Resources for Role Play Events

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What is a ROLE PLAY Event?

Role Play/Case Study events require students to think on their feet as they work through a business situation - given to them at the conference, with a limited amount of time to prepare. Students will have either ten (10) minutes as an individual or thirty (30) minutes as a team of two (2) for our Team Decision Making Events. After you work through the situation, you will head over to the Judge’s area and present your solution in an interactive session.

These events will also take a 100-question exam, which is based on their event. This exam is used to determine content knowledge and is 1/3 of the score used to calculate the top competitors! (The Role Play(s) make up the other 2/3).

The Exams and Role Plays are generated using PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, which are based off of National Curriculum Standards and are industry-verified for being real-world and relevant. Students are likely learning many of these Performance Indicators in class, but additional outside preparation is definitely encouraged!

To help you prepare for Role Play Events we recommend that you Study Performance Indicators, Take Practice Exams, and Do Practice Role Plays! Luckily for you, we have those tools and resources available here!

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR YOUR EVENT

Performance Indicators are a specific piece of knowledge that students will be challenged on as part of the exam and/or role play scenario. Students should be familiar the Performance Indicators that apply to each event. We have broken these down for you by event.

A good rule of thumb when studying these Performance Indicators is:

When you see it and you’re confident in the answer, move to the next one. If you see it and you’re unsure, talk about it with an advisor/teacher. If it’s the first time seeing that terminology, dig deeper and research the content. There is not a perfect answer for every performance indicator, so there isn’t a bulleted list to study and memorize. Work to become familiar with the terms and feel confident, so that when you see them on an exam or role play, you’re prepared to EARN that DECA Glass!

**DECA Plus has flashcards with great information to address each performance indicator.

A note from judges: “Good competitors will mention the Performance Indicators. What separates the top competitors is explaining the PIs and connecting them to the scenario/situation. That’s what earns them those top scores!”

Since we LOVE Acronyms, here is one regarding Performance Indicators!

D: Deliver the information. If it says Explain… Explain it. If it says Demonstrate… Demonstrate it.
E: Explain its importance and relevancy. Why is this important to know?
C: Connect it to the situation.
A: Above and Beyond. What else can you add on that Performance Indicator to make it memorable and valuable?

PRINCIPLES

PBM PRINCIPLES OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION | Click Here to View Performance Indicators

INDIVIDUAL SERIES

HRM HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT SERIES | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-26, 42-47

TEAM DECISION MAKING

BLTDM BUSINESS LAW & ETHICS TEAM DECISION MAKING | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-26

INDIVIDUAL SERIES

ENT ENTREPRENEURSHIP SERIES | Click Here to View Performance Indicators

TEAM DECISION MAKING

ETDM ENTREPRENEURSHIP TEAM DECISION MAKING | Click Here to View Performance Indicators

PRINCIPLES

PFN PRINCIPLES OF FINANCE | Click Here to View Performance Indicators

INDIVIDUAL SERIES

ACT ACCOUNTING APPLICATIONS SERIES | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-26, 27-32
BFS BUSINESS FINANCE SERIES | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-26, 38-42

Professional Selling and Consulting

FCE FINANCIAL CONSULTING EVENT | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-26 (Exam Only)

TEAM DECISION MAKING

FTDM FINANCIAL SERVICES TEAM DECISION MAKING | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-26

PRINCIPLES

PHT PRINCIPLES OF HOSPITALITY & TOURISM | Click Here to View Performance Indicators

INDIVIDUAL SERIES

HLM HOTEL & LODGING MANAGEMENT SERIES | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-32, 42-48
QSRM QUICK SERVE RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT SERIES | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-32, 49-55
RFSM RESTAURANT AND FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT SERIES | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-32, 49-55

TEAM DECISION MAKING

HTDM HOSPITALITY SERVICES TEAM DECISION MAKING | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-32
TTDM TRAVEL & TOURISM TEAM DECISION MAKING | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-32

Professional Selling and Consulting

HTPS HOSPITALITY & TOURISM PROFESSIONAL SELLING | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-32 (Exam Only)

PRINCIPLES

PMK PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING | Click Here to View Performance Indicators

