The Team Decision Making Event is designed to develop leadership ability by providing DECA members with the opportunity to demonstrate the basic principles of conducting a business meeting while deciding on the best solution of a problem presented to the group. This event is based as a team rather than individual competition. Therefore, members learn the importance of cooperation and decision making through competitive performance. The event will examine each team’s ability to review all points of a basic marketing or management problem and develop an appropriate solution.
Any Michigan DECA member may enter this team event. Team members may not compete in any other event (except the Merit Award Program) at the State Conference.
1. Each school is eligible to enter only one team into the Team Decision Making Event or the DECA Quiz Bowl Event at the State Conference. Team members are not allowed to compete in any other event, except the Merit Award Program.
2. A team will consist of three members. One of which must assume the role of facilitator and one person must assume the role of recorder.
3. The top teams will advance to compete at the International Conference.
4. Participants will take the Marketing Management Exam at the State Career Development Conference.
5. Team members are to report to the assigned prep room at least five minutes prior to their assigned reporting time, but no more than fifteen minutes prior to the assigned time.
6. The team will have twenty minutes to review the event situation and develop a solution. Only team members and judges will be allowed in the preparation room. No advisor contact will be allowed from the time of preparation to the completion of the event.
7. A judge will evaluate the team members during the prep period to evaluate how all team members are participating.
8. During the prep time, the team members are to review the event situation and develop three alternatives to the situation. The team must recommend and give their reasons for the best alternative.
9. The team will be evaluated on how all members participated and how they demonstrate effective problem solving, reasoning, and communication skills.
10. The team will have eight minutes to present their alternatives and recommendation.
11. Judges will ask follow-up questions.
12. Up to five minutes will be allowed to each team for questions by the judges, at the completion of the presentation. These questions will be directed to the facilitator for any team member to answer. Questions will have to reference the abilities demonstrated during the event.
13. Business attire must be worn.
14. There shall be no identification of chapter, school, city, etc. in the presentation.
15. An audience will not be allowed.
16. The decision of the judges is final. Students are not to ask judges for justification of their scores.
Judge’s Rating Sheet
Length of Event
60 minute exam
Twenty minutes for preparation
Eight minutes for presentation
Five minutes for the judges’ questions
Equipment Supplied: Blank white paper.
Team Decision Making Event Sample Problems
Sample problems for the Team Decision Making Event may be found on Michigan DECA’s website, under Student Central’s Competitive Events section. Michigan DECA’s website is www.mideca.org.
Team Decision Making Event
State and International Evaluation Procedures
1. Teams will compete at the State Conference.
2. The team members’ scores on the Marketing Management Exam will be averaged and included in the teams’ final score.
3. The top team from each section will receive recognition at the State Conference and go on to compete at the International Conference.
1. The top state teams will compete at the International Conference.
2. Teams will participate using the same guidelines as at the State Conference.
3. An audience may be present at the International Conference.
4. Participants must wear a DECA blazer.
5. A new exam will not be given at the International Conference; rather the team’s average test score from the State level will be averaged in to the final score.
6. The teams will be recognized as first, second, and third places at Michigan DECA’s State Recognition Session at the International Conference.
