A domino is a rectangular tile with two square ends. Each end is either blank or marked with a number of spots, also called pips. A traditional domino set is made up of 28 pieces (sometimes known as bones, cards, tiles, men, or pieces).
The most common domino sets feature one unique piece for each possible combination of spots from six pips to none or blank. Other sets with more dominoes are available, including “double 18” and “double 24” sets.
Dominoes can be used for a variety of games, both positional and trick-taking. Typically, in positional games each player in turn places a domino edge to edge against another in such a way that the adjacent faces are identical or form some specified total.
They can be stacked on top of each other to create very complex designs, but if the spaces are not properly spaced, they will eventually tip over and fall apart. This cascading effect has inspired a figurative use of the term domino effect, describing the spread of an idea or events from one initial action.
In business, the domino effect is often a successful strategy that helps a company or organization move forward. For example, Lee Schwabb, CEO of Bethlehem Steel, learned that his most important tasks would pay off when he focused on them every day.
During the course of his career, Schwab used this strategy to help Bethlehem Steel become the largest independent producer of steel in the world. He began by ranking the various tasks that needed to be done each day. Once he had decided on the most important, he gave them all his attention until they were completed.
This method of working allowed him to achieve more than he ever dreamed of. It also created a culture of constant communication and a spirit of teamwork among his employees that was essential for their success.
It also led to a focus on listening to their customers. This practice helped the company respond quickly to any customer complaints and concerns that were received.
The domino effect is a great analogy to explain the importance of listening and taking notice of what people say. Whether a customer has a complaint about an employee’s performance or about their overall experience at Domino’s, the company focuses on listening and responding to the issue.
To achieve this, the company is staffed with employees who are experts in the fields of customer service and operations management. These individuals are able to take the information they learn from each customer and implement it into the rest of the company’s processes, which leads to improved efficiency and higher levels of customer satisfaction.
If the domino effect is a useful metaphor for understanding the importance of communication, it is worth considering how the concept applies to the writing process. Just as the first domino in a stack of dominoes can be knocked over and cause the next domino to fall over, each plot beat in a novel is the result of a series of actions that ultimately lead to a successful conclusion.