INDIVIDUAL SERIES

AAM APPAREL & ACCESSORIES MARKETING SERIES | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-28, 47-53
ASM AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES MARKETING SERIES | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-28, 39-42
BSM BUSINESS SERVICES MARKETING SERIES | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-28, 39-42
FMS FOOD MARKETING SERIES | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-28, 39-42
MCS MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS SERIES | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-38
RMS RETAIL MERCHANDISING SERIES | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-28, 47-53
SEM SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING SERIES | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-28, 39-42

TEAM DECISION MAKING

BTDM BUYING & MERCHANDISING TEAM DECISION MAKING | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-28
MTDM MARKETING MANAGEMENT TEAM DECISION MAKING | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-28
STDM SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING TEAM DECISION MAKING | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-28

Prepared Events

IMCE, IMCP, IMCS INTEGRATED MARKETING CAMPAIGN - EVENT, PRODUCT, SERVICE | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-28 (Exam Only)
PSE PROFESSIONAL SELLING EVENT | Click Here to View Performance Indicators - pg 4-28 (Exam Only)

PFL PERSONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY | Click Here to View Performance Indicators

Related Resources:

Hosting a Mock Competition Checklist

Also see: How to Make Your Mock Conference a Success

Judge Recruitment Resources

Sample Email/Social Media Copy

Help recruit judges for your District Conference and the 2022 Texas DECA State Career Development Conference. This copy has been written for SCDC, but you may change any dates/locations and links to fit your district conference.

Flyer

Use this flyer to distribute when recruiting judges for the 2022 SCDC. The .jpg version of this flyer may also be used to recruit on digital platforms.

volunteer as a competitive event judge Packet

Take a look at what exactly it means to be a competitive event judge, what kind of events we have and the attendee profiles of our conference.

Executive Summary Toolkit

HOW TO WRITE AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
https://www.alchemer.com/resources/blog/how-to-write-executive-summary/
https://www.projectmanager.com/blog/write-an-executive-summary
https://www.inc.com/guides/2010/09/how-to-write-an-executive-summary.html

4 TIPS FOR WRITING AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THAT WILL GET READ
https://www.klipfolio.com/blog/executive-summary

10 TIPS FOR SUCCESS WHEN WRITING AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
https://earlygrowthfinancialservices.com/10-tips-crafting-executive-summary/

4 MOST IMPORTANT WORDS WHEN WRITING AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
https://fundingsage.com/writing-an-executive-summary-the-4-most-important-words-infographic/

TIPS FOR ADDING VISUAL ELEMENTS
https://neilpatel.com/blog/12-infographic-tips/
https://venngage.com/blog/infographic-design/

CREATING VISUAL ELEMENTS IN WORD
https://www.edrawmax.com/infographic/how-to-make-an-infographic-in-word/

OTHER TOOLS FOR CREATING VISUAL ELEMENTS
https://buffer.com/library/infographic-makers/

Click below to see example executive summaries. *These examples are from the sample events at www.deca.org. The executive summaries have been taken out and combined into one file.

Choosing the Right Event

Champion Chats

Check out these interviews with some of our past Texas DECA Champions to get some tips and tricks on how you can better your role plays/presentations!

Student Testimonials

Industry Buzzwords

Check out some common words that are specific to different industries. You never know when they may show up in an exam/role play or you may be able to use them (in the appropriate context) to wow your judge!

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT + ADMINISTRATION

HOSPITALITY + TOURISM

MARKETING

PLAY BINGO WITH THE MARKETING BUZZWORDS

CALL CARDS COMING SOON

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

FINANCE

Do you know a buzzword that you think everyone should know? Let us know!

Exam Blueprints

3 Reasons Why You Should Do A Written Event

With over fifty competitive events, choosing just one to participate in can be one of the most difficult choices to face in DECA. However, a choice that’s much less overwhelming to make but narrows down your choices greatly is whether you want to compete in a written or role play event. A written event involves writing a paper, submitted before competition, and presenting it to a judge. A role play event involves taking a test beforehand and then presenting a response to a scenario you are given at competition. Not sure about which one of these two event categories is best for you? Read on to find out three major reasons that written events might be the perfect fit for you!

You should do a written event if. . .

1) You present the best when you’ve had time to rehearse.

