Inquiry Project: Tesco Analysis of Retail Industry Trends

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Tesco, a multinational retail company, using an inquiry-based learning approach. It begins with an introduction to inquiry-based learning and its importance for organizations. The main body of the report includes an analysis of current trends in the retail industry, such as personalized services, new channels, and retail robotics. The report then analyzes Tesco using various business models including PESTLE, SWOT, and Porter's Five Forces, providing insights into the company's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The report concludes with recommendations for Tesco, including adopting advanced technology, investing in employee training, and focusing on research and development. A questionnaire is included to gather further insights. The report aims to help Tesco improve its operations and achieve success in the competitive retail market.

Inquiry Project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
TASK 1 ...........................................................................................................................................3
Analysis of current trends in retail industry................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
Analysis of an organisation.........................................................................................................4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
Recommendations.......................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES:.............................................................................................................................10
Books and Journals...................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Inquiry based learning helps individuals in getting information with the help of
identifying problems, posing questions and scenario. It helps in making connections between
knowledge of individuals and reality of real world by high level questioning and exploration.
This helps organisations in engaging themselves in experimental learning which make them
effective in solving critical problems (Al Mamun, Lawrie and Wright, 2029). This assist
organisations in developing solutions which are evaluated in the process of inquiry based
learning. This report is based on Tesco which is a multinational retail company. It was
established in 1919 by Jack Cohen and its headquarter is in England, UK. It offers various
products like clothing, food, electronics, financial services, software and books. This report will
include current trends of retail industry with the help of various resources. An organisation is
analysed with the help of different business models. At the end recommendations are mentioned
so that organisation can improve their operations which help in getting success.
MAIN BODY
TASK 1
Analysis of current trends in retail industry
Every organisation aims to achieve their goals and targets in order to get success with the
help of identification of their current market trends. It helps in evaluating that business is
working in correct direction or not (Srisawasdi and Panjaburee, 2019). Current market trends
also help Tesco in making decisions which are best suitable according to their business
environment so that they can sustain for longer period of time. Performing operations according
to the current market trends helps Tesco establishing their brand image in all over the world.
Their are various current market trends which can be adopted by Tesco which are as follows:
Provide personalised services: It is important to satisfy the needs of customers because
they are responsible for making an organisation successful. Tesco should focus on providing
services which are according to the taste and preferences of their targeted customers. Personalise
shopping experience can attract large number of customers in effective manner which is positive
factor for Tesco. Chat bots are used by Tesco which interact with the customers with the help of
text messages and online communication channels. Other services are also provided with the

help of chat bots like communicating tele based communications so that they engage customers
which is highly required for an organisation to survive in market (Thongkoo, Panjaburee and
Daungcharone, 2019). They use technologies to manufacture personalized products according to
location, taste, previous researches and order history of their customers. Artificial intelligence
can be used as personal assistant which predicts the behaviour of their customers.
Create new channels: Connecting new channels and tapping new markets plays very important
role in order to capture large market. Tesco offer their products and services in various
boundaries but they can connect with new marketers to provide services in new boundaries and
untapped market. Providing services and products in large international market helps them in
building strong relations with number of customers. Tesco can use various digital strategies
which can increase their reachability in short period of time. Creating new channels result in
expanding their business easily with the assistance of technology which is very efficient manner.
Retail robotics and warehouse automation: Emerging use of robotics in retail industry is
highly appreciated by the customers as it provides faster services (Zheng, Tian and Cui, 2018). It
assist in catering the demands of customers in effective and efficient manner. It helps Tesco in
managing their stores and outlets assessing inventory levels, checking planograms, updating
shelf pricing and other day to day operations. Robotics helps in detection of automating hazards
which helps them in smooth operations.
TASK 2
Analysis of an organisation
Organisational analysis in very important for the appraisal and growth of an organisation.
It assist in analysing various risk and opportunities so that organisation can formulate their
strategies according to that. Tesco also involves analysis for their operations which the help of
various business models which are as follows:
PESTLE analysis
This analysis involve detailed study of external factors which directly affect their
business environment. It provides a framework which helps Tesco in formulation of policies and
strategies which are best suitable according to the factors. PESTLE analysis of Tesco is
discussed below:

