Dominoes are small rectangular blocks, about the size of a cookie, that have one face marked with an arrangement of spots or “pips” resembling those on dice. The other faces are blank or identically patterned. Traditionally, dominoes have been made of bone, ivory or a dark hardwood such as ebony with contrasting black or white pips, but today they may be made from a wide variety of materials including polymer.
The game of domino is a social activity and a popular pastime that has many variations, from simple blocking games to complex scoring systems. Each player takes turns placing a tile on the table, positioning it so that both of its matching ends touch other tiles in the chain, either to a left or right of an existing domino or, if it is a double, perpendicular to them. As a result, the shape of the chain develops in a snake-like fashion.
A player wins a domino game by completing all the tiles in his or her hand, although some rules require players to chip out if the game reaches a point where no one can continue. Normally, points are awarded to players according to the number of pips on the opposing players’ remaining tiles; a single-ended tile counts as one while a double-ended (or “doublet”) tile counts as two, and a blank tile counts as zero.
In a game of domino, each individual domino represents a scene, and the sequence in which scenes are played influences the outcome of the entire story. Writers can use this idea to guide their writing by thinking of each domino as a point that reveals information or advances an argument in the narrative. In fact, domino effects are the basis for a significant number of popular stories and novels.
While domino effect is an important factor in a story, it’s not the only ingredient in a successful plot. Writers also need to consider character development, conflict and resolution, and the overall pace of the story.
The Domino’s Pizza company’s rapid turnaround from its low customer satisfaction score is a testament to the value that is placed on listening to customers and implementing changes. Former CEO David Brandon put a variety of new policies in place, including a relaxed dress code and more employee training programs. When Doyle took over as CEO, he continued to emphasize this line of communication with customers and, in doing so, turned around the business in record time. Domino’s also places a high value on the idea that every employee is a champion of customers, and this philosophy has helped the company achieve tremendous success. In fact, the Detroit Free Press recently named Domino’s as one of the Top Workplaces in Michigan. Domino’s is now one of the largest pizza companies in the world. The company continues to grow, introducing new innovations such as online ordering and delivery by drone. In addition, Domino’s has established a Domino’s Foundation to help support food banks and other community organizations.