One of the biggest downsides to roleplay events is their on-the-spot nature: you have less than an hour to both brainstorm and deliver a top-notch presentation. On the other hand, if your presentations are best when you’re able to practice them beforehand, a written event allows you to do just that. You’ll be able to spend several months before competition perfecting your presentation so you know it’s the best it can be when you finally deliver it to a judge.

2) You’re a stellar writer.

Your competitive event should show off your best skills. If you have a special way with words, a written event is for you! Your awesome writer’s voice will help you to craft a paper that is both informative yet engaging - a winning combination.

3) You have a unique idea you know you can sell to the judges.

Whether it be a creative way to transform a business whose stock has been underperforming or an idea for the next big tech gadget, a written event is a great way to display a unique, game-changing idea. Use your paper as a tool to pitch your out-of-this-world idea to your judge.

Did any of those reasons sound just like you? If so, check out the DECA website’s competitive events page to find out more about what written events are available!

BY: ANYA KACKER

Related Resources:

Do's and Don'ts of Personal Financial Literacy

The Personal Financial Literacy Event measures the personal finance knowledge and skills a DECA member should possess, it is designed to measure your ability to apply reliable information and systematic decision making to personal financial decisions. You automatically have the advantage in this event when you have prior knowledge or experience whether it be from your personal finances or by taking finance-related courses. Since this is a role play event, you will be required to take a 100-question exam, have 10 minutes to prep time, and then 10 minutes to present your case study before a judge. 

1. STUDYING

Let’s just be honest, studying is a major dislike amongst students, but to succeed in this event, studying is vital. Visit deca.org & texasdeca.org to see the hundreds of study materials that's been provided. 

DO STUDY THE PRACTICE TEST – One of the best resources that we’ve been granted are the practice tests. These are questions that have previously been used and that you may see again on your actual 100 question exam, so it’s best that you familiarize yourself with them. 

DON'T WASTE TIME – Competition season comes very fast so it's best that you give yourself time to prepare. Remember it is impossible to prepare when you procrastinate, You’re on the road to DECA glass!

2. TESTING

Taking 100-question exams in just 90 minutes isn’t an easy task. It’s important that you remain alert and use great test-taking strategies. 

DO THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU’VE SEEN BEFORE FIRST – If you took the time to study the practice test, then you will notice that some of the questions are the same or very similar. Do those first so that you have time to focus on more challenging ones. 

DON’T EAT A HEAVY BREAKFAST OR MEAL BEFOREHAND – When you eat heavy you get something I call “THE ITIS”. In other words, you get sleepy and instead of focusing on your test, you focus on fighting your sleep. Eat something light on your stomach like fruit or cereal.

3. ROLE PLAY

A role play can be very stressful, especially when it’s your very first time doing one. However, there are ways to get rid of the anxiety and give your judge the best role play they’ve ever seen. 
Quick Tip: The very first thing you want to do is greet your judge by shaking their hand, telling them your name and what your role is given by the case study. 

DO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS – The performance indicators are the specific topic questions that your judge will ask you, familiarize yourself with them so you know the type of questions you’ll be asked. 

DON’T SAY “I DON T KNOW” – If you don’t understand a question, then that completely okay to ask your judge to clarify or explain the question to you. Remember you want to treat this like a job / professional career interview. Would you say I don’t know to a question asked by a future boss? 

BY: TAE’ LYN NICHOLSON

5 Preparation Tips for District Testing

All Texas DECA Districts will host testing in less than two weeks! Members will be able to compete in role play events, run for district office, and network with members. Keep in mind that you need to “pass” this test in order to QUALIFY for potential advancements for State CDC. For example, if you score a 35%, you will not be able to advance to State no matter how well your role play may have been. Below are tips for preparation and testing itself:

1) STUDY!!! You won’t do well if you don’t try. Practice using tests from previous years. Some questions are recycled. Don’t procrastinate!!!

2) Set a reasonable goal! Write out your goal on paper.  Goal setting is important and will motivate you to work hard leading up to testing.

3) Keep track of time. Remember that you are taking a timed test, so bring a watch that doesn’t make beeping noises or doesn’t have an alarm. Smart Watches are not allowed!

4) Stay hydrated and eat well. Sounds obvious, but you need to seriously keep yourself healthy if you want your brain to perform at its best for testing.

5) Get lots of rest! As always, you function best when you are well rested and have sufficient energy. Don’t stay up all night cramming or playing video games.

