Domino is a game in which players arrange one or more dominoes on a flat surface to form a chain. Each domino has a square, rectangular or circular shape and an arrangement of dots, called pips, on its either face. Most dominoes are colored to distinguish them from one another; some are etched with a design. The pips can be made of different colors, shapes and sizes, and each set of dominoes has its own unique look. Dominoes can be played with as few as two people and as many as dozens of them.
Unlike playing cards, which have a fixed number of suits and denominations, each domino has its own identity. The pips on a domino are usually arranged in a circle, but they can also be arranged in a line or diagonally. The pips are used to determine which domino is the first to be placed. Depending on the game, the player can choose to play one of the dominoes in his or her hand or place it “on the table.” A domino is considered to be a match when its matching pair of ends touch and are fully adjacent. The shape of a domino chain develops snake-line at random. Each time a new domino is placed, the chain grows longer until it reaches the edge of the playing surface.
When a domino is played, much of its potential energy converts to kinetic energy and is transmitted to the next domino, which provides the push needed to knock it over. This process continues as more and more dominoes collide with each other, until they reach the point of equilibrium where they no longer exert force on each other.
The resulting chain is then removed from the playing surface, and play passes to the next player. The game ends when the last player has no more dominoes in his or her hand to play and announces, “I’m out!” The winner gains points equal to the sum of the total number of spots on all of his or her remaining dominoes.
Domino’s CEO, David Brandon, understood that he and his company needed to change, and he quickly put into action some of the things his predecessor had started. He relaxed the dress code, implemented a new leadership training program and spoke with employees directly to learn what they needed from the company.
Domino’s continues to embrace innovation. In 2017, the pizza company partnered with crowd-sourced car designers to create a purpose-built, cool-looking Domino’s delivery vehicle. The company also focuses on improving its supply chain by testing the use of drones for pizza delivery. Ultimately, these changes are designed to deliver on Domino’s core value of championing its customers. They’re also meant to spice up the brand image and encourage new and current customers to visit the restaurants. This approach to growth has been an immense success for Domino’s, and it could be a model that other businesses can emulate.
