A domino is a small rectangular wood or plastic block with an arrangement of spots, resembling those on dice, on one face and blank or identically patterned on the other. Dominoes are used to play many games, and their falling action is a symbol of the chain reactions that sometimes occur in real life. Whether the domino effect is literal or metaphorical, it can have profound and widespread consequences.
The first dominoes were probably set up as a game, with the aim of building long lines in straight or curved patterns. When a player flicks the first domino, it tips over and sets off a chain reaction. When all the dominoes have fallen, it leaves behind a beautiful or elaborate sculpture. Dominoes are also popular toys for children, and they can be stacked together to create complex designs. This led to the phrase “domino effect” to describe a series of events that starts with a minor action and has a much larger–and sometimes catastrophic–consequence.
While the traditional 28-piece Western domino sets are commonly used for playing positional games, other kinds of dominoes can be used to create more intricate setups. In fact, many professional domino artists work for a living by creating incredible designs that are set to fall for film and TV productions or special events. These elaborate installations take days to complete and require careful planning and precise execution.
As the number of dominoes increases, it becomes more difficult to identify the pips on each tile. To solve this problem, many large domino sets use a system of Arabic numerals on the edges of the pieces to make them easier to read.
The domino principle can be applied to a wide range of scenarios, including business and management. For example, a single employee’s performance can have a ripple effect that affects other employees and the company’s customers. In some cases, this effect can be positive or negative.
A positive domino effect can help an organization grow and thrive. However, a negative domino effect can cause a company to decline. Regardless of the situation, it’s important for managers to be aware of the impact of their actions and decisions on the business.
Domino’s Pizza CEO Don Meij has a strong understanding of the domino principle when it comes to his employees. He shows this understanding by traveling to some of the company’s busiest restaurants and working with the Domino’s Delivery Service team. In doing so, he can analyze the way the workers perform their jobs and how their behavior has an effect on the company’s overall performance.
Whether you write your manuscript off the cuff or with a detailed outline, the end result will likely be a story that is influenced by the domino effect. Using this concept in your novel can help you shape your story so that it has a natural flow, and your reader will want to keep turning the pages. Ultimately, plotting your story comes down to a simple question: What happens next? Taking the time to consider how the domino effect can influence your writing will help you answer this question in a compelling way.