BY: EMILY NGUYEN

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How to Get a Higher Test Score

1. Take every practice test you can! You can find numerous online just by searching on the web “DECA (Insert Cluster Name) Cluster Practice Exams.” When taking these tests, I would make sure you understand why you got each question wrong. In my opinion, reading through the answers is far more significant than taking the actual test. If you don’t get a certain concept when testing, search for it online and take the time out to read articles or watch a couple videos. Your friends, family, and teachers are also great resources to use!

2. Learn your vocab! All of the DECA Exams you take will be heavy with vocabulary, and so it is essential that you understand all terms possible. I personally find it very helpful to search for glossaries on the web - I know Quizlet is a very helpful tool! Just a simple “DECA (Insert Cluster Name) Vocabulary” search on the web can land you hundreds of terms! Another thing I would do is to go through a list of all the Performance Indicators in your event and write down every term you are unfamiliar with. When studying your vocabulary, I would make sure you really understand the terms rather than just the definition. Take some time to set up a schedule and memorize roughly 20 terms a week. Review the terms you previously learned and try to employ them in sentences to increase retention. The vocabulary you learn will not only assist you when you take your test but when you do your Roleplays -  judges are very impressed when they hear these terms!

3. Know your exam! You can find breakdowns of every DECA Cluster Exam here. This is an amazing resource primarily because it tells you what concepts to focus on the most. The instructional areas provided on the chart are broad categories you need to understand before you take your test.

4. Try to convince your chapter to get Competition University! Competition University is a website that is designed to train DECA members in any competitive event. It has all the DECA resources ready to go, will teach you performance indicators, and go over practice tests with you.

5. Use the official DECA Images Resources. DECA Images sells competition materials you can purchase online. This includes things such as flashcards, tests, and much more. This is a great way to study, as you know these resources are reliable since they come from DECA themselves.

6. For any other resources, visit www.texasdeca.org! Texas DECA provides a wide array of materials to help you succeed as a DECA member, whether it be competition, chapter management, or leadership development. Also, please let Texas DECA know if you have any requests for a new resource to be made

BY: DHRUV GOMBER

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Why You Should Compete in a Role Play Event

Roleplays are the perfect way to test your skills of improvisation and quick-thinking or just confidence improvement! If you’re willing to take on the challenge of spontaneity, roleplays are the optimum type of competition for your DECA experience.

Test your knowledge!

Given performance indicators and a scenario, your true knowledge about your competitive event is being put to the test! This best indicates your strengths and weaknesses, helping you build your knowledge and experience of working in the business world. Not only does this improve your skills and application, but also allows you to showcase your abilities on the tested subject. Roleplays really give you a chance to put your best foot forward, if you’re willing to work for it!

Build your confidence!

Learning to present or speak in public can be intimidating and embarrassing, however, roleplays are the icebreaker to gaining confidence in your presentations. Roleplays give you a safe environment to practice your presentation, in a one-on-one environment with the judge. This allows you to have a more intimate environment, giving you tense, yet secure, conditions to grow your confidence skills. A large factor in roleplays includes your confidence levels: handshake, eye contact, posture, and overall engagement. These confidence indicators can boost your presentation, and teach you valuable lessons for future interviews where confidence is key! Considering the factor of improvisation and spontaneity, with practice, roleplays help teach confidence even when you feel overwhelmed in an interview.

Give you an accurate image of real-life situations!

Taking on a hypothetical role and purpose in these interviews allows you to not only assert confidence but gain knowledge of how your skills are applicable in the business world. All roleplays have a situation that is likely to occur in your future of conducting business, whether it comes to customer satisfaction or managing resources. Roleplays give you an accurate representation of problems that employers face and allow you to explore the options of solutions. Not only will this increase your score in a DECA competition, but furthermore prepare you for your future in the business world. Practicing creating new ideas and solutions with originality and leadership in a roleplay inclines you towards being more successful in the future when you approach a similar situation.

BY: MADELINE SEVERSON

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LEAN Business Model

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Glass Class - Competition

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Professional & Alumni Member Outreach Letters - Editable

parents - professional

businesses - professional

competition - professional

Alumni

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Understanding the Online Events and Challenges

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Texas DECA Champions' Resources

Competitive Event Student Testimonials

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