The Domino Effect in Fiction
Domino is a type of game that involves stacking tiles on end in long lines. Each tile bears identifying marks on one side and is blank or identically patterned on the other. The identifying markings are called “pips” or “dots.” When the first domino is tipped over, it triggers an action in the next tile to tip and so on until all of the tiles have fallen. This sequence of events is known as the “domino effect,” and it demonstrates how a small cause can lead to much greater (and sometimes catastrophic) consequences.
Dominoes are also used in a variety of other games and for artistic purposes. Some people use them to make shapes or designs by arranging the pieces into different patterns. Others like to set them up in long rows and then knock them down. Whether you’re playing a game of Dominoes or simply using the tiles to create an art piece, the process has a lot in common with how we plot our stories.
A domino has inertia, which is a tendency to resist motion unless there is an outside force pushing or pulling on it. In the same way, an unmoving character in a novel has a tendency to stay where they are until the author nudges them into the scene that follows. The process of plotting your novel can be tedious and time-consuming, but examining how the domino effect is portrayed in fiction will help you to create a story with logical and compelling progressions of action.
The word “domino” comes from the Latin dominum, which means “ruler.” The term is a play on words because, just like a real ruler, dominoes are capable of bringing down anything in their path. The original European dominoes were made of bone, silver lip ocean oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory, or dark hardwood such as ebony with contrasting black or white pips. Today, dominoes are made from a variety of materials including wood, plastic, and resin, with some sets also featuring electronic chips.
In 2004, Domino’s experienced a series of leadership changes, which resulted in poor performance and low customer satisfaction. The company’s then-CEO, David Brandon, recognized that if the Domino’s model was to continue to succeed, it would have to change.
To improve customer service, Domino’s refocused on delivering pizza quickly and began placing their restaurants near college campuses to reach their core audience. They also emphasized training their employees on how to best deliver pizza and communicate with customers to understand what they needed.
Domino’s has also adopted a more “behavioral” style of management. They have replaced the idea of a leader being born with certain qualities with the belief that leaders can be made by learning and practicing key behaviors. This has led to improved productivity and a stronger commitment to their core value of caring for their employees.
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