Dominos are small actions that have a big impact. A single domino tipping over can set off a series of subsequent events, much like the way that one command in a computer program triggers a chain reaction. Domino’s Pizza CEO Don Monaghan has embraced this concept of Domino Effect as an important part of his leadership strategy. He has demonstrated this by participating in the Undercover Boss show and visiting his restaurants to analyze how employees perform and how customers respond. He has also made a point of listening to employees and addressing their complaints.
A domino is a rectangular piece of a material such as bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother-of-pearl) or ivory with a black or white arrangement of dots on one face and a blank or identically patterned side. Each side of a domino is usually marked with an arrangement of spots, called pips, that determine its value. The dominoes are normally twice as long as they are wide, which makes them easier to stack. The values of the pips range from six to none, although some dominoes have no pips at all.
Generally, dominoes are used to play games that involve blocking or scoring points. These are often adaptations of other games such as cards or dice. Domino games may be played between two players or in teams. In a two-player game, the winners are the partners with the lowest combined total of spots on their remaining dominoes. Typically, the winning team continues to play until it cannot win anymore or until the other team chips out.
In some games, the winner is determined by the first player to play all of his or her dominoes. In other cases, a person with the most dominoes on the table wins. These games can be very complicated, but they are popular at family gatherings and with casual friends.
Many domino sets are made from natural materials such as bone, MOP, ivory or dark hardwoods such as ebony. Some sets are even crafted from metals and ceramic clay. These types of sets tend to have a more traditional feel and are often more expensive than polymer sets.
Dominoes have also been shaped into different designs and shapes for artistic purposes. Hevesh, a popular YouTube domino artist with more than 2 million subscribers, is known for creating stunning Domino displays for movies, TV shows and other events. Hevesh’s large-scale arrangements can take several nail-biting minutes for the dominoes to fall, but once they do, it is a visual spectacle. Hevesh has been featured in the documentary film Domino: The Movie, which recounts her life and work as a domino artist. She has also created dominoes for celebrities including Katy Perry. She has a line of dominoes and accessories that are available online. She has also been commissioned to create custom pieces for individuals and companies. These pieces are more expensive and may take months to complete. Her creations have been featured in magazines and on television and radio programs.