MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Management Information Systems challenges members to apply their knowledge of how businesses use technology to manage information and support decision-making. Through an objective test and a role play scenario, members analyze a small business’s environment and recommend effective information system solutions.
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: Digital Technology
NACE Competency Alignment: Career & Self-Development, Communication, Leadership, Professionalism, Technology
Items Competitor Must Provide: Sharpened pencil, Photo Identification, Conference-provided nametag, Attire that meets the Florida FBLA Dress Code
Equipment Provided by FBLA: Two notecards and pencils for each competitor, flip chart paper, markers, and secret problem/scenario for role play
Objective Test Competencies
· Systems Design and Analysis
· Object Oriented Programming Concepts
· Data and Information Management
· IT Project Management
· IT Infrastructure
· Emerging Business Technologies
Test questions are based on the knowledge areas 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 ten of that event at the National Leadership Conference (NLC). If a member places in the top ten of an event at 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 (Community Service Project, Local Chapter Annual Business Report).
· 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.
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. Twenty (20) minutes before their performance time, individuals will receive the case study. A team entering sequestering after the first performance has begun will be disqualified.
o Competitors will be provided with a single copy of a management information system–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 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 may be used.
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.
o Role play presentations are not open to conference attendees.
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 all ties. All judging decisions 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.
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.
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.
Penalty Points
· Competitors may be disqualified if they 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
Systems Design and Analysis (25 test items)
1. Describe typical phases of the Systems Development Life Cycle
2. Discuss methods for gathering and analyzing system requirements
3. Discuss the Agile methodology for software and project management
4. Discuss the Waterfall model of software and project management
5. Determine appropriate features for a new system based on gathered requirements
6. Describe the use of feasibility studies for financial, technical, and organizational analysis
7. Describe terms related to system design (e.g., input, output, controls, procedures)
8. Distinguish between validation and verification of a system
9. Describe the roles of stakeholders, end users, managers, and developers in system development
10. Discuss workflow artifacts used in system design and analysis (e.g., dataflow diagrams, entity relationship diagrams, class diagrams)
Object Oriented Programming Concepts (15 test items)
1. Describe features of object-oriented programming (OOP) languages (e.g., classes, objects, libraries)
2. Explain how business requirements can be translated into classes and functions
3. Describe key features of object-oriented programming (e.g., encapsulation, abstraction, polymorphism, inheritance)
4. Discuss the use and creation of libraries for software development
5. Distinguish between classes, objects, methods, and attributes
6. Identify modern OOP languages and frameworks
7. Analyze the benefits and drawbacks of OOP
Data and Information Management (15 test items)
1. Translate simple user stories and requirements into SQL statements
2. Describe terms related to relational database structure (e.g., relations, tuples, fields, records, keys)
3. Evaluate database schemas based on business requirements
4. Describe the importance of data redundancy
5. Describe best practices for data security and integrity (e.g., encryption, access control)
6. Describe NoSQL databases
7. Discuss the pros and cons of data storage methods (e.g., local, cloud, hybrid)
8. Discuss the use of structured, unstructured, and semi-structured data for business intelligence and decision making
9. Describe the use of Online Analytical Processing (OLAP)
IT Project Management (15 test items)
1. Describe the use of Agile principles in information systems development
2. Describe the processes of Scrum methodology for managing information systems projects
3. Describe the use of Waterfall methodology in information systems development
4. Discuss Agile methodology tenants (e.g., individuals and interactions, working software)
5. Select an appropriate methodology for a software or IT project
6. Discuss the consequences of poor IT project management on budget, schedule, and performance (e.g., runaway projects)
7. Discuss the steps of the project life cycle
8. Describe the use of work products and tools for project management (e.g., kanban boards, user stories, spreadsheets)
9. Discuss the roles of end users and stakeholders in IT project development
IT Infrastructure (15 test items)
1. Describe the importance of IT infrastructure to business processes
2. Describe components of IT infrastructure (e.g., hardware, software, network components)
3. Describe how cloud and virtual components contribute to IT infrastructure
4. Discuss the business value of secure IT infrastructure
5. Describe the benefits of cloud-based architecture for businesses
6. Discuss the performance and cost tradeoffs of network topologies (e.g., mesh, star, bus)
7. Identify layers of the OSI and TCP/IP model
8. Describe services that contribute to business IT infrastructure (e.g., computing platforms, telecommunications services, data management services)
9. Discuss how to avoid common IT security vulnerabilities (e.g., authentication, authorization, access control)
Emerging Business Technologies (15 test items)
1. Discuss the effects of automation on businesses
2. Discuss the uses of artificial intelligence for businesses (e.g., customer support, automation, data insights)
3. Explain core characteristics of blockchain technology
4. Discuss the uses of blockchain for data security and integrity
5. Describe the Internet of Things (IoT)
6. Describe the characteristics of the cloud
7. Identify cloud-based applications and services (e.g., SaaS, IaaS, AWS, Canva)