Domino is a system of tiles or cards with identical patterned marks on two sides. The domino is divided visually by a line or ridge into two squares, each of which is marked with an arrangement of spots, called pips, like those on dice, though some squares may be blank or a different color. The value of each domino is determined by the number of pips it has or lacks. The more pips on a domino, the higher its value, and a domino with no pips has a value of zero.
Early dominoes were functionally similar to playing cards and may have been developed in China as early as the 12th or 13th century. The earliest western dominoes were introduced in the mid-18th century. They were first recorded in Italy and France. The domino system is based on the principle that one tile can be placed edge to edge against another to form a chain reaction, which then triggers the fall of the remaining tiles in the set. The most popular domino games are positional, in which players place tiles edge to edge so that they match each other or form some specified total. The remaining tiles, called the boneyard or stock, are then used to play other games.
The founder of Domino’s Pizza, Tom Monaghan, honed his company’s delivery system by working the streets in Ypsilanti to deliver pizzas to customers. He also focused on placing his pizzerias near college campuses, because he knew that students needed pizza quickly. He was able to build a reputation for quick pizza delivery and grow his business through word of mouth and franchising.
In the popular television show Undercover Boss, Domino’s CEO Don Meij goes undercover to analyze the way Domino’s restaurants and delivery services function and the responses of Domino’s customers. He spends time at several busy Domino’s locations and observes how workers handle deliveries as well as how the company responds to customer complaints. One of the key aspects of Domino’s successful operations is that they have a strong leadership structure.
Domino’s is currently the world’s second-largest pizza chain, with more than 13,500 stores worldwide and a market capitalization of nearly $160 billion. The company has a long history of growth and innovation, but not without its share of ups and downs. It’s a good example of how even the most stalwart companies can benefit from new ideas and leadership.
When you set up a row of dominoes in a straight or curved line and flick the first one, it’s exciting to watch the rest tumble down—one at a time—toward a goal that was established by the first domino. As you work to create a story that works, you might find it useful to think of each scene as a domino effect. Scenes should advance the story toward its goal, but they shouldn’t feel overly long (which can cause a slow pacing) or too short (which can make scenes seem shallow at important plot points). Just as the domino effect requires the right balance of forces to succeed, so do stories.
