Domino, the game of matching sides and then laying them down in straight or curved lines, can be a challenge for even the most skilled players. For many, it’s as much about the process as it is about the final result: the satisfying ping of each domino falling over another.
Dominos are the cousins of playing cards and were developed in China sometime in the 12th or 13th century. The European variant of the game was introduced in the late 1700s. Each domino is marked on one or both of its sides with from one to six dots, also known as pips. The pips on a domino tile represent the results of throwing two six-sided dice. A domino without pips is blank, while a domino with a single set of six pips is considered “heavy.”
In addition to being fun to play, dominoes can be used as teaching tools for mathematics and probability. For example, a student can use dominoes to demonstrate the principles of the Fibonacci sequence, which is a numbering system that starts with 1, adds 2 to the previous number, then 3, 5, 8, 12, and so on.
When Domino’s CEO Steve Doyle took the helm in 2012, he made it clear he would make some changes. While his approach may have seemed risky and unconventional, he believed it was the best way to ensure Domino’s continued success. The chain was experiencing stagnation and declining sales, so he threw out the traditional corporate playbook and focused on building a culture of innovation.
He created a program that gave employees the opportunity to submit ideas for new products and services. The company rewarded the most promising and innovative with cash, prizes, and even a spot on the Domino’s website to showcase their work. He also hired a creative director to help reinvigorate the brand. The company rolled out a line of fun and quirky food trucks, and even worked with designers to create a pizza delivery car called the DXP that was both sleek and eye-catching.
While Domino’s is now an international chain of more than 20,000 stores, it started out as a local Detroit pizza joint. It is now the largest restaurant chain in the world, and its success can be attributed to a relentless focus on innovation.
The concept of the Domino Effect states that when a person makes a positive change in one behavior, it triggers a chain reaction and affects related behaviors. For example, when Jennifer Dukes Lee decided to start making her bed each morning, she began to feel more confident in her ability to maintain a clean and organized home. Her commitment to this new habit led to other positive changes, such as reducing her daily fat intake. The more she practiced the healthier eating habits, the more her behaviors became ingrained in her identity. These changes are like dominoes, each tumbling over the other, establishing new patterns of behavior.