Political factors: Conditional factors of particular country where organisations operates
are classifies as political factors which may include legislation and tax rates (Buck, Sotiriou and
Bogner, 2019). Headquarter of Tesco is located in England, UK which is positive factor because
they have political stability. Government of UK formulate business friendly policies which help
them in generating high revenues.
Economic factors: Tesco offers wide variety of products along with maintaining their
quality. Financial factors and other factors such as interest rates, inflation, exchange rates and
employment rates affect the operations of Tesco. They maintain quality of products and offer
prices which majority of their customers can afford easily. In this manner Tesco attracts large
number of customers in effective manner.
Social factors: Trends and preferences of customers are included in the social factors
which can affect the profitability of an organisation. Consumer beliefs, lifestyle trends,
demographic considerations and attitudes of customers are some of the factors which affect the
operations of Tesco. They offer products and services which are according to the taste and
preferences of their targeted customers. Tesco fulfil the needs of each and every age group and
gender which is positive aspect for them.
Technological factors: These factors help in increasing the customer satisfaction in
effective and efficient manner (Bai and Song, 2018). Tesco uses up graded technologies like
research and development and automation which helps in adopting the current market trends. It
assist in providing services in fast manner which attracts large number of people in short time
period.
Environmental factors: These factors affect the sustainability of businesses in longer
run which includes carbon footprints, climatic changes and natural resources. Tesco operates
their business by maintaining balance in their environmental factors so that they do not disturb
their respective environment. They also contribute in corporate social responsibilities which
improves their brand image in all over the world.
Legal factors: Industry regulations, consumer protection laws, licences, permits and
intellectual property rights are included in legal factors. Tesco formulate their strategies and
policies which are according to the legal factors of the government. They focus on the
satisfaction of customers along with employees by providing them salaries and wages which are
mandatory in order to live healthy life.

SWOT analysis
This analyses helps in studying various internal factors of an organisation which are
responsible for the revenue generation and profitability of an organisation (Moon and Brockway,
2019). Tesco is also uses SWOT analysis which is as follows:
Strength Weaknesses
 Market share: Tesco have acquired
large market share by offering their
wide number of products and services.
Their employees maintain good
relationship with their customers which
increase their sales on regular basis. It
becomes priority of people when it
comes to shopping in retail segment.
 Diversified variety: The range of
products which Tesco offers are very
wide and they cover each and every
segment of retail segment. Their stores
are also diversified such as Tesco
express, Tesco metro, Tesco superstore,
etc.
 Less operational profits: Tesco
usually dependent on manual efforts for
most of their operations. It delays their
operations and involve extra cost in
their production process. In order to
provide products in low prices, Tesco
offer products on low margin which
results in lower profitability.
 Inventory management: Sometimes
Tesco face problems in maintaining
their inventory which affect their
operations (Seixas Mello and et.al.,
2021). Due to lack of proper
management sometime they face issues
in providing some products and
services to their customers.
Opportunities Threats
 Online presence: Tesco initiated their
offerings through online websites and
applications which help them in
generating higher revenues. During the
time of pandemic, they have continued
their offerings with the help of digital
platform.
 Joint venture: Connecting with
 Competition: There are various
competitors are emerging in retail
market which becomes threat for
Tesco. Those competitors also offer
products which Tesco sell on regular
basis. This can affect the profitability of
Tesco which is threat for them.
 Economic recession: Due to some

