deca innovation business plan

Career Cluster

Entrepreneurship.

Are you innovative, possess drive and passion, and enjoy taking calculated risks? Entrepreneurship is important to keep our economy moving forward with new ideas, and small businesses are pivotal to delivering goods and services to their local communities.

DECA CONNECTS

Connect to courses, curriculum + careers.

DECA’s Comprehensive Learning Program integrates into classroom instruction, applies learning, connects to business and promotes competition. Examine your course of study and integrate activities from DECA’s comprehensive learning program to show that DECA is connected and relevant.

Related Courses

DECA's Comprehensive Learning Program provides a variety of instructional resources that would be suitable for these courses and more.

• Principles of Business Administration
• Small Business Ownership

Career Pathways

Each career cluster contains several career pathways, or specialized career areas that are comprised of careers that require similar knowledge and skills.

Instructional Areas

Instructional areas are broad areas of content knowledge that are comprised of many performance indicators. Performance indicators are specific knowledge and skills employees are expected to demonstrate or achieve.

Career Opportunities

The following are examples of career opportunities and occupations that are available within this career cluster.

COMPETITIVE EVENTS

Enrich the classroom.

DECA’s Competitive Events Program is an incredible tool for curriculum. As an integral part of the classroom curriculum, DECA’s industry-validated competitive events are aligned with National Curriculum Standards. DECA’s flagship evaluation process involves students in both a written component such as an exam or report and an interactive component with an industry professional serving as a judge. DECA’s competitive events reinforce creativity, problem solving and presentation skills. The potential for recognition, awards and travel for learning classroom content is a tremendous motivator – not to mention the scholarships and cash awards recognizing DECA members for outstanding achievement. With more than 60 events, DECA offers a competitive event for every course and every student.

Business Growth Plan

Entrepreneurship series, entrepreneurship team decision making, franchise business plan, independent business plan, innovation plan, international business plan, start-up business plan, virtual business challenge-entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship - growing your business, entrepreneurship - starting a business, entrepreneurship operations, case studies + exams, integrate into classroom instruction.

Case studies provide a student-centered engagement activity to help DECA members apply learning through problem-based scenarios that require creative solutions and practical outcomes. DECA’s case studies challenge DECA members to demonstrate industry-relevant knowledge and skills through performance indicators. DECA’s case studies are developed through industry research to reflect current issues and trends in business and industry. DECA’s exams are rigorous, industry-validated, multiple-choice, 100-item exams based on National Curriculum Standards. Each exam item is also linked to an instructional area and specific performance indicator.

You are to assume the role of the owner of EDUCATION PLUS, a new store located in a city with a large school district that sells classroom supplies, arts and crafts supplies and décor. Your business partner (judge) wants you to determine how to get more online customer reviews.

You are to assume the role of the owner of HEART RATE, an affordable brand of athleticwear. Your business partner (judge) wants you to determine whether or not to offer a new product as a “dupe” of a more expensive luxury brand.

Entrepreneurship Exam

You are to assume the roles of an entrepreneurial team that creates unique, abstract planters with a 3D printer. A potential investor (judge) wants to learn more about your business and its needs.

CORPORATE CHALLENGES

Apply learning.

DECA and its corporate partners have teamed up to provide classroom activities that challenge members to apply learning in relevant ways.

DECA at the Bell Challenge

Bring the world of business to the members of DECA in a creative and engaging way, by writing, producing and publishing an episode of DECA at the Bell.

Ethical Leadership Challenge

Develop a public service announcement (PSA) video describing one of the following ethical principles: integrity, trust or respect. The PSA should be designed to educate your local community and those afar through social media.

EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES

Extend learning beyond the classroom.

DECA conferences provide unique opportunities to connect students with corporate professionals to engage them in learning industry-related trends and content.

DECA International Career Development Conference

Ultimate deca power trip, connect to business.

DECA’s college and corporate partners engage DECA members and help them prepare for colleges and careers of their choice. They provide classroom presentations, scholarships, internships, work experience and much more. Visit our partners page to learn more about developing a win-win relationship with DECA’s partners.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Get involved.

Together, we can help prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for college and career. Learn about the various opportunities to get involved with DECA.

Start a DECA Chapter

Partner with deca, contact deca staff for more information..

Become a DECA Insider

Get the latest news, important notifications, weekly case study and more delivered in your inbox with DECA Direct Weekly.

Become a DECA Insider

Get the latest news, important notifications, weekly case study and more delivered in your inbox.

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

Competitive Events

Find Your Event

Competition Success

Online Practice Exams

Vocabulary Flipcards

Performance Indicator Flipcards

Video Library

Chapter Name

As an integral part of the classroom curriculum, DECA’s industry-validated competitive events are aligned with the National Curriculum Standards in the career clusters of marketing, business management and administration, finance, and hospitality and tourism. DECA’s flagship evaluation process involves students in both a written component such as an exam or report and an interactive component with an industry professional serving as a judge. DECA’s competitive events directly contribute to every student being college and career ready when they graduate from high school.

