Domino is a small rectangular wood or plastic block with its face divided into halves, each half bearing one to six dots resembling those on dice. A complete set consists of 28 dominoes, or “dominoes” (plural of Domino). The word is derived from the Latin dominus, meaning “lord, master”.
A game played with a domino set involves placing and then knocking over these small blocks to create a series of lines and angular patterns. The word also refers to a system of events predicted by the domino theory, in which one event, when successfully carried out, will lead to other related events, with each succeeding event having greater and more significant consequences: “The country’s political instability is expected to set off a chain reaction that could bring down the entire regime.”
In the world of business, Domino’s is the name of a pizza company. Its first franchise opened in 1967 in Ypsilanti, Michigan, under founder Tom Monaghan. He aimed to meet customers’ needs and wants by setting up locations near colleges, where many students like to eat pizza, and by delivering pizzas quickly. His business strategy paid off, and Domino’s now has more than 800 stores worldwide.
The company has also made good use of technology in its operations, including its delivery service and other initiatives that allow customers to order pizzas by using an app or simply texting an emoji. Domino’s also employs more than a third of its workers in software analytics, which allows them to monitor customer data and make changes accordingly.
Although Domino’s has expanded beyond pizza, the brand is still rooted in its original mission. “Domino’s purpose is to delight and satisfy its customers,” its website reads. The company is “dedicated to delivering pizza and other products with speed and convenience so that everyone can enjoy them.”
Another kind of domino is the domino effect, in which a simple action has larger-than-expected consequences. For example, when a student tries to cram too much work into one night, he or she might feel overloaded and may fall asleep in class, which could result in a low grade on an assignment, which could have further negative consequences.
In fiction, a writer can use the domino effect to build tension by describing a sequence of events that gradually builds in scale and intensity. A great example is the story of a robbery, in which the heist begins with a seemingly insignificant theft and eventually leads to the dramatic escape of the main characters. This plot device is especially effective in thrillers and horror stories. However, a writer must be careful to avoid overusing the domino effect, as it can become predictable and lose its impact.