business MANAGEMENT
Business Management challenges members to demonstrate their understanding of core management principles through an objective test and a role play scenario. Members apply their knowledge to real-world business situations involving planning, organizing, leading, and decision-making within an organizational setting.
Event Overview
Division: High School
Event Type: Team of 1, 2 or 3 members
Event Category: Role Play Event
Event Elements: Objective Test and Interactive Role Play
Objective Test Time: 50 minutes
Role Play Time: 20-minute preparation time, 7-minute presentation time
Career Cluster Framework Connection: Management & Entrepreneurship
NACE Competency Alignment: Career & Self-Development, Communication, Critical Thinking, Leadership, Professionalism
Items Provided by Competitors: Sharpened pencil for objective test and for role play event; Photo Identification; Conference provided name tag; Attire that meets the Florida FBLA Dress Code
Equipment Provided by FBLA: Two notecards and secret problem/scenario for role play
Objective Test Competencies
· Business Environment
· Management Types
· Business Finance
· Operations
· Strategic Management
Test questions and role plays are based on the knowledge statements and objectives outlined for this event. Detailed objectives can be found in the study guide included in these guidelines.
District
Check with your District leadership for District-specific competition information.
State
Eligibility
· FBLA membership dues are paid by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on December 1 (or earlier date specified by District Director) of the current program year.
· Members may compete in an event at the State Leadership Conference (SLC) more than once if they have not previously placed in the top 10 of that event at the National Leadership Conference (NLC). If a member places in the top 10 of an event at the NLC, they are no longer eligible to compete in that event.
· 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 district may be represented by participant(s) based on the Florida FBLA scaled quota system found on the Florida FBLA website.
· Each member can only compete in one individual/team event and one chapter event (American Enterprise Project, Community Service Project, Local Chapter Annual Business Report, Partnership with Business Project).
· Identification: Competitors must present valid photo identification (physical) that matches the name on their conference name badge. Acceptable forms include a driver’s license, passport, state-issued ID, or school ID.
· Each competitor must compete in all parts of an event for award eligibility.
· All members of a team must consist of individuals from the same chapter.
· Competitors cannot be replaced or substituted in between the objective test and role play time.
· 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.
Recognition
· The number of competitors will determine the number of winners. The maximum number of winners for each competitive event is 5.
Event Administration
· This event is two rounds: objective test and role play
· Objective Test
o Objective Test Time: 50 minutes
o Objective Test Questions: 100 questions
o This event is an objective test administered at the SLC.
o No reference or study materials may be brought to the testing site.
o Competitors on a team must test individually, starting within minutes of each other. Individual test scores will be averaged for a team score.
· Interactive Role Play Presentation
o Preparation Time: 20 minutes
o Presentation Time: 7 minutes (one-minute warning)
o Question & Answer: None
o The top 5 scoring teams will advance to the role play final round.
o The finalists will be sequestered before the first performance to receive instructions and time assignments. Competitors will be provided with a single copy of a management–related scenario or problem at the beginning of their assigned preparation time. This copy must be shared among team members and may only be accessed within the designated preparation area.
o The role play will be a problem or scenario encountered in the business community. The role play will be given to the competitors at the beginning of their assigned preparation time.
o Two notecards will be provided to each competitor and may be used during event preparation and role play presentation. Information may be written on both sides of the notecards. Notecards will be collected following the role play.
o No technology, reference materials, visuals, or props are allowed.
o If participating as a team, all team members are expected to actively participate in the role play.
o Role plays are interactive presentations; the judges may ask questions throughout the presentation as part of the interactive role play format.
o Finalists in this event may not watch any of the final performances.
o Competition ethics demand that competitors and audience members do not discuss or reveal the role play until the event has ended.
Scoring
· The team-averaged objective test score determines the top 5 teams advancing to role-play round.
· The role-play round scores only will be used to determine winners.
