When a domino is set up, it has a certain inertia, a tendency to remain unmoved when no force is pushing on it. But once a tiny nudge is applied, it can unleash a chain reaction that brings down thousands of pieces in a fraction of a second. Physicists call this phenomenon the “domino effect.”
In a game of domino, each player has a set of twenty-eight rectangular blocks called tiles. Each tile has an identifying mark on one side, and is blank or identically patterned on the other. The identifiers are typically dots or pips, similar to those on a die. The first domino played to a line of play is known as the lead or the setter, and the player who plays this tile is also called the downer or the leader. The order of play is determined by the rules of the particular domino game being played.
The simplest domino games are called blocking games, in which the goal is to empty one’s opponent’s hand before finishing your own. Most of these games are played with a double-six set, from which each player draws seven tiles; the remainder of the tiles form the stock or boneyard. The players draw their tiles face down, and once each player has seven in his hand, he can make the first play of his turn.
Other games require a domino to be placed in a specific way in order for the player to advance. For example, a player may be required to place a domino on top of another, or he may be allowed to only play a domino that forms a straight line or an arc with the preceding domino in his hand. Once a line of play is completed, the winner is usually declared.
There are many different variations of the same basic games, and many more advanced games. The most complex of these involve the use of specialized dominoes such as a six-sided domino or a crown, and can involve multiple players, several games being played simultaneously, or a combination of both.
Domino’s Pizza, founded in 1967 by Jim Monaghan in Ypsilanti, Michigan, is one of the largest pizza franchises worldwide. The company has a long history of success based on an effective business strategy. It focuses on putting its pizzerias near colleges and universities, where it can attract a large audience of young people who are accustomed to fast service and value quality. Domino’s has been growing rapidly and plans to have 25,000 global locations by 2025. This rapid growth is attributed to the fact that Domino’s has a highly competitive advantage in its delivery system, and its focus on quality and quick service has influenced other pizza companies to follow suit. Also, the domino theory, which holds that the success of a firm depends on its ability to inspire leadership, has been influential in shaping how Domino’s makes decisions about hiring and promotion. The company has also adapted aspects of behavioral theory to management.