Domino is a game of skill and strategy that features a series of small rectangular blocks marked with numbers, resembling those on dice. They are commonly called bones, cards, men, or pieces and can be used for a variety of games. Each domino is usually twice as long as it is wide. The number of dots, or pips, on each side determines its value. The most common domino sets contain 28 tiles, although larger ones are available. Some games require that each player start with a certain amount of tiles; the first player to play all of their dominoes wins the game.
Each domino has two matching ends that connect to form a chain. When a domino is played it must be positioned so that both of its matching ends are touching fully. The end with the most pips is considered the “value” and the one with the fewest is called the “blank”. The chain grows in length until each player can no longer place a domino without creating an opposing row. At that point, the play stops and each player is awarded victory points based on the combined values of their remaining dominoes.
The term domino also has a more figurative meaning in business. It refers to a task or process that has a large impact, or “dominates” the others in the chain. For example, if you make the commitment to save more money for retirement, it will naturally have an effect on other areas of your life such as investing, spending habits and overall savings. This is known as the Domino Effect.
In a similar manner, the work of Domino’s CEO David Schwab has had a significant effect on the company. He instituted a new way of managing the Domino’s workforce, encouraging employees to prioritize their tasks and focus on the most important one first. Then, he instructed them to give the first task their full attention until completion. He called this the “main domino” and stated that the work completed by the rest of the team would benefit from its momentum.
This mindset is a good model for business. When choosing which tasks to focus on, be sure to pick the ones that will have a positive impact on the future. This will help ensure that you spend your time wisely.
In addition to being fun for players, the mechanics of dominoes offer some insight into the way in which business processes should be managed. When a domino falls, its potential energy converts to kinetic energy, which is transmitted to the next domino and provides the push needed for it to fall as well. This same process can be applied to any business process. The key is to understand that each domino needs a push in order to begin its own chain reaction. Once it does, it’s up to you to decide whether or not to continue it.
