INTRODUCTION TO
Individual Series
Competitive Events
Copyright © 2009 DECA Inc. All rights reserved.
May be customized by DECA advisors.
OVERVIEW
Individual Series Events
• Only one student may compete in the
event.
• Components of Competition:
– Comprehensive Exam
– Two or more role-play interactions
WHAT WILL I HAVE TO DO?
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
Individual Series Events
• All participants will take a 100-question
multiple-choice exam.
• You can practice with old exams.
• The exam answer key shows you the
correct answer, explains it, and explains
why the other choices are wrong.
WHAT WILL BE ON THE EXAM?
OCCUPATIONAL AREAS
Individual Series Events
“An industry in the business world.”
• Events are broken into different
occupational areas.
• Exams and role-plays are created with
the specific occupational area in mind.
WHAT IS AN OCCUPATIONAL AREA?
OCCUPATIONAL AREAS
Individual Series Events
• Accounting Applications
• Apparel and
Accessories Marketing
• Automotive Services
Marketing
• Business Finance
• Business Services
Marketing
• Food Marketing
• Hotel and Lodging
Management
• Human Resources
Management
• Marketing Management
• Quick Serve Restaurant
Management
• Restaurant and Food
Service Management
• Retail Merchandising
• Sports and Entertainment
Marketing
CAREER CLUSTERS
Individual Series Events
Career Clusters:
groupings of
similar
occupations/
careers
Individual Series Events relate
to the Career Clusters of
• Marketing
• Finance
• Hospitality and Tourism
• Business Administration
& Management
Career Clusters of the
Series Events
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM Individual Series Events
You will take an exam in the career cluster of your event.
Example: Accounting Applications Series
Business
Click
here to
view
online
Finance Cluster
Hotel and Lodging Management
Quick Serve Restaurant Management
Restaurant and Food Service Management
Hospitality and Tourism Cluster
Human Resources Management
Business Administration & Management
Which exam will you take?
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
Individual Series Events
Apparel and Accessories Marketing
Automotive Services Marketing
Business Services Marketing
Food Marketing
Marketing Management
Retail Merchandising
Sports and Entertainment Marketing
Marketing Cluster
Which exam will you take?
ROLE-PLAYS
Individual Series Events
“An interchange between two people each
assuming a different function or position.”
• The participant receives an event overview
and has 10 minutes to review and prepare for
the interchange.
• Following the preparation time, the participant
has 10 minutes to role-play with the judge.
WHAT IS A ROLE-PLAY?
ROLE-PLAYS
Individual Series Events
What roles are being played?
Examples:
• Employer/Employee
• Manager/Owner
• Sales Associate/Customer
WHO AM I? WHO IS THE JUDGE?
INSTRUCTIONAL AREAS
Individual Series Events
“A general topic or unit of the course.”
Examples:
•
•
•
•
•
Pricing
Promotion
Selling
Economics
Business Law
WHAT IS THIS ROLE-PLAY ABOUT?
INSTRUCTIONAL AREAS
Individual Series Events
2012 Nor Cal Packet Online
Print out the Competition Action Plan
Form E-1, E-2 pages 14-17
WHAT IS THIS ROLE-PLAY ABOUT?
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Individual Series Events
“Specific skills or knowledge under an
instructional area.”
Example:
INSTRUCTIONAL AREA:
• Promotion
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
(There are generally 5 per role-play.):
• Explain the role of promotion as a marketing function.
• Explain the types of promotion.
• Identify the elements of the promotional mix.
WHAT DO I NEED TO COVER?
THE DECA COMPETITIVE EVENTS WEB SITE:
www.deca.org/celisting.html
What will I find there?
• Guidelines
• Sample role-plays
• Sample exam questions
• A complete list of performance indicators
Your teacher will point out the performance
indicators in each unit you study. The
more you can answer or demonstrate, the
better your chances at competition!
WHERE CAN I FIND PI’s?
Tips For Success
• Introduce yourself.
• Give a firm handshake/positive attitudegood first impression!
• Wear conservative professional dress,
minimal jewelry and/or fragrance
• Don't sit until the judge sits
• Never chew gum.
• Strong opening! 
Tips For Success
•
•
•
•
•
Exude energy! Smile ! Relax.
Answer in a professional manner.
Maintain good eye contact.
Don’t answer just yes or no.
Talk like you know your stuff (even if
you don’t). 
Tips For Success
• Be sure to cover the following in your notes:
– What role you play
– What role the judge plays
– Each of the five performance indicators
– Solution/Outcome to the identified
problem/objective
• Strong close! 
• Thank the judge for his or her time.
Sample Role Play & Strategies
The In’s & Out’s of a Role Play
Sample Role Play
Guided Practice
1. Working with a partner, review the role play.
2. You will each prepare your own notes as if you are the
presenter (competitor).
3. The first thing you should indicate in your notes is:
a) What is the occupational category (event)?
b) What career cluster does this role play fit in (test)?
c) What is the instructional area (focus of role play)?
d) What role do you play?
e) What role does the judge play?
f) Where does the role play take place (setting)?
g) Who begins the role play? How does it begin?
Guided Practice
4. Next review the performance indicators & write them
in your notes (leaving room to fill in below, as you
continue).
5. Continue by reading the event situation again.
Because this is only practice, you can discuss with your
partner some potential ideas to present (that relate to
the PI’s). Remember that you will each need to take
your own notes, though, as if you are the presenter.
6. The next step will be to practice presenting.
You will have 10 minutes to present your ideas to your
partner (who will play the judge).
7. Now switch with another group. The previous
“competitor” will now play the
judge & hear some new ideas.