Domino is a flat, thumbsized rectangular block, each either blank or bearing from one to six pips or dots: 28 such pieces form a complete set. It is used for playing positional games, in which players place dominoes edge to edge against each other to form rows and angular patterns. It is also used to build structures or for demonstrating mathematical concepts.
The term domino also refers to a person or thing that has an effect on many others. It can be positive, like an inspiring speech that encourages people to pursue their dreams, or negative, such as a tragedy that makes people question whether they will ever reach their goals. The latter type of domino can create a vicious cycle of fear, causing people to avoid going after their dreams, or even to quit working altogether.
Whether we are talking about a person, a business or a piece of software, the word domino can be applied to all types of things that have an impact on other people. For example, a man who gets pulled over for speeding may have a domino effect on the drivers behind him, leading to more tickets and a loss of license. A computer virus that affects just one computer can lead to the shutdown of an entire network, affecting thousands of individuals.
Another example is the Domino’s pizza chain, which experienced a domino effect when it was forced to change its leadership structure. This change resulted in a huge loss of customers, and the company had to refocus its efforts on making changes that would improve its culture and customer service.
One way that Domino’s did this was by listening to its customers. The company’s previous CEO, David Brandon, did a fantastic job of this, and when his replacement, Dominic Doyle, took over as CEO, he continued this practice. He even participated in some of the company’s delivery services to see firsthand how the employees interacted with customers.
This style of leadership has been proven to be more effective than the traditional, top-down model. It can be seen in the popular television show Undercover Boss, where the CEO of Domino’s sends his top manager to work in one of their busiest restaurants and delivery services. This lets him see the system as the employees do and enables him to make improvements that will directly impact the customers.
If you’ve ever watched a domino builder at a competition, you’ve probably marveled at the way all the dominoes are lined up in a careful sequence and then toppled by the smallest nudge from a single domino. This is a perfect illustration of the domino effect: any action that leads to a larger impact, even if it seems minor at the time.
As a writer, this concept can be helpful to consider. Especially if you’re a pantser (meaning that you don’t plot your novel ahead of time with an outline or Scrivener) it is important to think about how each scene will logically impact the one after it. For example, if your heroine’s investigation reveals something important that will cause her to make a big decision, then the next scene should clearly indicate that.