Domino is a mathematical polygon of order 2, consisting of two equal-sized squares connected edge to edge. It has an area of. Domino is also the name of a series of games played with small rectangular blocks called dominoes, sometimes known as bones, stones or men. These have a printed arrangement of dots, or pips, on one side and are blank or identically patterned on the other. They are used as gaming pieces and as a teaching aid for learning number recognition and counting.
The word domino may be used to describe a person, place or thing that dominates others, or a process by which an object or event comes into power and influence over a lesser one. It may also refer to the game itself, in which players try to create a line of dominoes that ends with their own piece. In the latter sense, it is sometimes referred to as “the game of skill.”
In business, the company Domino’s was once so dominant in pizza delivery that some people feared it would become a monopoly. But after losing its chief executive and falling into serious debt, the company had to make changes. Changing the image of the chain was important, as well as introducing new products and expanding beyond pizza delivery. These efforts were successful, and Domino’s is now the largest pizza chain in the world, with more than 25,000 locations worldwide.
Domino’s success story is a good example of the domino effect. A single event, such as the introduction of a new product, can change an entire industry. For example, the invention of sliced bread enabled grocery stores to compete with restaurants that previously had the advantage of serving fresh-baked goods, which required much more time and effort to prepare.
Similarly, Domino’s has had to constantly innovate and come up with creative ideas to stay ahead of competitors like Pizza Hut and Papa John’s. They’ve done everything from partnering with crowd-sourced car designers to produce a custom Domino’s delivery vehicle (which an article described as “a cheese lover’s Batmobile”) to offering online ordering and drone delivery.
While each of these initiatives has its own merits, they are all aimed at helping to modernize the Domino’s brand and give it a more contemporary feel. This is crucial for a company that relies on its reputation as a fast-food staple to attract customers.
The idea of a single domino knocking down a series of other objects is not uncommon in fiction, and the concept is very useful for building suspense. However, it’s often over-used, and the result can be unrealistically dramatic or slow-moving. The key is to use this technique in the context of a plot that has sufficient tension already. Whether you’re a pantser who writes off the cuff, or a planner using outlines and tools like Scrivener, this is an excellent way to ensure that your scenes have enough impact to build tension and keep readers engaged.