Case Study: Inquiry Based Learning Analysis of DW Sports Failure

This report employs inquiry-based learning to analyze the failure of DW Sports, a UK-based retail and fitness company. It identifies key areas of failure, including an uncertain future due to the global pandemic, ignoring competition, and inadequate financing. The report also examines current trends in the retail sector, such as omnichannel strategies and personalized retail experiences, and analyzes DW Sports' competitive position using SWOT and PESTLE models. Ultimately, the report recommends proactive strategies, such as leveraging digital channels, to mitigate future risks. The closure of DW Sports serves as a case study for understanding the challenges and opportunities in the retail and fitness industries.

Inquiry Based Learning

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This project highlights on the understanding of focused areas in which organisation has
failed. This project also includes framework that help organisations in identifying various
opportunities available in market. This also has highlights the current trends which are present in
retail sector.

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Background and history of DW Sports .......................................................................................1
Identification of the areas of failure as well as rationale of being failed.....................................2
Current trends and competition faced by chosen organisation ...................................................3
Models of analysis.......................................................................................................................3
RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Inquiry based learning can be described as a learning practice which engages individuals
through exploring questioning real world experiences (Al Mamun, Lawrie and Wright, 2020). It
is an approach which encourages individuals for bring unique ideas to solve the desired problems
and learn through varied experiments. It persuades individuals to learn through some unique
ideas, taking challenges, applying learned information to new domains and create something
new. For better understanding of inquiry based learning in retail sector, DW Sports is taken into
consideration. DW Sports is an UK based company that majorly focuses on retailing and fitness
operations. This company was established in 2009 and has its headquarters at Greater
Manchester, England. It has to close down their operations including retail stores and fitness
clubs due to global pandemic.
This project is aimed to provide an in-depth knowledge on the operations of DW Sports.
This project identified areas of failure and rationale for why the brand has fail in thier business
operations.
MAIN BODY
Background and history of DW Sports
DW Sports is a British based deals in retail and fitness business situated at Greater
Manchester, England. It was founded when Dave Whelan had purchased fitness clubs of 50 JJB
Sports club in March 2009. Later on, in coming years owner of DW Sports had plan to expand
their operations and open their stand alone fitness clubs and retail stores. In 2011, company enter
into collaboration with Fitness First, The Gym Group and Greenwich Leisure Limited. In 2016,
DW Sports had acquired purchased 62 fitness clubs, out of which it sold 14 clubs and operate the
remaining ones. Covid pandemic and global lockdown has impacted many lives as well as
businesses in the long run. It has cut down people from gyms for curbing the transmission of
virus. It also affects spending patterns of consumers as they want to save for uncertain future. At
the time of covid pandemic, company announces to close down its 25 retail stores in 2020. For
many years, it catered a large market segment of consumers of UK having healthy habits. In
August 2020, DW Sports has enter into administration sector and sold their retail stores to
Frasers Group. Offical site of DW Sports has also ceased with immediate effect of closing down
the operations. It was because of increase in their operational and fixed costs and decrease in
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their revenue as well as inability of people to join the fitness club at he time of global pandemic.
A large number of employees lost their jobs due to close down of operation of DW Sports.
Although, many jobs had been saved by Frasers Group by providing employment to them in
purchased fitness clubs.
Identification of the areas of failure as well as rationale of being failed
It is imperative for organisational managers to plan their business operations in an
accurate manner which helps establishment to survive and grow with their full potential (Hong
and Et. Al, 2017). Managers should be proactive in their approach in order to face the coming
challenge and grab expected opportunities on a timely basis. However, many a times,
organisation faces failure in their business operations due to many reasons. Varied areas of
failure and identifying their rationale in context to DW Sports are as follows: Uncertain future- Business houses can face many difficult situations due to uncertain
future. It is desirable for organisations to identify and track external as well as internal
environmental factors which influence business operations adversely. Managers of DW
Sports are failed in identifying the future factors of environment that has hamper their
business operations. They are unable to judge the consequences of global pandemic at
their operations. This lead them to close down their operations by selling their stores and
clubs. Ignoring competition- A large number of UK citizens are aware of their health and
joined fitness clubs for being fit and maintaining a healthy life (Ison, Collins and
Iaquinto, 2021). This lead to opportunity for fitness clubs for catering massive number of
customers. As there are massive customers, it also consisted of many companies
providing the similar services. Managers of DW Sports had ignored this competition
which lead them to failure of their business activities.
 Inadequate financing- Due to global lockdown, DW Sports had face the challenge of
inadequate financing as they have lost their revenue steams because people are tend to
stay at their houses and are restricted to visit fitness clubs (Liu and Et. Al., 2021).
Mangers are incurring high fixed cost in terms of rent, electricity bills and salaries but are
not bale to earn expected income. This is also termed as a reason for failure for DW