PRINCIPLES OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION EVENTS

DECA’s Principles of Business Administration Events measure the student’s proficiency in those knowledge and skills identified by career practitioners as common academic and technical content across marketing, finance, hospitality, and business management and administration. The Principles of Business Administration Events are designed for first-year DECA members who are enrolled in introductory-level principles of marketing/business courses.

TEAM DECISION MAKING EVENTS

DECA’s Team Decision Making Events provide an opportunity for participants to analyze one or a combination of elements essential to the effective operation of a business in the specific career area. The business situation to be analyzed will be presented as a case study.

Individual Series Events

DECA’s Individual Series Events effectively measure students’ proficiency in the knowledge and skills identified by occupational practitioners as essential to success in a given career. Participants receive recognition for achievement in each role-play scenario and in the series as a whole.

Personal Financial Literacy

DECA’s Personal Financial Literacy Event measures the personal finance knowledge and skills that K-12 students should possess. The Personal Financial Literacy Event is designed to measure the student’s ability to apply reliable information and systematic decision making to personal financial decisions. The Personal Financial Literacy Event is designed for DECA members who are enrolled in personal finance and financial literacy courses.

Business Operations Research Events

DECA’s Business Operations Research Events provide opportunities for participants to demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed by management personnel. Students conduct actual research studies in their communities.

Project Management Events

DECA’s Project Management Events require participants to use project management skills to initiate, plan, execute, monitor and control and close a project.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP EVENTS

DECA’s Entrepreneurship Events provide opportunities to explore entrepreneurial concepts from idea generation, business planning, to growing an existing business.

Integrated Marketing Campaign Events

DECA’s Integrated Marketing Campaign Events provide opportunities for members to develop an integrated marketing campaign of no more than 45 days in length for a real event, product or service and present the campaign in a role-play situation.

PROFESSIONAL SELLING AND CONSULTING EVENTS

DECA’s Professional Selling and Consulting Events provide an opportunity for participants to demonstrate skills needed for a career in sales and/or consulting. Participants will organize and deliver a sales presentation or consultation for one or more products/services/customers.

Online Events

DECA’s Online Events provide opportunities for students to participate in online simulations to learn how to invest in the stock market, manage personal finances, or operate a business venture.

Virtual Business challenge Events

Participants in the DECA Virtual Business Challenge (VBC) operate a web-based business simulation utilizing a competition version of the Virtual Business software. The VBC qualifying rounds are conducted via the internet, where participants will vie for chartered association, regional and overall rankings.

DECA+ ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY ‍ A DECA+ subscription is required for each DECA chapter wishing to access the resources within the DECA+ site. The login is to be used only by the chapter and its members, and the login cannot be shared beyond the chapter. Under no circumstances may any of the content, including but not limited to exams, scenarios or sample written entries, in whole or in part, or any item within be published or posted on any website. Under no circumstances may any of the content, including but not limited to exams, scenarios or sample written entries, in whole or in part, or any item within be shared or distributed beyond the specific DECA chapter that has purchased the subscription.  Any chapter(s) which violates the DECA+ distribution and use policy will not be allowed to participate in the current school year’s chartered association conference or the International Career Development Conference. If any exams or scenarios are posted on a chapter or chartered association website in way outside of the distribution and use policy, the chartered association will not be eligible to purchase exams or receive scenarios from DECA Inc. for a period of one year for the first offense. Furthermore, further access to DECA+ by the chapter(s) in violation will be prohibited effective immediately for a period of no less than three years.

Congratulations to the 2023 DECA ICDC Competitive Event Champions

Congratulations to the 2023 DECA International Career Development Conference competitive event champions! Click here to download a complete list of results.

Order of Events

Executive officers.

• Announcement of the 2023-2024 Executive Officer Team

Professional Division Awards

• Advisor Years of Service Awards
• Outstanding Service Award

DECA Challenges

• Digital Presentation Skills Challenge , Sponsored by Knowledge Matters
• Entrepreneur of Tomorrow Challenge , Sponsored by FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
• Social Impact Leader of Tomorrow Challenge , Sponsored by the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (NPCF)
• Social Innovation Challenge , Sponsored by Inuit
• Social Media Marketing Challenge , Sponsored by Stukent
• Disability is Diversity Challenge , Sponsored by the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)
• Ethical Leadership Challenge , Sponsored by MBA Research and with support from the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative High School Program ‍
• Lead4Change Challenge , Sponsored by Lead4Change
• Unreal Campaign Challenge , Sponsored by Amazon and the International Trademark Association (INTA)

