BUSINESS ETHICS

Business Ethics recognizes members who demonstrate the ability to present solutions to ethical situations encountered in the business world and the workplace. This competitive event consists of a presentation component.

Event Overview

Division: Collegiate
Event Type: Team of 1, 2 or 3 members
Event Category: Presentation
Event Elements: Presentation (with a Topic)
Presentation Time:  3-minute set-up, 7-minute presentation, 3-minute Question & Answer

NACE Connections: Career & Self-Development, Communication, Critical Thinking, Equity & Inclusion, Leadership, Professionalism, Teamwork, Technology

Equipment Provided by Competitors: Technology and presentation items for preliminary & final round presentation
Equipment Provided by FBLA: Table for preliminary round presentation and final round presentation

The Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative provides principles-based ethics education to students and focuses on practical, real-world application of ethical principles as a basis for decision-making. Click HERE to learn about the Daniels Fund ethical principles.

2023-2024 Topic: Ethical Implications of Chatbots in the Business World

Artificial intelligence (AI) is seen by many as the next technological advancement meant to revolutionize society, in the same vein as the printing press, the internal combustion engine, or the internet.

While some limited AI tools have been in use for years (e.g., search engines, manufacturing robots, voice recognition software), a far more complex AI technology has recently made enormous strides: deep learning generative AI. These widely available programs most commonly take the form of chatbots, such as ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Bing Chat, or content generators like DALL-E and Midjourney.

Using natural language processing (NLP), chatbots are now capable of understanding complicated requests and responding in an equally sophisticated manner. These systems are simply language models, meaning they are limited to generating text or images in response to user queries and are not capable of independent actions or thoughts. However, even a brief exploration of ChatGPT or DALL-E’s capabilities will reveal just how complex and adaptive these systems truly are.

Generative AI is already being leveraged by businesses and organizations to automate tasks, collect information, and improve the customer experience. Chatbots can provide customer support, conduct market research, and even offer real-time translation services. They can also be used to generate more creative content for marketing and product development purposes, such as social media posts, original images and videos, and technical documentation.

However, the increased capabilities of generative AI pose various ethical dilemmas for the organizations who choose to employ them.

Identify a potential ethical problem from the invention of Artificial Intelligence applications. Discuss its impact on the world of business and provide a solution.

State

Eligibility

·         FBLA membership dues are paid by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on February 1st of the current program year.

·         Members must be registered for the SLC and pay the state conference registration fee in order to participate in competitive events.

·         Members must stay in an official FBLA hotel to be eligible to compete.

·         Each chapter may submit one entry per event.

·      Members on the state level may enter up to three different events in the following combinations: 

o    Three objective tests OR

o    Two objective test and one production OR

o    Two objective tests and one performance OR

o    One objective test, one performance, and one production

·         In addition, on the state level, a member may compete in one chapter event (Community Service Project or State of Chapter Presentation).

·         Only competitors are allowed to plan, research, prepare, and set up their presentations.

·         Each competitor must compete in all parts of an event for award eligibility.

·         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.  If competitors are late for a presentation time, they may be disqualified or placed later in the schedule.  The decision is solely up to the judges.

·         Participants must adhere to the Florida FBLA dress code established by the Florida Board of Directors or they will not be permitted to participate in the competitive event.

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 has a preliminary and final presentation round. If there are less than 15 teams registered, the event will go directly to the final presentation round.

Preliminary Presentation

o   Equipment Set-up Time: 3 minutes
o   Presentation Time: 7 minutes (one minute warning)
o   Question & Answer Time: 3 minutes
o   Internet Access: Not provided

o   The presentation is judged at the SLC. The presentation is not open to audience members.

o   Competitors/teams are randomly assigned to sections.

o   Competitors can present with and bring any of the following technology into the presentation as long as it fits on the small table in front of the judges’ table or is held by the competitors:

§  Laptop

§  Tablet

§  Mobile phone

§  External monitor that is approximately the size of a laptop monitor

o   Competitors present directly from a laptop/device. Screens and projectors are not allowed for use, and competitors are not allowed to bring their own. Power will not be available.

o   Facts and working data must be cited and be secured from quality sources (peer review documents, legal documents, experts in the field, etc.).

o   Materials, visual aids, and samples related to the project may be used during the presentation; however, no items may be left with the judges or audience.

o   When the equipment set-up time has elapsed, the timer will automatically start the presentation time.

o   If performing as a team, all team members are expected to actively participate in the presentation.

o   No animals (except authorized service animals) will be allowed for use in any competitive event.

Final Presentation

o   Equipment Set-up Time: 3 minutes
o   Presentation Time: 7 minutes (one-minute warning)
o   Question & Answer Time: 3 minutes
o   Internet Access: Not provided

o   If there are more than 15 teams, an equal number of competitors/teams from each section in the preliminary round will advance to the final round.

o   The presentation is judged at the SLC. The presentation is not open to audience members.

o   Competitors can present with and bring any of the following technology into the presentation as long as it fits on the small table in front of the judges’ table or is held by the competitors:

§  Laptop

§  Tablet

§  Mobile phone

§  External monitor that is approximately the size of a laptop monitor

o   Competitors present directly from a laptop/device. Screens and projectors are not allowed for use, and competitors are not allowed to bring their own. Power will not be available.

o   Facts and working data must be cited and be secured from quality sources (peer review documents, legal documents, experts in the field, etc.).

o   Materials, visual aids, and samples related to the project may be used during the presentation; however, no items may be left with the judges or audience.

o   When the equipment set-up time has elapsed, the timer will automatically start the presentation time.

o   If performing as a team, all team members are expected to actively participate in the presentation.

o   No animals (except authorized service animals) will be allowed for use in any competitive event.

Scoring

·         The presentation score will determine the finalists.

·         The final presentation score will determine winners.

·         Judges must break ties. All judges’ decisions are final.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

·         FBLA meets the criteria specified in the Americans with Disabilities Act for all competitors with accommodations submitted through the conference registration system by the registration deadline.

Recording of Presentations

·         No unauthorized audio or video recording devices will be allowed in any competitive event.

·         Competitors in the events should be aware FBLA reserves the right to record any presentation for use in study or training materials.

Penalty Points

·         Competitors may be disqualified if they violate the Competitive Event Guidelines or the Honor Code.

National

Be sure to see the National guidelines at https://www.fbla.org/divisions/collegiate/pbl-competitive-events/