number of businesses and maintaining
channels help Tesco in generating
higher revenues. This helps Tesco in
expanding their business in new
boundaries.
reasons like unemployment, Tesco may
face problems in services . Financial
crises in many of the countries where
Tesco operates may results in threat.
Porter 5 forces model
This framework helps organisation in identifying competitive environment of the
company. Tesco also uses this model which is mentioned below:
Competition in the industry: This force indicates the competitors which are present in
the market and involve the power to undercut the organisation. Tesco can overcome this force by
providing higher quality of products which attract large number of customers.
Potential of new entrants: Entry of new companies or competitors in the market affect
the revenue generation of the organisation (Sweller, 2021). Tesco uses upgraded technology
which helps them in manufacturing products which are highly demanded by the customers.
Power of supplier: Suppliers play important role in delivering raw material and other
equipments to the organisation. Tesco maintains good relation with their suppliers which help
them in cutting the cost of suppliers.
Power of customers: Buyers can easily influence the profitability of the company as
they can switch towards the cheap and new competitors. Tesco offers quality products to their
customers which engage them in effective manner.
Threat of substitute: Competitors can offer products and services which can become
substitute of the products of company. There are various competitors who offers same products
which Tesco is offering. Tesco can overcome this force by offering prices which are best suited
to the quality of products.
TASK 3
Recommendations
 Tesco should focus on adopting advanced technology in their production methods so that
they can lower down their cost and increase their profits in effective manner. It also helps

in improvement of the operations by eliminating human mistakes and errors as
technology results in maintaining accuracy.
 They should provide training and development session to their employees which
improves the productivity of over all organisation (Yoshinobu and et.al., 2022). Tesco
should invest capital on training of their employees which provide roadmap and guide
them to perform activities in particular manner.
 Tesco should invest in research and development so that they can evaluate the actual facts
which help them in acquiring the large market area. Research also helps in making
products more valuable by adding new features which engage customers on regular basis.
 Tesco should opt various marketing strategies which can promote their products and
services in effective manner. Different marketing strategies should be developed in order
to attract customers.
Questionnaire
Q1. Does Tesco maintain the quality and standard of their products?
Ans. Yes
Q2. Are they acquiring market area in effective manner?
Ans. Yes
Q3. Do they use technology in their production?
Ans. Yes

CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that inquiry based learning helps organisations
in evaluation of facts with the help of high questioning. It encourages organisation in making
strategic decisions which are mandatory for the commencement of smooth operations. It also
assist in solving various problems which are involved in their day to day operations. This report
includes various current market trends which are related to retail industry. This also includes
various analysis frameworks which business uses to evaluate their external and internal business
environment. At the end recommendations are mentioned which help organisation in
achievement of success along with questionnaire.

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
& Education, 144, p.103695.
Bai, B. and Song, H., 2018. 21st century skills development through inquiry-based learning from
theory to practice.
Buck, A., Sotiriou, S. and Bogner, F.X., 2019. Bridging the gap towards flying: Archaeopteryx
as a unique evolutionary tool to inquiry-based learning. In Evolution education re-
considered (pp. 149-165). Springer, Cham.
Moon, J.A. and Brockway, D., 2019. Facilitating learning in an interactive science simulation:
The effects of task segmentation guidance on adults’ inquiry-based learning and
cognitive load. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 51(1), pp.77-100.
Seixas Mello and et.al., 2021. Inquiry-based learning in immunology: analysis of scientific
argument construction by undergraduate students in biological science and health care
classes. Journal of Biological Education, pp.1-15.
Srisawasdi, N. and Panjaburee, P., 2019. Implementation of game-transformed inquiry-based
learning to promote the understanding of and motivation to learn chemistry. Journal of
Science Education and Technology, 28(2), pp.152-164.
Sweller, J., 2021. Why inquiry-based approaches harm students’ learning. The Centre for
Independent Studies Analysis Paper, 24, pp.1-10.
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.
Yoshinobu and et.al., 2022. A broad doorway to the big tent: A four-strand model for discipline-
based faculty development on inquiry-based learning. PRIMUS, (just-accepted), pp.1-
45.
Zheng, L., Li, X., Tian, L. and Cui, P., 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.