A domino is a flat, thumb-sized rectangular block, each face bearing from one to six pips or dots. Twenty-eight such pieces form a complete set of dominoes, which can be played in various games by matching the ends of adjacent pieces and laying them down in lines or angular patterns. Domino is also used as a noun to refer to any of the aforementioned games or to a person who plays them.
We’ve all seen the videos of a domino effect, where one piece of a long line of dominoes is tipped ever-so-slightly and falls, knocking over the rest of the set in a cascade of rhythmic motion. The domino effect is actually much more powerful than most people realize. A 1983 study by University of British Columbia physicist Lorne Whitehead shows that the energy transmitted from one domino to the next can actually cause them to knock over objects about a half-size larger than themselves.
Lily Hevesh, a master of this art, has created mind-blowing domino constructions with thousands of pieces. She says she starts her creations by considering the theme or purpose and brainstorming images or words that might be relevant to it. After that, she begins placing the dominoes one by one. “The most important thing is making sure they’re in the right position,” she says. “Then I start adding more and more and more.”
In a business context, the term domino refers to any action that has the potential to impact others in a similar manner. For example, if you start a project that will affect a number of departments, you may need to notify all of them of the change so they can adjust accordingly. You might even have to contact clients, suppliers, or vendors. If you don’t plan for the possible domino effect, your project could be derailed, leaving you with an unfinished product and disappointed stakeholders.
Many writing teachers use the word domino to describe actions that influence other scenes in a story, book, or article. This concept helps writers understand that a single scene may seem isolated but it should actually be connected to the scene before and the scenes that follow. For example, if you’re writing a scene that has your hero doing something immoral, it will be difficult to make it work unless you give readers enough motivation and logic to see how the behavior logically flows from the preceding scenes.
Domino’s business model grew out of the success of its first restaurant. Its founder, Peter Monaghan, focused on putting locations in college towns, attracting customers with the promise of fast pizza delivery. He also emphasized customer service, allowing the company to build loyalty in its early days.
The company continues to focus on its customer-first philosophy today, even as it grows its global presence with the help of strategic acquisitions and a growing workforce. In the last several years, it has expanded into markets outside of North America and into e-commerce. Domino’s leadership has also shifted to a more collaborative style, working to empower its employees and relying on behavioral theory to find leaders.