Business Operations Research Topic for 2025-2025
The 2024-2025 topic for each career category is the development of a strategic plan to enhance or introduce the use of AI in an existing business or organization. Participants will collaborate with a local business or organization to analyze current AI strategies and practices. Participants will then develop and present a strategic plan for AI usage.


Current Events - September 4th, 2024
Paris sets new trend as the product placement Olympics
TJ Maxx, Marshalls parent thrives due to product mix and price flexibility
Aldi makes significant alteration to popular product packaging
10 Real-Life Examples of Product Modification

Business Operations Research Topic for 2023-2024
  • The 2023-2024 topic for each career category is the development of a strategy to combat the talent challenge. Businesses today are facing labor shortages across all industries. Participants will collaborate with a local business or organization to analyze the current process for recruiting, hiring, onboarding and retaining employees. Participants will then create and present a strategic plan to attract and retain employees.
 





Current Events - September 5th, 2023
Liquid Death: A Brand that Defies Convention and Challenges the Status Quo
Apple Event 2023: iPhone 15 Launch
Apple backs California right-to-repair bill in major policy shift
Parents are spending less on back-to-school shopping this year: report



Current Events - November 15th, 2022
Aldi rewinds prices to 2019 for Thanksgiving favorites amid inflation
Pay what you can in this Ann Arbor restaurant’s new pay-it-forward program
How TJ Maxx and Ross offer such deep discounts
The holiday campaigns have begun—here’s what we’re seeing so far



Operations Research Written Event Prompt:
The 2022-2023 topic for each career category is to research an existing business’s website, products, and/or services and develop a strategic plan to adopt a hyper-personalization approach. Today companies are tracking and collecting large amounts of customer data and are using artificial intelligence to determine
patterns within the data to simulate a customer’s thought process. Consumers have raised concerns about
privacy and ethics in regards to this type of data collection. Participants will develop a strategic plan to
enhance and improve the company’s existing products and/or services by incorporating this approach and
addressing consumer concerns.

AI-based 'synthetic personas' can augment and transform audience research
Hyper personalization: everything you need to know
3 Keys To AI Success
Marketing Personas and AI






Current Events, September 12th, 2022
Apple unveils new iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods
Why Coca-Cola doesn't want to tell you what's in those weird flavors
McDonald's is adding a new treat for fall
Juul will pay nearly $440 million to settle states' investigation into teen vaping


Current Events, October 26th, 2021
Are Cooler Screen the Fridge of the Future?
The future of ecommerce is Live Shopping
Thanksgiving Prices On the Rise
Prices Soaring for Holiday Decorations



Current Events, October 4th, 2021

Dollar Tree adds products priced at more than a dollar
Peloton look to commercial business to add growth
How do brands tell if a Super Bowl ad was successful? Its complicated.
Will we still have movie theaters in the future?


Current Events - September 7th, 2021

Spicy Twist on Classic Snacks
How AriZona is staying relevent through new products and graphic design
Kleenex is changing how it is made to prevent deforestation
Plant-based food sales expected to increase fivefold by 2030

i



Current Events - Product - October 14th, 2020
ThredUP
Taco Bell
Early Adopter Marketing
Peloton

Current Events - Distribution - November 26th, 2019
Nike Deals Amazon A Prominent Blow
How Nike’s Direct-to-Consumer Plan Is Crushing the Competition
Target CEO says cost of handling online orders drops 90% when shoppers use same-day options
E-commerce Growth Has Continued, but Unequally


Current Events - BOR topic - Online Branding
Using Brand Awareness and Reputation to Drive Growth
5 Dynamic Tips to Manage & Improve Your Online Brand Reputation
Online Reputation Management Is Important--Here's How To Keep Up
Five Ways To Build A Strong Online Presence For Your Brand

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING


Current Events - September 30th, 2019
A Doll For Everyone': Meet Mattel's Gender-Neutral Doll
Product Placement So Obvious, You Missed It
Area 51: How Bud Light Chose Their Newest Twitter Mascot
Flurry of new Amazon hardware


Current Events - September 9th, 2019
What to expect from Apple’s annual iPhone launch this week
The World Wastes Tons of Food. A Grocery ‘Happy Hour’ Is One Answer.
What Makes Product Placement Work
A Streetwear Company's Greatest Marketing Tool

Current Events - December 5th, 2018
9 facts about Amazon's unprecedented warehouse empire
Here's how Target plans to beat Amazon and Walmart in the shipping wars this holiday season
Behind Cyber Monday, UPS Upping Holiday Logistics
SWOT Analysis of GAP
      (Provide a summary of Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats & Opportunities)


Choosing Your DECA Events

Competition University Casting Call

Business Operations Research
2018 Topic - Cause Marketing

Cause-Related Marketing: A Win-Win For Brands, Charities And The Consumer
4 Keys to Creating Cause Marketing That Benefits Both Brands and Nonprofits



Current Events - October 8th, 2018
Online Marketing As We Know It Is Changing With The Rise Of Generation Z
New Internship Program Gives  Students Rare Experience at the Detroit Tigers, Olympia Entertainment
Amazon Raises Minimum Wage to $15 but Takes Away Bonuses
Toys R Us Launches Plan to Take Back the  Toy Market


Current Events - Product Unit - September 28th, 2018

Dunkin' Donuts dropping the "Donuts"
SiriusXM to Acquire Pandora in $3.5 Billion Deal
Snapchat feature that lets you easily buy items from Amazon
iPhone XS and XS Max review: Apple's latest are the best yet.


Current Events - Branding - October 2nd, 2017
Meijer "Misfits"
Off Brands - Understanding the terrible spelling and punctuation in corporate names
Here's what 24 of the most popular brand names really mean (Choose 10)
Apple Tops List of Best 100 Global Brands

Current Events - Product Unit - September 11th, 2017
With a $1,000 Price Tag, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold
Apple’s September 12 Event May Mark A Turning Point For iPhone, Apple Watch
New iPhone names are reportedly iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus
The fight to replace the iPhone and other smartphones is on — here's what to watch for in round one


Current Events - Channels of Distribution - November 29th, 2016

How Technology Is Driving Logistics This Holiday Season
How Millennial 'Foodies' Are Challenging The Supply Chain From Farm To Table
Trump Wins: Supply Chain Implications Of Stated Policies
Amazon Flex officially launches, and it’s like Uber for package delivery


Current Events - Pricing - October 2016

What the Airlines Never Tell You About Airfares
How Apple Plays the Pricing Game
Disney Parks Consider Off-Peak Prices
Airbnb Crimps Hotels’ Power on Pricing


Current Events - Branding - September 30th, 2016

This Infographic Shows How Only 10 Companies Own All The World’s Food Brands
13 Small Eco Brands That Are Actually Owned By Giant Corporations


SoLoMo - Business Operations Research

What is SoLoMo and Why Is it Important to Marketers?
SoLoMo: The Future of Digital Marketing Continues Here



Current Events - Product - September 12th, 2016

Here’s Why the Fast-Food Breakfast Wars Are Raging
Microsoft's and Apple's Product Lines Compared: This Is Why Apple Wins
Want That Shiny New Black iPhone 7? You May Be Waiting A While
Nike Inc. Marketing Mix (4Ps/Product, Place, Promotion, Price) Analysis



Branding Assignment:

Drug Name Confusion


Current Events - September 14, 2015

Starbucks Makes a Big Bet on New Product Mix
Five Popular Stores With Great Return Policies

International Business: Some brand names don't translate well