Sports that they do not have appropriate financing avenues for running their business on a
smooth basis.
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Current trends and competition faced by chosen organisation
Current trends and competition faced by DW Sports at the time of its closure are
discussed below: More investment in omnichannel strategies- One of the major trends that is flourishing
in retail sector is omnichannel marketing. Under this, many channels for purchasing are
provided to consumers in order to provide them better experiences (Murphy and Et. Al.,
2021). Managers of DW Sports have to provide more methods to people for registering
themselves for fitness clubs and could make extensive marketing through social media
channels.
 Personalised retail experience- Another trend that has to be followed by companies
working in a retail sector is to provide personalised experience to their customers. These
personalised experience can be provided through sending e-mails and asking for feedback
on personal basis. This trend could be followed by managers of DW Sports by providing
personal experience to their customers through sending e-mails.
Major competitors of DW Sports were On sport, Action Village, Essential Apparel and many
more. DW Sports was facing tough competition from these brands.
Models of analysis
SWOT analysis is performed by organisations for analysing competitive advantage as
well in developing strategic planning (Thongkoo, Panjaburee and Daungcharone, 2019). All the
elements of SWOT analysis in relevance with DW Sports are discussed below:
Strengths Market exploration- Managers of DW
Sports had explore the UK market and
made strategies accordingly for
expansion. Brand value- Before hit form covid
pandemic, DW Sports had significant
brand value and customer loyalty.
Weaknesses
 Obsolete work culture- Managers of
DW Sports had face problems in
integration with work culture of
acquired companies.
 Inadequate finance- DW Sports had
suffered from the issue of inadequacy
of finance in operating their activities.
Opportunities Youth population- Managers of DW
Threats
 Economic reasons- Managers of DW
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Sports can grab the opportunities of
catering large customer base. Transportation- DW Sports can reduce
their operational cost through reducing
their transportation cost.
Sports had faced challenges of global
pandemic and this also lead them to
close down their operations.
 Lower purchasing power- Global
pandemic has low the purchasing
power of people that restricts people to
come to fitness clubs.
PESTLE analysis is performed by organisations in order to scan and identify varied
macro forces from environment that are external but can influence business operations in a
sizeable manner (Zheng and El. Al., 2018). All the factors of PESTLE analysis in relevance to
DW Sports are as follows: Political factors- In UK, BREXIT agreement which marks the exit of United Kingdom
from European Union. This has impacted DW Sports as it can not cater customers from
European Union. Economic factors- In UK, impact of global pandemic can be seen in a significant manner
due to this managers of DW Sports has to closed down their operation in 2020. Social factors- In UK, there is large population who are aware to adopt healthy habits
and are willingly to go to gyms as well as fitness clubs. Managers of DW Sports could
cater needs of those people in order to generate more revenue. Technological factors- UK is considered one of the leading country who supports
organisations in adoption of technological advancements. Managers of DW Sports could
have taken help of digital technology in catering the needs of their customers at the time
of covid pandemic. Legal factors- UK government is very strict in making compliance with laws in
organisation. DW Sports had comply with varied framed regulations related to health and
safety of their employees.
 Environmental factors- In UK, government has made compulsory for organisations to
adopt environmental friendly practices in their operations. Managers of DW Sports had to
initiate environmental friendly practices like curbing the emission of carbon etc.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
Managers of DW Sports could have taken the approach of proactive thinking. They could
adopt measures such as use of digital channels and social networking sites to reach their
customers before the period of global pandemic. This can helped them in taking advantage for
automated techniques that can aid them in generating more profits.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been concluded that inquiry based learning is significant for
individuals as it helps them to gain deeper insights into an understanding of a specified topic.
Many organisations have failed due to global pandemic ans as a consequence has to close down
their operations.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Al Mamun, M. A., Lawrie, G. and Wright, T., 2020. Instructional design of scaffolded online
learning modules for self-directed and inquiry-based learning environments. Computers
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Hong, J. C. and Et. Al, 2017. An exploration of students’ science learning interest related to their
cognitive anxiety, cognitive load, self-confidence and learning progress using inquiry-
based learning with an iPad. Research in Science Education. 47(6). pp.1193-1212.
Ison, R. L., Collins, K. B. and Iaquinto, B. L., 2021. Designing an inquiry‐based learning system:
Innovating in research praxis to transform science–policy–practice relations for
sustainable development. Systems Research and Behavioral Science. 38(5). pp.610-624.
Liu, C. and Et. Al., 2021. Analysing user reviews of inquiry-based learning apps in science
education. Computers & Education, 164, p.104119.
Murphy, C. and Et. Al., 2021. Teachers and students’ views prior to introducing inquiry-based
learning in Qatari science and mathematics classrooms. Teaching and Teacher
Education, 104, p.103367.
Thongkoo, K., Panjaburee, P. and Daungcharone, K., 2019. A development of ubiquitous
learning support system based on an enhanced inquiry-based learning
approach. International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation. 13(2). pp.129-
151.
Zheng, L. and El. Al., 2018. The effectiveness of integrating mobile devices with inquiry-based
learning on students' learning achievements: a meta-analysis. International Journal of
Mobile Learning and Organisation. 12(1). pp.77-95.
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