ABOUT
The Retailing Track of the DECA VBC encourages DECA members to test their skills at managing a retail convenience store. This competition is a free event for dues paying DECA members. Participating members utilize a competition version of the Virtual Business – Retailing 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 DECA VBC Retailing Track contains two qualifying rounds (Challenges 1 & 2) held throughout the school year. Challenge one is scheduled from October 24, 2011 at 10AM EST – November 18, 2011 at 5PM EST and Challenge two is scheduled from January 2, 2012 at 10AM EST - January 27, 2012 at 5PM EST. There are no state or regional level competitions for this event.
Each of the Challenges will focus on different concepts found within the simulations. DECA 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 marketing decisions regarding a convenience store. 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 until November 18, 2011 at 5PM EST. The Challenge two competition file will only be available for download from January 2, 2012 at 10AM EST until January 27, 2012 at 5PM EST. DECA VBC teams may participate in the first and/or second Challenge. DECA members do not need to have participated in the first round in order to participate within the second round. They 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 by state, by region and nationally. 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 two teams from each of the four regions (Central, North Atlantic, Southern & Western) will qualify to compete at the ICDC. A maximum of one team, per chapter, per Challenge is eligible to qualify for the ICDC. 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 store’s cumulative profit after running the simulation for one virtual year. DECA will send certificates of recognition for the winners of each state for each of the Challenges to the appropriate state advisor 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 ICDC on this website. These teams must have their DECA advisor confirm their attendance and participation in the VBC at nationals by calling (413)587-9917. Prior to confirming a team, the DECA advisor must notify and gain approval from their state advisor for the team to participate in the VBC at the ICDC. In order to ensure a sixteen-team field for nationals, advisors must confirm their teams on or before March 1, 2012.
If a team qualifies for nationals and one or two of the students is (are) unable to go to the ICDC, but the remaining member(s) can go, then Knowledge Matters will allow a member(s) from another team in that chapter to replace the team member(s) that cannot go. This replacement situation may ONLY take place IF the student(s) that is/are taking the open position(s) is (are) a member(s) of the team that is next in the rankings for that particular region.
Competition sessions at nationals will be held LIVE in the exhibit hall. Qualifying teams will be responsible for managing all aspects of their convenience store. 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 DECA 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
DECA Cindy Allen, Marketing Department, DECA, Inc.
703-860-5000 x230
cindy_allen@deca.org
www.deca.org
General Questions
Knowledge Matters, Inc.
VBCCentral@KnowledgeMatters.com
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