By Tran Nguyen, @deca.tran | Apex Friendship High School, NC
When it comes to DECA prepared events, the smallest approaches often separate top performers from the rest.
Here’s how champions craft winning submissions:
Start Early
Time is your greatest advantage. Begin your written plan weeks or even months ahead of the competition. Starting early gives you space to:
- Thoroughly research the company and industry.
- Draft multiple iterations and refine wording.
- Test visuals, charts or props to complement your ideas.
- Catch errors before they become stress points.
Know Your Company Inside and Out
A winning written plan demonstrates a deep understanding of your company:
- Analyze their products, services and target market.
- Identify recent campaigns, strengths and challenges.
- Research competitors and industry trends to justify your recommendations.
- Include references to credible sources: quotes, statistics or case studies.
2025 ICDC 3rd Place SEOR Winner Brayden Speicher states, “Know your business inside and out so you can respond to any question with the depth, confidence and precision of the owner themselves.”
Think Outside the Box
Creativity helps your plan stand out:
- Add props that reinforce your ideas, such as mock-ups, visuals or interactive elements.
- Use graphs or infographics to summarize key points.
- Consider multimedia elements (slides, images, short videos).
Props should support your analysis and help you stand out, rather than distracting from it. Even a small interactive element can make judges remember your presentation.
Show Measurable Impact
Judges love numbers. Whenever possible:
- Include projected outcomes: revenue growth, cost savings, social media engagement or market share increases.
- Use charts or tables to illustrate key metrics.
- Explain the assumptions behind your calculations so judges see your reasoning.
Concrete evidence demonstrates that your plan isn’t just creative—it’s actionable.
The Bottom Line
A strong written plan balances research, strategy, creativity and presentation. Start early, dive deep into your company, integrate props thoughtfully and use metrics to support your recommendations. With preparation, feedback and attention to detail, your written plan can serve as a championship-worthy foundation that enhances your role-play performance.
