Collegiate DECA Competitive Events

2. Collegiate DECACompetitive Events • Competitive events are experiential learning activities designed to evaluate essential business skills. • Competitive events are ONLY ONE of the strategies Collegiate DECA uses to assist students to secure a job and advancement throughout their career.

3. Why Should Students Participate in Competitive Events? • Allow students to demonstrate their ability and acquired knowledge. • Develop decision-making and critical thinking skills. • Provide opportunities for individual and team creativity. • Improve self-confidence. • Enhance presentation skills. • Competitive event winners receive recognition and awards at local, state and international levels. • Help prepare students secure good jobs and begin successful careers.

4. Why Should Advisors SupportCompetitive Events? • Attract quality students looking for experiential learning activities. • Inspire students to assume responsibility for self-improvement and self-discipline, and to become leaders on campus. • Provide projects to use in the classroom (presentations, case study analyses and decision-making activities). • Offer an extension of the classroom, helping students reach the next level in career preparedness. • Provide visibility for the program and college.

5. Competitive Event Categories • Business Simulations • Case Studies • Prepared Business Presentations

6. Business Simulation Events Students will: • Apply marketing/management principles • Analyze real-world case situations • Organize a plan of action • Role-play with a business/industry professional (judge) Format : • Written Exam • 100 questions (multiple choice) • 90 minutes • Role-play • 30 minute preparation • 15 minute role-play with judges

7. Business Simulation Events • Accounting • Banking Financial Services • Corporate Finance • Fashion Merchandising and Marketing • Hotel and Lodging • Restaurant and Food Service • Retail Management • Travel and Tourism

8. Accounting An individual member will analyze a real-world accounting situation, interpret data, provide solutions to the situation, and then role-play with a professional in accounting.

9. Banking Financial Services An individual member will analyze a real-world banking services situation, developing ideas/solutions to the situation, then role-playing with a professional (judge) with experience in banking services.

10. Corporate Finance An individual member will be challenged to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of financial concepts and how these concepts apply to the disciplines of investment and corporate finance in both business enterprises and financial services institutions.

11. Fashion Merchandising & Marketing An individual member will be challenged to perform marketing management functions and tasks in retail establishments, wholesale establishments, and manufacturing firms primarily engaged in the merchandising and marketing of clothing and related articles for personal wear and adornment.

12. Hotel and Lodging An individual member will be challenged to perform marketing and management functions and tasks in any business enterprise primarily engaged in providing lodging, food and beverage services, special events, and meeting spaces.

13. Restaurant and Food Service Management An individual member will be challenged to perform marketing and management functions and tasks in a restaurant or food service business.

14. Retail Management An individual member will be challenged to perform marketing and management functions and tasks in any retail establishment, then role-play with professionals (judges) with experience in the business.

15. Travel and Tourism An individual member will be challenged to perform marketing and management functions and tasks in any business enterprise primarily engaged in satisfying the desire of people to make productive or enjoyable use of travel services.

16. Case Study Events Students (1 or 2 participants) will: • Apply marketing/management principles • Analyze real-world case situations • Organize a plan of action • Present to a business/industry professional (judge) Format: • Case study analysis and presentation • 30 or 60 minutes preparation • 15 minute presentation to judges

17. Case Study Events • Business Ethics (team of 2) • Business-to-Business Marketing (team of 2) • Human Resource Management • International Marketing (team of 2) • Marketing Management • Sales Management Meeting • Sports & Entertainment Marketing (team of 2)

18. Business Ethics A team of two members analyze a business situation containing an ethical dilemma, then present a resolution of the dilemma to a professional (judge) with experience in business.

19. Business-to-Business Marketing A team of two members analyze a real-world case situation that deals with marketing/business activity between organizations, then present solutions to a professional (judge) with experience in marketing and business.

20. Human Resource Management An individual member analyzes a real-world human resource management case situation, then presents solutions to a professional (judge) with experience in business.

21. International Marketing A team of two members analyze a real-world international case situation, then present solutions to a professional (judge) with experience in international marketing and management.

22. Marketing Management An individual member analyzes a real-world marketing management case situation, then presents solutions to a professional (judge) with experience in business.

23. Sales Management Meeting An individual member analyzes a real-world management case situation, then conducts a meeting with one or more salespeople (judges).

24. Sports and Entertainment Marketing A team of two members analyze a real-world sports and entertainment marketing case situation, then present solutions to a professional (judge) with experience in sports and entertainment marketing.

25. Prepared Business Presentation Events • You choose the topic/design/company. • Unlimited creativity. • All events allow outside materials. • Advertising Campaign, Entrepreneurship and Financial Statement Analysis events include a written prospectus. • Timing, number of participants, and the exact materials allowed varies for each event. Check the Collegiate DECA Guide for detailed information.

26. Prepared Business Presentation Events • Advertising Campaign (1-3 students) • Business Law (2-3 students) • Business Research (1-3 students) • Entrepreneurship, Starting a Business (1-3 students) • Entrepreneurship, Growing your Business (1-3 students) • Financial Statement Analysis (2-3 students) • Project Management • Professional Sales • Web Site Design (1 or 2 students)

27. Advertising Campaign One to three members prepare an advertising campaign for any service, product, company or business. The participant(s) will present the advertising campaign to judges acting as clients/advertisers.

28. Business Law A team of two to three members analyze a real-world case law situation that deals with marketing/business activity between two organizations, then present solutions/ recommendations to a professional (judge) with experience in business.

