reality is there is no firm evidence therefore only conjectures can be made about what really occurred in the past. Furthermore, over centuries various archaeologists and editors have interpreted Beowulf differently and this indicates that the accuracy of the translation and its criticisms are questionable, consequently adding difficulty to our understanding of the text. The most apparent complication of Beowulf however, is understanding the significance of material possessions in the warrior culture during its time. They collected their spears in a seafarers’ stook, a stand of grayish tampering ash. And the troops themselves were as good as their weapons. (323-331) Physical objects such as weapons and armour are explicitly referred to continuously and consistently throughout the text and are obviously one of its most prominent features. This is difficult and unusual for the reader because in today’s society a person’s worth is not usually marked by their weaponry. 2 3) Leslie Webster’s essay helps the reader grasp the concepts of Beowulf by expressing it as ‘a poem, not an archaeological textbook.’ The carefully constructed poetic descriptions should therefore not always be taken literally word for word, but be looked upon as a symbolic story or moral for the respective audience of its time. Webster articulates in order to understand this text it is vital to put our own leaning preconceptions aside and study the differing forms of evidence with consideration. We must realise Beowulf is set in the past for this is important in perceiving that Anglo-Saxons’ history played a huge role in their lives and governed the way in which they lived. This is demonstrated in the text by repeated references to ancestors, heirlooms and legends. My lord, the conquering king of the Danes, bids me announce that he knows your ancestry; also that he welcomes you here to Heorot and salutes your arrival from across the sea. (391-394) During Anglo-Saxon times, the nature of a person’s ancestry judged their character and how they were treated in society. Beowulf was son of Ecgtheow, the later King of the Geats and was consequently a well respected, trusted and admired individual. The endless kennings can be confusing but one of its benefits is helping the reader remember the character’s ancestry and hence, their value in society. To a modern day reader monsters and legends are considered to be allegories or fables but Webster distinguishes that they are not uncommon to the Anglo-Saxons and were a normal part of life. We must accept this if we want the poem’s real meaning to be revealed. Beowulf is from an entirely different cultural context and we distinguish between the two realms of fiction and nonfiction by our innate ability to decouple. Although Heaney has brought in modern day equivalents in translating Anglo-Saxon English into Ulster English for the modern day reader to interpret and relate to, it is still not strictly precise and inevitably some of the previous, intentional meaning is lost. Webster’s distinct descriptions of weaponry also aid the reader into understanding the status of a character and this is not uncommon in archaeological contexts. Only a character of the highest status could manage to own the best defence weapons for the great time, effort and money involved in making them. However, Webster is undecided whether the difference between the highest/lowest characters is a fictional, poetic convention or if it resembles genuine, Anglo-Saxon rank divisions. 3 4) I have decided that Leslie Webster’s essay does solve the problem of difficulties involved throughout the text however, I believe these difficulties are also an important factor in achieving its literary effects. It could be said that the reader’s most eminent obstacle is attempting to connect with the old fashioned language and unfamiliarity of Anglo-Saxon attitudes and ways of life. In Heaney’s translation the reader is given the opportunity to get a real insight into what the Anglo-Saxons were like because of the language he uses. In addition to this, once this concept is understood, the language used becomes an authentic literal exercise for which understanding the text becomes all the more pleasurable and appreciated. If the carefully constructed, poetic descriptions were easy and effortless for us to comprehend then this would cause the whole meaning, purpose and originality of the poem to be lost. The various difficulties immersed in Beowulf have the subtle effect of drawing the reader in closer to the text, maintaining their concentration and once it is understood, a real sense of achievement is gained. I believe the explicit descriptions of weaponry are also a significant component in Beowulf and should not be considered lightly when looking at the way in which the text achieves its literary effects. The manner in which Heaney uses literary techniques when interpreting weaponry not only describes what they are made of, but also how they were skilfully and intricately formed and even how they sound when they move. Their mail-shirts glinted, hard and hand-linked; the high-gloss iron of their armor rang. (321-323) When Heaney’s descriptions are combined with Webster’s explanations, it becomes clear cut that the literal effect is intriguing and fascinating the reader and at the same time showing the importance and relevance of weaponry. Webster concludes by remarking that Heaney’s clever approach in adapting archaeological evidence in Beowulf united together with the merging of past and present, has the literal effect of capturing the poem’s extreme depth, attribute and quality. This is a unique poem which its layers and characteristics make it a difficult but interesting and different read.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Human resouce management Essay

