ABOUT
The FBLA Virtual Business Challenge encourages FBLA members to test their skills at managing a distribution center. This competition is a free event for dues paying FBLA members. Participating members utilize a competition version of the Virtual Business - Management 2.0 classroom software, which is currently being used in over 5,000 classrooms in 50 states and Canada. Virtual Business is a software program that was created by Knowledge Matters. The initial feasibility research was funded by a U.S. Department of Education SBIR Contract.
QUALIFYING ROUNDS:
The FBLA VBC contains two qualifying rounds (Challenges 1 & 2) held throughout the school year. Challenge one will begin on October 24, 2011 at 10AM EST and will end on November 18, 2011 at 5PM EST and Challenge two will begin on February 6, 2012 at 10AM EST and will end on March 2, 2012 at 5PM EST.
Each of the Challenges will focus upon different concepts found within the simulation. FBLA members will not be able to control every concept found under the Actions Menu. Teams are only able to manipulate the actions enabled for that specific Challenge. All other concepts will be set adequately and controlled for the teams. Participating teams will be making business decisions regarding a distribution center. Assignments explaining Challenge goals and objectives will be available within the competition files.
The Challenge one competition file will only be available for download from October 24, 2011 at 10AM EST through November 18, 2011 at 5PM EST. The Challenge two competition file will only be available for download from February 6, 2012 at 10AM EST through March 2, 2012 at 5PM EST. FBLA VBC teams may participate in the first and/or second Challenge. FBLA members do not need to have participated in the first qualifying round in order to participate within the second qualifying round. Participants may run through the competition files as many times as they wish during the periods. The competition file is complete once teams have run the file for one virtual year. At this point, teams will be notified with an automatic stop message that asks them if they would like to upload their score. As long as they are connected to the Internet, teams will be able to upload their score. This process will require the team code which was assigned during the registration process. If teams are unable to successfully upload their score, there is an alternate email method available through the upload screen found within the program.
After uploading a score, teams may visit the ranking’s page in order to see where they rank nationally or by state. Teams may upload as many scores as they wish because Knowledge Matters will always rank teams based upon their best score. During each of the Challenges, the top eight nationally ranked teams will qualify to compete at the NLC. A maximum of one team, per state, per Challenge is eligible to qualify for the NLC. Teams that qualify for nationals during Challenge one can participate, but will not be ranked in Challenge two.
For each Challenge, teams will be ranked based upon their distribution center’s cumulative profit after running the simulation for one virtual year. Knowledge Matters will send certificates of recognition for the winners of each state for each of the Challenges to the team's chapter adviser so that winners may be recognized at the state level during individual state meetings.
Each Challenge will start at 10:00AM EST-East Coast (7:00AM PST-West Coast) on the start date. No score submission will be accepted after 5:00PM EST (2:00PM PST) on the last day of the Challenge. Each file is time and date stamped upon receipt for validation. Files will be automatically scored, ranked and posted under the ranking’s page.
FINALS
At the conclusion of the second Challenge, Knowledge Matters will list the teams that qualified to compete in the VBC at the NLC on this website. These teams must have their FBLA adviser confirm their attendance and participation in the VBC at nationals by contacting Ms. Barbara Small (education@fbla.org) at National FBLA. Once National FBLA is notified, Knowledge Matters will change the team’s status to CONFIRMED on the website.
Competition sessions at nationals will be held LIVE in the exhibit hall. Qualifying teams will be responsible for managing all aspects of their distribution center and will utilize the multiplayer capability found within the Virtual Business simulation. This means that teams will be competing against each other within the same simulated region. Unlike the qualifying rounds, competition sessions held at nationals will be timed events. The goal will be to make as much profit as possible within the time allowed (15-20 minute sessions). Nationals will follow a double-elimination format.
DISCLAIMER
Each team and its members are responsible for having read all the guidelines. National FBLA and Knowledge Matters, Inc. are not responsible for an entry that is late, lost, misdirected, or not received. Only entries that are received by Knowledge Matters, Inc. will be eligible for scoring and ranking. All technical issues should be directed to our support team as soon as possible for resolution. Because of the wide variation in computer systems, Knowledge Matters, Inc. assumes no responsibility for the performance of its software on participant's computers. It is the team members' responsibility to read the Late Breaking News/FAQ's located on this page for updates.
CONTACTS
Barbara Small, Director of Education
FBLA-PBL, Inc.
703-860-3334 ext. 122
www.fbla-pbl.org
General Questions
Knowledge Matters, Inc.
VBCCentral@KnowledgeMatters.com
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