Domino is a name that carries with it the image of dominance and strength. Its Latin roots come from the word “Dominus” (lord, master), which is why it was so often used by emperors and other powerful figures in ancient Rome. In modern-day usage, it is still associated with a sense of leadership and expertise. It is also commonly found on the names of businesses and organizations, imparting a feeling of power and control.
Hevesh, a domino artist who creates impressive domino setups for movies, TV shows, and events, including a music video for Katy Perry, is known for her ability to set up and fall thousands of dominoes at once. Her largest displays take several nail-biting minutes to complete, but Hevesh insists that they are easy to make. She explains that the trick is knowing how to nudge each individual domino past its tipping point. Once that happens, the potential energy in the domino is released and it can be easily pushed over by another piece.
To do this, Hevesh uses small arrows to mark where she wants each domino to be placed. She then shuffles her bones and draws the number she needs for the hand, usually seven. She then starts the hand by placing a domino in a line at one of the open ends. Depending on the game, this process is called setting, leading, playing, or downing the bone. Once the first domino is played, it’s up to the players to play their pieces in order to fill in the rest of the layout.
After that, it’s just a matter of following the chain of reactions until every domino is down. This is the essence of a Domino Effect, a term that describes the cumulative impact of a series of related or similar events. The effects can be literal, as in a row of dominoes, or metaphorical, as in a chain reaction within a system such as global finance or politics.
In the business world, a Domino Effect can be seen in the way functional strategies are implemented to support strategic objectives. For example, a company may choose to invest in software analytics to improve the efficiency of its sales team. This allows them to reach geographically dispersed buyers more effectively.
As the CEO of Domino’s, Steve Doyle knew that they needed to make improvements in their operations. While this meant upending decades of tradition, it was crucial to addressing the company’s core issues.
When he came on board in 2004, Domino’s was losing money. Doyle implemented a number of changes, including cutting costs and revamping the company’s culture. He also focused on rethinking how Domino’s delivered pizza to customers. By concentrating on the delivery process and making it easier for them to place orders, Domino’s began to see profits again. This strategy proved effective, and now Domino’s is the second-largest pizza chain in the world.