DECA Business Case Competition

DECA is an international organization promoting business excellence for youth. The Ontario chapter is the 3rd largest in the world, with over 13,000 members. In November, 34 students attended the DECA Regional Business Case Competition where they rapidly developed strategies and solutions to respond to a business case.

Through the regional competition, ten Greenwood students from Grades 9 to 12 qualified for the provincials, which were held in Toronto, on February 9 and 10. Throughout the two-day event, these students held their own in competition with the best business students in the province.

The students competed individually or in pairs in the categories of Business Administration and Management, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Hospitality and Tourism, and Marketing. They are not presented with the challenges beforehand, so they had to think on their feet and creatively apply the concepts they have learned in class and through club meetings. In the lead up to the competition, the DECA club met every week at lunch for practices and preparation. Almost all of the team members take business courses at Greenwood, though enrolment in one of these classes is not mandatory for participation in DECA.

Results have not been announced yet for the provincial competition, but the eight Greenwood participants can all walk away happy with their performance. DECA meetings will resume in term 3, so interested students can start getting ready for next year’s competition.