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DECA Competitive Events Guide
Everything you need to know about DECA's 36 competitive events
Understanding DECA Competitive Events
DECA offers 36 competitive events across 6 career clusters designed to test high school and collegiate students' business knowledge and presentation skills. Each event evaluates different competencies through roleplays, case studies, or written projects.
The 6 DECA Career Clusters
Marketing Cluster
Events: Apparel & Accessories (AAM), Automotive Services (ASM), Business Services (BSM), Hospitality Services (HSM), Marketing Management (MMS), Quick Serve Restaurant (QSR), Retail Merchandising (RMS), Sports & Entertainment (SEM)
The largest cluster, focusing on marketing strategies, customer service, promotion, and sales across various industries.
Finance Cluster
Events: Financial Services (FIN), Accounting Applications (ACT), Business Finance (BFS), Banking Services (BNK)
Covers financial planning, accounting, banking, investment, and corporate finance concepts.
Hospitality & Tourism Cluster
Events: Hotel & Lodging Management (HLM), Restaurant & Food Service (RMS), Travel & Tourism (TTM)
Focuses on customer experience, operations, and management in hospitality industries.
Business Management & Administration
Events: Business Law & Ethics (BLE), Human Resources Management (HRM), Management Decision Making (MDM)
Tests knowledge of management principles, HR practices, business law, and ethical decision-making.
DECA Event Formats
Individual Series Events (Roleplays)
The most common format. You receive a case study, get 10 minutes to prepare, then present a 10-minute solution to a judge. The judge evaluates you on 5 performance indicators (70 points) and 21st Century Skills (30 points). This format tests your ability to think quickly and present professionally.
Team Decision Making Events
Work with a partner to solve complex business challenges. Popular team events include Travel & Tourism Team Decision Making (TTDM), Sports & Entertainment Team Decision Making (STDM), and Hospitality Services Team Decision Making (HTDM).
Written Events & Projects
Research-based projects completed over weeks or months. Examples include Business Growth Plan, Innovation Plan, and International Business Plan. These require extensive research, professional writing, and presentation skills.
DECA Judging Criteria
Every roleplay event is scored on a 100-point scale:
- •Performance Indicators (70 points): 5 specific skills worth 14 points each. You must demonstrate each PI clearly.
- •21st Century Skills (30 points): Overall impression including professionalism, confidence, body language, and communication.
How to Prepare for DECA Events
Success in DECA requires three things:
- Know your Performance Indicators: Study all PIs for your event. There are over 14,000 across all clusters.
- Practice presenting: Do multiple practice roleplays to build confidence and refine your structure.
- Understand the format: Know how much time you have, what materials you can use, and what judges expect.
Case Ace provides practice cases for all events with AI feedback on your performance indicators and presentation skills. Practice unlimited roleplays to master any competitive event.