29. Business Research One to three members partner with a local business to conduct research in the local market to assess how to implement or improve the business’s corporate social responsibility plan. Members will prepare a written research report and present findings and strategies for improvement to a professional acting as the business owner.

30. Entrepreneurship (Growing your Business) One to three members will analyze their current business operations and identify opportunities to grow and expand the business. Options may include franchising, expanding into new markets, opening a second location, licensing agreements, merging with or acquiring another business, diversifying product lines, forming strategic alliances with other businesses, expanding to the Internet, etc. NOTE: This event is designed only for businesses currently being operated.

31. Entrepreneurship (Starting a Business) One to three members develop a proposal to start a business. As entrepreneurs seeking start-up capital, the participant(s) will present the proposal to judges acting as potential investors or financial institution representatives. The proposed business may be a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or franchise. NOTE: This event is not designed for businesses currently being operated.

32. Financial Statement Analysis Two or three members acting as financial consultants will analyze the year-end financial statements of two companies from the same industry, prepare a written analysis, and present their findings to professionals (judges) with experience in business.

33. Project Management An individual member serving as a project manager leads and directs a cross-functional team to complete a project plan. Project managers are responsible for all aspects of the project plan and must complete the plan including schedule, budget, and scope. The member will prepare a written project plan and present to a judge acting as a company CEO.

34. Professional Sales An individual member selects a product(s) and/or service(s), and the organization and delivery of a sales presentation to a group of potential buyers of any item or items sold to a company for resale, or an industrial or trade product or service to be used in a company, firm, or store in the operation of its business or a product or service to be sold to the ultimate customer. The ability of the participant to interact with the buyers and initiate a purchase is the major focus of this event.

35. Web Site Design One or two members design and present an original Web site design to judges acting as potential clients in need of a new/updated Web site for their business.

36. Eligibility Based on Membership • All Collegiate DECA members are able to compete. The final deadline for competitive event eligibility is February 15th (submitted and paid membership dues must be received by this time). • Members whose dues are paid AFTER February 15th are not eligible to compete in Competitive Events, but they may participate in either the National Management Institute, Culinary Management Institute and/or Entrepreneurship Challenge at ICDC.

37. In Addition to Competitive Events . . . The following programs are offered at the International Career Development Conference: • National Management Institute (open to those individuals not competing in Competitive Events) • Culinary Management Institute (open to those individuals not competing in Competitive Events) • Entrepreneurship Challenge (open to ALL ICDC attendees)

38. What am I Judged On for Business Simulations and Case Studies? • On the bottom left corner of the front page of your Business Simulation is a list of “Performance Indicators.” • Performance Indicators are the ONLY things your judges can use to evaluate you. • Address each indicator point-by-point. Do not stray off topic by offering solutions that do not address the specified Performance Indicators.

39. What Tools Do I Have for Business Simulations? • No outside materials may be brought into competition. • Only pen, pencil and paper will be allowed in the preparation area. • However, ACT AS IF your paper is a PowerPoint Presentation. Use each page as a separate slide and present your solution in an organized format. • Draw charts, graphs and illustrations to provide further proof for your argument. • Use the facts given, and if you need others, make them up and ACT AS IF they are a given. If you tell your judge that your company has 60% of the market share, who is he or she to challenge that fact?

40. What Tools Do I Have for Case Studies? • Outside materials including laptop computers, reference materials, audio and visual aids, etc. may be brought into the competitive event. • Play to your strengths: if you are musically inclined, write and perform an advertising jingle as part of your solution. Whatever you do, BE CREATIVE! • Draw charts, graphs and illustrations to provide further proof for your argument. • Use the facts given, and if you need others , make them up and ACT AS IF they are a given. If you tell your judge that your company has 60% of the market share, who is he or she to challenge that fact? • For team events, balance your speaking roles so that both members of the team contribute equally to the presentation and answer questions.

41. What am I Judged On for Prepared Business Presentations? • Every Prepared Business Presentation in the Collegiate DECA Guide gives you the EXACT evaluation form that your judge will use. • Find it. Memorize it. Create your presentation to match that evaluation form.

42. What Tools Do I Have for Prepared Business Simulations? • Outside materials including laptop computers, reference materials, audio and visual aids, etc. may be brought into the competitive event. • Play to your strengths: if you are a media guru , film your own commercial and play it as part of your presentation. Whatever you do, BE CREATIVE! • You control the situation. You tell the judge what role they will play and what decision they need to make; use this to your advantage and set-up the situation so that they have to love everything you have to say! • Read through the guidelines CAREFULLY so that you are prepared for all possible questions and concerns from the judges. • Practice, practice, practice! You should be so well prepared that you can deliver a high-quality presentation in your sleep.

43. Dress for Success • Look the part –remember, you are playing the role of a professional businessperson. Your attire should reflect that. • Wear a suit. Straighten your tie. Be sure that your skirt length is appropriate. • Keep accessories conservative. • Smile!

44. How do I qualify to compete at ICDC? • For “chartered state associations,” eligibility is granted by the state constitution and controlled by the state advisor. • For “independent chapters,” all members are eligible to compete. • Competitive event allocations for ALL chapters and state associations are based on membership numbers from the previous year.

45. Where can I go for more information? • ALL competitive event rules are in the Collegiate DECA Guide. • The Guide is published as an interactive CD and is sent to chapters in the fall membership mailing (end of September). • It is also available in its entirety AND by event on our website at: www.deca.org/competitons/college