· Judges must break any ties. Decisions of the judges are final. Results announced at the State Leadership Conference are considered official and will not be changed after 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.
· Participants 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 are found to violate the Competitive Event Guidelines or the Honor Code.
Electronic Devices
· Unless approved as part of a documented accommodation, all cell phones, watches, electronic devices, and headphones must be turned off and stored away before the competition begins. Visible devices during the event will be considered a violation of the FBLA Honor Code.
National
If you are competing on the National level, be sure to see the National guidelines at https://www.fbla.org/divisions/fbla/fbla-competitive-events/
Study Guide: Test Competencies and Tasks
This study guide shows the skills and knowledge you’ll be tested on for this event. Objectives followed by a two-letter, three-digit code in parentheses are based on the National Business Administration Standards from MBA Research and Curriculum Center. Some objectives also reference MBA Research's Learning Activity Packages (LAPs)—resources with readings, activities, and assessments to help you learn. For more information, visit MBAResearch.org/FBLA.
Business Environment (15 test items)
1. Explain the role of business in society (EC:070, LAP-EC-070) (CS)
2. Describe types of business activities (EC:071, LAP-EC-071) (CS)
3. Describe types of business models (EC:138) (SP)
4. Discuss the global environment in which businesses operate (EC:104) (SP)
5. Describe legal issues affecting businesses (BL:001) (SP)
6. Explain the organizational design of businesses (EC:103) (SP)
Management Types (25 test items)
1. Discuss the nature of human resources management (HR:410, LAP-HR-410) (CS)
2. Explain the nature of project management (OP:158, LAP-OP-158) (SP)
3. Discuss the nature of information management (NF:110, LAP-NF-110) (CS)
4. Discuss the nature of customer relationship management (CR:016, LAP-CR-016) (SP)
5. Discuss the nature of supply chain management (OP:303, LAP-OP-303) (SP)
6. Explain the nature of change management (SM:095) (SP)
7. Explain the nature of knowledge management (KM:001, LAP-KM-001) (SP)
8. Explain the nature of quality management (QM:001, LAP-QM-001) (SP)
9. Explain the nature of risk management (SM:075, LAP-SM-075) (SP)
Business Finance (15 test items)
1. Explain the nature of balance sheets (FI:093, LAP-FI-093) (SP)
2. Describe the nature of income statements (FI:094, LAP-FI-094) (SP)
3. Describe the nature of budgets (FI:106, LAP-FI-106) (SP)
4. Describe the nature of cash flow statements (FI:091, LAP-FI-091) (SP)
5. Develop company’s/department’s budget (FI:099, LAP-FI-099) (MN)
6. Interpret financial statements (FI:102) (MN)
Operations (15 test items)
1. Explain the nature of operations (OP:189, LAP-OP-189) (CS)
2. Discuss the nature of business analysis (OP:327) (SP)
3. Discuss business process thinking and its impact (OP:474) (SP)
4. Explain the concept of supply chain (OP:443, LAP-OP-443) (CS)
5. Explain the impact of supply chains on business performance (OP:477, LAP-OP-477) (SP)
Strategic Management (30 test items)
1. Explain the concept of management (SM:001, LAP-SM-001) (CS)
2. Explain factors that affect management (SM:100) (SP)
3. Discuss the nature of managerial planning (SM:063) (SP)
4. Explain managerial considerations in organizing (SM:064, LAP-SM-064) (SP)
5. Describe managerial considerations in staffing (SM:065, LAP-SM-065) (SP)
6. Discuss managerial considerations in directing (SM:066, LAP-SM-066) (SP)
7. Describe the nature of managerial control (control process, types of control, what is controlled) (SM:004, LAP-SM-004) (SP)
8. Explain the nature of managerial ethics (SM:002, LAP-SM-002) (MN)
9. Explain the nature of business plans (SM:007, LAP-SM-007) (MN)
10. Select and apply metrics for measuring organizational success (SM:074) (MN)