1. To confirm that the supervisor’s claims are true, who will you contact? What questions will you ask? What precautions should you take to assure that your investigation is confidential and legally defensible? To confirm that the supervisor’s claims are true, I would contact data processing to look at the sales data. I would want a record of Jeanette’s sales, and also the department sales for comparison. I would also request this from the supervisor. I would instruct both the DP department and the Sales Manager to keep my request confidential. However, it would be reasonable to confirm data so there is nothing wrong with checking data. 2. Review the documentation available related to this case. Is there enough documentation in place based on discipline policy and your experience as an HR manager? Explain. There is enough documentation based on the discipline policy to suspend the employee. According to Exhibit 12.3.5 an employee will be given a verbal warning, which is signed by supervisor (12.3.3.). Next a written warning will be documented, signed by supervisor (12.3.2). I am guessing the dates are October of prior year for exhibit 12.3.3. It is followed by December to June of the next year. In Exhibit 12.3.4 follows the procedure of a written warning to be documented and copied to the HR manager. The next step, however, is suspension. The employee should be suspended. The sales manager is correct, it will not help most likely, but that is the company policy. 3. Assume that the termination is warranted. Managers typically hold termination meetings at The Daily Review but it is not unheard of for the HR department to conduct this meeting. Given the available information, who should conduct the meeting? What steps will you take to prepare the manager and/or yourself for this meeting? Prepare an agenda for the termination meeting. Nevertheless, assuming the termination is warranted it would be wise for the sales manager to handle the termination in the presence of an HR representative. I would go through the entire process with the sales manager of possible scenarios. In addition, I would confirm that he would call Jeanette in, inform her of his decision to terminate her based on her lack of sales and failure to schedule training previously petitioned. The agenda would inquire to call Jeanette in the office. Tell her she is being terminated for failure to perform her job and to attend training. Hand Jeanette her last check, walk her to her desk to get her belongings and assist her out the door. Terminations should be handled quickly and professionally. I would advice Paul, the sales manager, not to add any editorial comments regarding her performance but keep to the bare minimum on the facts. This termination should not come as a surprise to Jeanette. She and the rest of the department are aware that she is not making sales. It is time for a change, while the process should be professional, without emotion and discussion. 4. The Daily Register has some guidelines for severance packages, benefits, and outplacement services, but they are very informal and typically decided upon on a case-by-case basis. In this situation, what would you recommend for Jeanette? I would not offer Jeanette any severance package, benefits, or outplacement services. Jeanette was warned she was not completing her job. She has already cost the company money for failure to perform her duties. Discussion Question #6 I know, this unit_6 is talking about to build relationship, but some times is necessary to fire people. The question here is on how to terminate employees for cause, typically for disciplinary reasons or for poor performance. How do I fire people legally and humanely? Three Legal Reasons for Terminating an Employee 1. The first legal reason that an employer can use to confirm the termination of an employee is if the employee violated a â€Å"known† company rule. For such reason to be upheld in a court of law, the employer will need to prove that: (1) the rule actually exists; (2) the employee knew that it existed; (3) the rule was violated; (4) other employees were terminated for the same infraction; and (5) the termination was reasonable punishment for the infraction. 2. The second legal reason to terminate an employee is if they are not able to perform their job sufficiently. I order to defend this reason for termination in a court of law the employer must be capable to establish that the employee was incompetent to do their tasks. For instance, the employer took reasonable steps to try and improve the employee’s performance by addressing the issue’s in several instances before terminating the employee. Documented evidence is crucial in a scenario like this to prove that the employer’s position in this kind of situation is correct and legitimate. 3. The final legal reason for terminating an employee is if it is in the best economic interest of the company in question. For example, the company is downsizing its workforce for economic reasons. Layoffs are common reasons for terminations in firms that are downsizing or restructuring. Courtesy should be held high in a layoff situation, giving employees who are involved in a layoff need to be given at least 60 days notice. This civility or remark is required by the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN). http://www.aftermarket.org/Magazine/InsiderArchives/Toolbox/Termination.pdf http://www.doleta.gov/programs/factsht/warn.htm View as multi-pages

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Critical Management Theory(CMT) and its application as an analytical Coursework

