A domino is a small rectangular wood or plastic block with one side bearing numbers and the other blank or marked with spots like those on dice. People stack them on end in long lines, and then tip the first one ever-so-slightly, which causes all the rest to fall over in a beautiful chain reaction. This explains the popular phrase, “domino effect,” which refers to any event or action that leads to much larger–and often catastrophic–consequences.
The Domino Pizza Company is the world’s leading pizza delivery chain, with more than 25,000 locations in the United States and internationally. Its corporate culture focuses on listening to customers and acting accordingly, which has helped the company become one of the top workplaces in the country.
Domino’s leadership style has also been praised for its emphasis on teamwork and its openness to new ideas. The company also has a commitment to diversity, and it is proud of the role that its female executives play in driving innovation and growth for the organization.
Many people enjoy playing games with dominoes, both competitive and cooperative. The most common game involves placing dominoes edge to edge so that adjacent pips form a single number or some other specified total. The players take turns placing their pieces in this way, and the winner is the first player to place all of his or her tiles. There are a number of variations on this basic game, but each requires careful planning and execution in order to be successful.
While dominoes are commonly used for gaming, they can also be arranged in non-game settings to create art or to make patterns. Some people use them to make patterns on the floor or on a tabletop, while others build structures such as houses or model towns using them. Dominoes are available in various colors and finishes, and they can be painted or printed with designs or images.
The most common domino set contains 28 tiles, although some are available in a larger size. The larger sets usually contain more pips on each end, making it possible for players to connect more dominoes in a row and increase the speed of the game.
Lily Hevesh, 20, grew up with dominoes and loved setting them up in straight or curved lines, then flicking the first one to watch the entire set cascade down. Her passion turned into a career, and she now makes a living creating stunning domino arrangements for movies, TV shows, and events, including the album launch of pop star Katy Perry.
She credits her success to Domino’s core values, including “Champion Our Customers.” When she became CEO in 2004, she implemented changes that focused on employee needs and emphasized listening to feedback. This approach has paid off: She has been recognized as a top employer and the company has seen an uptick in sales and customer satisfaction ratings.