A domino is a small rectangular block with either one or two faces. It is marked with dots resembling those on dice, and has an exposed end that can be used to set up other dominoes or a player can play directly onto. Dominoes can be arranged in straight lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, 3D structures like towers and pyramids, or stacked to create shapes such as hearts.
Many people enjoy playing games with dominoes by lining them up and knocking them over. Others use them to build complex structures such as tracks or art. Dominoes are also used as a learning tool for math and science lessons.
The earliest known domino was probably made in China in the 1300s. Later, dominoes became popular in Europe. The modern dominoes that we know and love today are usually made of plastic or wood, and they are normally twice as long as they are wide. They are often grouped into sets that are numbered to make it easier to track and re-stack them after use. Each domino has a value that is determined by the number of dots on its exposed ends, called pips. The values range from six to blank to zero. The more pips a domino has, the higher its value and the more it can be stacked.
Dominoes are most often played in pairs. The first player begins by laying down a domino with one end touching another. Each side of the domino has a specific value, and the players take turns adding to the line until the total points on all of the sides is equal or less than the amount needed to win. The winners are the partners whose combined total points are the lowest.
When a player wins a round, the other players must “chip out” of play by placing their last domino on the table. The players may continue to chip out until a point is reached at which no player can proceed, or until they both agree to stop.
If you’ve ever watched the TV show Undercover Boss, then you’ll be familiar with the Domino’s Pizza company. Domino’s CEO Don Meij is sent to various Domino’s locations where he observes how the employees work and tries to determine what can be done to improve the way they operate. He’s able to come up with a few changes, such as relaxing the dress code and adding new leadership training programs, that make a big difference in how the employees perform.
Domino’s business strategy also includes listening to their customers. They have a slogan that says, “Champion Our Customers.” When the Domino’s website had technical problems, they paid close attention to what their customers were saying and responded quickly to address any issues. This shows how important it is to listen to your customers and stay focused on what matters most. In the end, this is what keeps a customer loyal and happy.