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A domino is a small rectangular block, usually of wood but also plastic or even cardboard, with a printed arrangement of dots or other symbols on one side. These dots resemble those on dice. The identity-bearing face of a domino is divided, by line or ridge, into two squares, each marked with an arrangement of spots, or “pips,” similar to those on a die, except that some squares are blank (indicated in the listing below by a zero). A set of such blocks, called a domino set, is used for playing positional games.
Dominoes can be stacked on end to form long lines. When the first domino in a line is tipped over, it causes the other dominoes to tip over in sequence, eventually leading to all of them falling over. This is the basis of the popular saying, “the domino effect.” Many people enjoy building elaborate lines of dominoes to see how far they can go before all of them topple. Some people build domino shows, in which they create a series of increasingly complex domino reactions before an audience of fans.
The Block game for two players is the simplest basic domino variant. Each player draws seven dominoes from a stock. They then alternately play tiles on the table until one player cannot extend their hand with a domino of the highest value in their own hand—for example, a double-six tile. The winner is the player who played that domino first.
Another key component of domino’s success is its commitment to listen to employees and customers. When Domino’s was struggling in the mid-1960s, founder David Brandon and subsequent CEOs were able to turn things around by sticking close to the company’s core values. Brandon implemented a more relaxed dress code, held leadership training programs, and spoke directly to workers about their concerns. This helped boost employee morale and boosted customer satisfaction.
In addition, Domino’s has invested heavily in technology to keep up with the changing ways that people order pizza. They’re now experimenting with new ways for customers to order, including by texting an emoji or using devices like the Amazon Echo. This commitment to innovation is likely to help them continue their growth in the future.
For a writer, the idea of a domino effect is a great way to think about how scenes in a novel influence each other. Whether you’re writing a story off the cuff or carefully plotting out every detail, thinking about how a single action can lead to much larger consequences can help make your narrative interesting.