Critical Management Theory(CMT) and its application as an analytical tool for resolving problems in a post-modern organisation - Coursework Example Today managements develop their common goal as per the present requirements of society, environment and community. The increasing concern for corporate social responsibility and community development is one of major evidences in this respect. The Critical Management Theory (CMT) is a reasonable and effective theoretical approach for managing the postmodern organisations. These theories include a wide range of views and ideas that criticize the traditional management theories. CMT attempts to explore, recognise and relate the similar attributes of management basics and critical theories. Critical managements studies deals with the different areas of management theories. More specifically, it is the academic field for critical management theories. Sudhanshu Katyal has explained that â€Å"Critical Management Studies (CMS) challenges and offers alternatives to received wisdom about ‘management’† and it â€Å"is differentiated from mainstream research by (i) its unor thodox treatment of established topics (e.g. motivation, strategy) and/or (ii) its attention to marginalised issues (e.g. post-colonialism, environmentalism)† (Katyal, 2009, p.7-8). This paper will attempt to present an explanation and discussion on CMT and its application in managing postmodern organisation. The discussions will try to focus on multiple perspectives of critical management theories. At first, the importance of critical management theories in postmodern organisations will be discussed. This section will clarify term ‘postmodern organisation’ by pointing out its major characteristics. The next section will present different approaches of CMT. This section will try to evaluate critical theories. The third section will aim to demonstrate the application of critical management theories in postmodern organisation. Finally, based on the overall analyses and discussions, the findings will be summarised in conclusion. Importance of Critical Management Theo ry in Postmodern Organisation CMT is an important area of organisation management. The society and human thought processes are not static and it tends to changes with time. Therefore, the organisational behaviour of mangers and organisation culture also vary as per time periods. Such changes lead to increase the requirement new theories and new management approaches. CMT is very useful in this respect. This paper is trying to focus in CMT and its application in postmodern organisation. However, before proceeding towards the main objective of this paper, it is necessary to understand the postmodern organisation and its various aspects. The postmodern organisation is an emerging concept which differs from the modern organisational ideas and views. The managerial behaviour of postmodern organisation is more flexible and more capable in countering the organisational affairs. However, the tasks in postmodern organisation have become more complex and difficult comparing to modern organisa tions. There are five major aspects in an organisation i.e. planning, organising, influencing, leading and controlling. These aspects in postmodern organisation are shelf-managed and self-controlled by the coordination of cross-functional

Friday, September 27, 2019

Retailing- Boots V Superdrug Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Retailing- Boots V Superdrug - Essay Example In order to remain competitive in the market, the retailers have to adapt some strategies in order to differentiate their business from others. In this report, the strategies adapted by two retailers; Boots and Superdrug based in the same market sector and segment have been compared. The report also evaluates the retail strategy as well as the implementation of those strategies in the light of its competitive environment. Both the retailers are present in the United Kingdom. In the end, both the retail businesses are compared using the SWOT analysis with the intention to provide a clear view of the business. The aim of this comparison is to analyze which retail business is more effective in today’s competitive environment and the strategies adapted by which of the two retailers are better than the other. BOOTS Boots is the one of the most recognizable businesses in United Kingdom. Being established in the 1849, the company has a strong heritage and wide range of products offer ed to customers. This is the main reason why the company is very well regarded by the customers. Boots is a very reputable brand in UK as well as in other parts of the world. It could be said that Boots in itself is a very strong brand and it owns several strong sub-brands as well which includes No.7, Soltan and Botanics. Boots is the member of Alliance Boots which was formed in the year 2005 to face the rising competition in the market. The alliance has helped the business to become the UK’s leading pharmacy and beauty retailer. With the merger, the company has remained focused on its philosophy of treating the customers fairly and equally. Moreover, the company has been expanding its offerings to further improve its profits. (Taylor, 2012a). MARKET SECTOR AND SEGMENT The market sector in which the company operates is the retail business and provides the customers with variety of products. The products being offered by the company includes; Health and beauty Personal care Co smetics and toiletries Baby care Dental care Bathroom toiletries Hair care Men’s toiletries Pharmacy services Skincare Perfumes Paper products OTC medicines (Bized, 2009) The company’s market segment is based on demographics; age. The company aims to provide the mature women; that are more health and beauty conscious, and would pay higher price than normal to look young and beautiful again. The company also provides the male customers with products to enhance their looks and to remain smart and handsome even at the maturity age. EVALUATION OF RETAIL STRATEGY IN LIGHT OF COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT Boots strategies to deal with the environment External environment or factors influence the businesses of retailers as well (Lusch, Dunne, & Gable, 1990).. Therefore it is important for retailers to formulate strategies to manage their external environment (Oldfield, Ian, & Malcolm, 2000). The strategies to deal with the environment adapted by Boots are as follows Strategies to d eal with the Political factors To deal with the political environment, the company always looks for flaws in the business and creates contingency plans for their vulnerability. The company also employs rigorous planning for the identification and assessment of political environment in order to remain ahead of schedule. Boots aims to operate in countries that are politically stable therefore the company does not actually face many problems from the