During competitive events, students get the opportunity to choose events that fit their strengths and skills. The events typically fall into three categories with smaller subcategories, role-plays, written projects, and team-decision making activities.
- Role-plays typically require fast problem solving, quick thinking, and presentation skills. Participants can decide to act alone with a ten minute timer or as a team of two in a thirty minute time limit. Roleplays are graded in thirds, one third of the score is a hundred question exam, which is used to test students’ content knowledge. The other two thirds of the score are based on the roleplay itself. Students must act as a member of the mock company to answer questions and complaints that the judge asks.
- Written projects are at maximum 20 pages and require extensive planning, requiring you to search vigorously for information and data. Participants must be able to make their business plan stand out, while also staying in the guidelines. There are 15 minutes given to present the project to judges, participants are expected to leave some time at the end to answer questions and confusions the judges may have.
- The team decision-making event requires the ability to recognize and act on opportunities that present themselves, utilize market research, and identify sources of capital and use management skills. Participants are given 30 minutes to prepare their presentation with each other and are given 15 minutes to present.
Those entering the competition should use all the resources available. Whether it’s using the event guidelines and online resources, or asking the DECA sponsor, Mr. Valverde, Being overprepared is better than being underprepared, “We’re here to help prepare you for the high pressure situations that will come about.” He ensured.
DECA competitions are a good building block for those looking to strengthen their skills in business and marketing and is a good way to gain experience for job interviews. “The DECA club always has a good time when we go, they enjoy the high intensity environment and form deeper bonds with each other each time they compete together.” Mr. Valverde said.