Partner Recognition

• NAB Years of Service

Scholarship Recognition

• DECA Inc. Scholarships
• ICDC Travel Scholarships , Provided by the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation
• Army ROTC Scholarships , Provided by the Army ROTC

Virtual Business Challenge

• Virtual Business Challenge Accounting , Sponsored by Knowledge Matters
• Virtual Business Challenge Entrepreneurship , Sponsored by Knowledge Matters
• Virtual Business Challenge Fashion , Sponsored by Knowledge Matters
• Virtual Business Challenge Hotel Management , Sponsored by the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation
• Virtual Business Challenge Personal Finance , Sponsored by Knowledge Matters
• Virtual Business Challenge Restaurant , Sponsored by Knowledge Matters
• Virtual Business Challenge Retail , Sponsored by Knowledge Matters
• Virtual Business Challenge Sports , Sponsored by Knowledge Matters

‍ Business Management + Administration

• Business Law & Ethics Team Decision Making
• Business Services Operations Research , Sponsored by Piper Sandler
• Community Giving Project , Sponsored by Lead4Change
• Human Resources Management Series
• Principles of Business Management & Administration , Sponsored by Ball State University, Property Management Program
• Business Solutions Project
• Career Development Project , Sponsored by Ball State University, Property Management Program
• Community Awareness Project
• Financial Literacy Project
• Sales Project
• Financial Consulting
• Accounting Applications Series , Sponsored by AICPA & CIMA
• Business Finance Series , Sponsored by Bentley University ‍
• Finance Operations Research , Sponsored by Anderson Business Advisors ‍
• Financial Services Team Decision Making ‍
• Principles of Finance , sponsored by Anderson Business Advisors ‍
• Stock Market Game

Personal Financial Literacy

• Personal Financial Literacy , sponsored by Anderson Business Advisors

Hospitality + Tourism

• Hospitality Services Team Decision Making
• Hospitality and Tourism Operations Research , Sponsored by Piper Sandler
• Hospitality and Tourism Professional Selling , Sponsored by the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation
• Hotel and Lodging Management Series , Sponsored by the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation
• Principles of Hospitality and Tourism , Sponsored by the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation
• Quick Serve Restaurant Management Series , Sponsored by the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation
• Restaurant and Food Service Management Series , Sponsored by the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation
• Travel and Tourism Team Decision Making , Sponsored by the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation

Entrepreneurship

• Business Growth Plan
• Entrepreneurship Series
• Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making
• Franchise Business Plan , Sponsored by the International Franchise Association (IFA) Foundation
• Independent Business Plan
• International Business Plan
• Start-up Business Plan
• Innovation Plan , Sponsored by SCAD

School-based Enterprise

• School-based Enterprise - Food Operations , Sponsored by Intuit and Otis Spunkmeyer
• School-based Enterprise - Retail Operations , Sponsored by Intuit and Otis Spunkmeyer
• Integrated Marketing Campaign - Event
• Integrated Marketing Campaign - Product , Sponsored by FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
• Integrated Marketing Campaign - Service
• Apparel & Accessories Marketing Series , Sponsored by Men's Wearhouse
• Automotive Services Marketing Series
• Business Services Marketing Series
• Buying and Merchandising Operations Research , Sponsored by Piper Sandler
• Buying and Merchandising Team Decision Making
• Food Marketing Series
• Marketing Communications Series , Sponsored by William Peace University
• Marketing Management Team Decision Making
• Principles of Marketing
• Professional Selling
• Retail Merchandising Series
• Sports and Entertainment Marketing Operations Research , Sponsored by Piper Sandler
• Sports and Entertainment Marketing Series
• Sports and Entertainment Marketing Team Decision Making

Preview of 2023-2024

• Experience the Difference

Discussion Questions

Classroom connection, career cluster:, instructional area(s):, performance indicators:.

DECA ICDC: Experience the Jabbawockeez at Grand Opening Session

Prepare to be amazed by America's true best dance crew, the Jabbawockeez, during the Grand Opening Sessions on Saturday night of DECA ICDC in Anaheim, CA.

Join the 2024 DECA ICDC Social Media Team

The talented and dedicated members of the 2024 #DECAICDC Social Media Team will help drive the conference conversation through TikTok Videos and Instagram Reels.

Apply for the 2024 J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation Travel Scholarships

Through a generous contribution from the J. Willard & Alice S. Marriott Foundation, DECA is able to provide 15 $750 travel scholarships to high school DECA members attending DECA ICDC.

A Look Back at DECA's Sports and Entertainment Marketing Conference

DECA's 2024 Sports and Entertainment Marketing Conference was one for the books! With over 1,100 members in attendance, this conference has set a precedent for a year full of experiencing DECA's difference in preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs.

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.