Dominoes are used in a variety of games to create elaborate patterns. When one domino is tipped over, it triggers the next one to tip and so on until all the pieces have fallen. The resulting chain reaction has been called the “domino effect,” and it can be quite spectacular to watch. Dominos can also be stacked on end in long lines and tipped to form shapes such as hearts, castles and other structures. Some adults even use them as a way to teach children basic math and problem solving skills by stacking them into columns or creating lines that lead up to a target, such as a toy car.
The company’s early success stemmed from a strategy that focused on locating the pizza restaurants near colleges, where they could serve students who wanted their food quickly and easily. Another key element was the focus on technology to improve efficiency, such as ordering by phone, online and with voice recognition devices like Amazon Echo. These tools allow the employees to spend more time focusing on customers and helping them find the products they need, while also reducing costs.
This focus on innovation has continued under new CEO Anthony Doyle, who was brought in to replace the retiring Tom Monaghan in 2012. Under his leadership, Domino’s refocused on its core values such as Championing Our Customers and Listening to Employees. He also promoted a flexible dress code and a system of mentoring whereby employees were paired with managers to help them grow in their careers.
Hevesh says that when she’s designing an installation, she uses a version of the engineering-design process. She starts by considering the theme or purpose of the piece she wants to build. Then she brainstorms images or words that may relate to that idea. She also considers the materials she needs to achieve her goal.
Using the tools at her disposal, Hevesh creates a series of test models to make sure each section of the display works properly. She demonstrates each section in a video and then makes changes if necessary. This process helps her refine the design so that she can create more mind-blowing displays.
When Hevesh creates a larger version of her installation, she usually starts by constructing the biggest 3-D sections first. She then adds flat arrangements and finally lines of dominoes to connect the sections together. To make sure the final design is ready for public viewing, Hevesh conducts a video test of each section to ensure it all works in slow motion.
When you hear the phrase, “the domino effect,” you probably picture a line of toy dominoes that topple over as the last one is tipped over. But the chain reaction can actually be much more powerful than that. Scientists have shown that a domino can knock over objects up to one-and-a-half times its own size. This is because, when the first domino falls, some of its potential energy converts to kinetic energy, giving the next domino a push that causes it to fall.