Domino, also known as bones, cards, men, pieces, or tiles, is a game of skill. It is a tabletop game with a flat, rectangular shape, usually twice as long as it is wide, with one end bearing a number of dots called pips, from zero to six, and the other end blank or unmarked. The pips distinguish dominoes from similar flat gaming objects, such as dice or poker chips, and allow the player to identify each piece in a domino set. Most traditional domino sets contain 28 unique pieces; however, larger sets are available to increase the total number of possible combinations of ends and thus, the amount of potential power that can be transmitted from one piece to another.
In business, the domino effect refers to a chain reaction that begins with one event or action and then cascades into subsequent events or actions. For example, if a person starts an argument at work, it may quickly lead to other employees starting arguments with their co-workers. In a company, this chain reaction can cause low morale and productivity. To combat this, the company needs to take a lesson from its namesake game and address problems early on.
To solve problems before they spiral out of control, Domino’s takes a page from the game’s playbook. They listen to customers and respond to their concerns. The company’s CEO is involved in employee training programs and interacts with workers regularly to hear directly from them what they want from the company. Domino’s is also focusing on embracing new technologies like text messaging and automated phone calls, and experimenting with drone delivery of pizza.
When Domino’s founder, Tom Monaghan, opened his first franchise location in Ypsilanti in 1967, the business took off with a simple strategy of targeting college campuses and delivering pizzas fast. The company’s growth continued and it had more than 200 locations by 1978. Domino’s has since incorporated many other strategies, including offering discounts to frequent customers, improving the quality of its pizzas, and using mobile technology to offer customer service.
Hevesh creates her mind-blowing domino installations by following a version of the engineering-design process. She starts by considering the theme or purpose of an installation and brainstorming images or words. She then tests each section of the setup separately and films them to ensure that they work as intended. Then, she builds the largest 3-D sections first, followed by flat arrangements, and finally lines of dominoes that connect all the sections together. By following this approach, Hevesh is able to achieve precision and perfection in her creations. This allows her to create stunning displays that are both beautiful and functional.