Role Play Tips

DECA Oral Competitions/Role Plays

The Case Study (situation):

- Read the case study slowly and carefully, making sure you understand the situation

- Take notes to make sure you get all the details. Make sure your notes cover each competency

- Take special note of the competencies/performance indicators listed at the bottom

- Make your notes clear and understandable to yourself

- Prepare for possible questions not mentioned on the sheet (judges will ask some)

- Focus on the performance indicators; make sure you understand how they apply to the situation

The Presentation:

- Make the presentation appropriate to the judge and their role in the situation

- Make it sequential (introduction, body, conclusion)

- Finish one point before jumping to another

- Repeat things if they ask you to (you weren’t wrong, they just didn’t hear you the first time)

- Remember to include the performance indicators!

Some Insider Tips:

- Smile when you greet the judge

- Practice a firm (and dry) handshake

- Wait until they ask you to sit

- Sit up straight

- Don’t fidget

- Speak clearly and confidently

- Try not to read off your notes

- Use hand gestures (not wildly, but don’t sit there like a bump on a log)

- Don’t look at anything but the judge, especially their notes

- Make a business card, no matter what size

- Draw diagrams, maps, posters, window display plans etc.

- Make fake books, brochures, pamphlets, employee manuals etc.

- Make a pretend phone call

- Make up pretend events, a history for your business etc.

- Don’t forget the performance indicators

Role Plays – Do’s and Don’ts:

- Make a good first impression. Be confident – THINK: you just got into the university of your choice on a full scholarship

- Read the role play carefully, have your proposal/information ready, you want to be talking for most of the time you have been allotted to maximize effectiveness

- Use lots of eye contact, name of judge, smile, be serious/businesslike

- The judge is probably NOT A TEENAGER, avoid saying things like, “we all like to play on the computer, go to movies, and watch TV.”

- Be empathetic. What can you do for the “judge”

- Be up to date in your category i.e. Global Positioning Systems, technology, current issues/trends, bricks and mortar vs. internet, big box stores vs. malls; do research in your category ahead of time – go to the library to pick up relevant materials (i.e. Hospitality and Tourism or Advertising books)

- Dress appropriately, hair grooming, finger nails, socks, “a jacket is a must”; no white socks for boys, no socks for girls

- In business, the bottom line is profit. Therefore in your role play avoid giving things away for free i.e. We give free products, free services etc. Rather you might say, “You give competitive prices” and perhaps offer incentives or long term warranties or other attractive benefits

- Shake the judge’s hand – when you arrive at the role play AND when you LEAVE THE ROLE PLAY – with eye contact, firm hand shake and a thank you at the departure

- Refer to your notes – don’t read them; your notes are your outline/script for how you are responding in the role play

- Think and use technology in your response during your role play. For instance, if you are designing a marketing plan, promotion, communication within the company or to clients – use internet, e-mail, web pages, advertisements on banners of frequently visited web sites, gathering data basis for customer mail outs via e-mail etc.