The Purpose of DECA Competition
DECA offers a comprehensive program of competitive events based on the occupational goals of its student membership and on the activities of chapters in high schools and postsecondary institutions. Competitive events offered by DECA are replicated at the state level as well as at the chapter level.
The purposes of DECA’s competitive events are:
to contribute to the development of skills necessary for careers in marketing, merchandising, management and entrepreneurship
to evaluate student achievement of the skills through careful measurement devices (performance indicators)
to provide opportunities for student and team recognition
to provide constructive avenues for individual or team expression, initiative and creativity
to motivate students to assume responsibility for self-improvement and self-discipline
to provide a vehicle for students to demonstrate (via performance indicators) their acquired skills through individual or team activities
to assist students in acquiring a realistic self-concept through individual or team activities
to help students participate in an environment of cooperation and competition
to provide visibility for the educational goals and objectives of marketing education
It is believed that competitive events are congruent with sound educational practices and enhance educational purposes. Therefore, DECA competitive events are learning activities designed to evaluate students’ development of essential skills necessary for entry or advancement in the field of marketing. The DECA Competency Based Competitive Events Program facilitates effective integration of DECA as an integral component of the total marketing education instructional program.
To do this, competitive events are designed to enable students to engage in activities that will extend their interests and skills for careers in marketing and measure via performance indicators the degree to which skills have already been acquired. In effect, the competitive events meet the goals of the marketing education curriculum by demonstrating occupational proficiency in specific areas of marketing, merchandising, management and entrepreneurship.
In addition to role playing real business scenarios with judges, students take a comprehensive written test. The tests consist of 15% questions on foundations (business, management, entrepreneurship; communication, interpersonal skills; economics; professional development), 35% questions on functions (distribution, financing, marketing-information management, pricing, product/service management, promotion, selling) and 50% questions on the specialized occupational area of the event.
