COLLEGIATE

EMERGING BUSINESS ISSUES

Emerging Business Issues recognizes members who can critically analyze a current business topic by presenting both affirmative and negative viewpoints. Members deliver a well-structured presentation that outlines multiple perspectives and concludes with thoughtful recommendations, demonstrating research, reasoning, and communication skills.

Event Overview

Division: Collegiate
Event Type: Team of 1, 2 or 3 members
Event Category: Presentation
Event Elements: Presentation (with a Topic)
Presentation Time: 3-minute set-up, 7-minute presentation, 3-minute Question & Answer

Career Cluster Framework Connection: Management & Entrepreneurship
NACE Competency Alignment: Career & Self-Development, Communication, Critical Thinking, Leadership, Professionalism

Items Provided by Competitors: Technology and presentation items for preliminary & final round presentation, Conference-provided nametag, Photo identification, Attire that meets the Florida FBLA Dress Code
Items Provided by FBLA: Table for preliminary round presentation and final round presentation

2025-2026 Topic

American vs. BRICS Business Models: A Comparison of Corporate Culture and Work-Life Balance Compare the American business model with that of one BRICS country, focusing on differences in corporate culture and approaches to work-life balance.

Prepare to argue both the affirmative and negative sides, evaluating each model’s strengths and limitations in fostering employee well-being, productivity, and long-term business success.

State

Eligibility

· FBLA membership dues are paid by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on February 1st of the current program year.

· Members must be registered for the SLC and pay the state conference registration fee in order to participate in competitive events.

· Members must stay within the official FBLA housing block of the official FBLA hotel to be eligible to compete.

· Each chapter may submit one entry in this event.

· On the state level, each member can compete in up to three different events in the following combinations: three objective tests OR two objective tests and one performance OR two objective tests and one production or one objective test and two production OR one objective test, one performance, and one production. Students may enter the Christopher Heider, Rob Kelleher, Who’s Who event, and one Chapter event (Community Service, State of the Chapter) in addition to their above chosen events.

· Only competitors are allowed to plan, research, prepare, and set up their presentations.

· Each competitor must compete in all parts of an event for award eligibility.

· If competitors are late for an objective test, they may be either disqualified or permitted to begin late with no extension of the time as scheduled. If competitors are late for a presentation time, they may be disqualified or placed later in the schedule. The decision is solely up to the judges.

· Picture identification (physical or digital: driver’s license, passport, state-issued identification, or school-issued identification) matching the conference nametag is required when checking in for competitive events.

· Participants must adhere to the Florida FBLA dress code established by the Florida Board of Directors or they will not be permitted to participate in the competitive event.

Recognition

· The number of competitors will determine the number of winners. The maximum number of winners for each competitive event is 4.

Event Administration

· This event has a preliminary and final presentation round. If there are less than 15 teams registered, the event will go directly to the final presentation round.

Preliminary Presentation

o Equipment Set-up Time: 3 minutes

o Presentation Time: 7 minutes (one-minute warning)

o Question & Answer Time: 3 minutes

o Important: Time allocations are exclusive. The presentation must begin immediately after the 3-minute set-up time concludes. Time may not be shifted between segments. Competitors will not interact with judges during the set-up period.

o The presentation is judged at the SLC. The presentation is not open to audience members.

o Competitors/teams are randomly assigned to sections.

o Technology Guidelines

· Internet Access: Not Provided

· Presentations must be delivered using one or two personal devices (laptop, tablet, mobile phone, or monitor approximately laptop-sized).

· If using two devices, one must face the judges and the other must face the presenters.

· Projectors and projector screens are not permitted, and competitors may not bring their own.

· Wireless slide advancers (e.g., presentation clickers or mice) are allowed.

· External speakers are not allowed; audio must come directly from the presenting device(s).

· Electricity will not be available.

o Non-Technology Items

· Visual aids, samples, notes, and other physical materials related to the project may be used.

· Items may be placed on the provided table or on the judges table, if space allows.

· No items may be left with the judges following the presentation.

o Restricted Items

· Animals, except for authorized service animals.

· Food, which may be used for display only and may not be consumed by judges.

· Links and QR codes, which may be shown but may not be scanned or clicked by judges at any time.

o Research

· Information must be supported by credible, well-documented sources.

· Any use of copyrighted material, images, logos, or trademarks must be properly documented.

o Team Expectations

· In team presentations, all members must actively participate in the delivery of the presentation.

o Event Specific Information: Competitors should incorporate the following aspects in response to the topic

· Use of Industry Terminology: Use accurate, relevant business terms consistently throughout the presentation to demonstrate understanding of the topic.

· Evidence & Research: Support all arguments with compelling, well-sourced evidence from professionally legitimate and credible resources.

· Affirmative Argument: Present a clear, logically organized affirmative position. Include at least four strong pieces of evidence. Deliver the argument in a persuasive, engaging way that captures audience support and showcases critical thinking.

· Negative Argument: Present a clear, logically organized negative position. Include at least four strong pieces of evidence. Deliver the argument in a persuasive, engaging way that captures audience support and demonstrates depth of analysis.

Final Presentation

o Equipment Set-up Time: 3 minutes

o Presentation Time: 7 minutes (one-minute warning)

o Question & Answer Time: 3 minutes

o Internet Access: Not provided

o An equal number of top scoring competitors/teams from each section in the preliminary round will advance to the final round.

o The final presentation round will follow the same guidelines as the preliminary round.

Scoring

· The presentation score will determine the finalists.

· The final presentation score will determine winners.

· Judges must break ties. All judges’ decisions are final. All announced results are final upon the conclusion of the State Leadership Conference.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

· FBLA complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by providing reasonable accommodations for competitors. Accommodation requests must be submitted through the conference registration system by the official registration deadline. All requests will be reviewed, and additional documentation may be required to determine eligibility and appropriate support.

Recording of Presentations

· No unauthorized audio or video recording devices will be allowed in any competitive event.

· Competitors in the events should be aware FBLA reserves the right to record any presentation for use in study or training materials.

Penalty Points

· Competitors may be disqualified if they violate the Competitive Event Guidelines or the Honor Code.

National

If competing at the National level, be sure to see the National guidelines at https://www.fbla.org/collegiate/competitive-events/