A domino is a small, flat block of rigid material used as a gaming piece. These pieces can be made of a variety of materials, including bone, ivory, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), or woods such as ebony. They are typically marked with a number of spots or pips, each of which corresponds to a particular suit (e.g., fives, threes, ones, etc).
In a game of domino, players place tiles on the table, lining them up end to end in long lines. When the first domino is tipped over, it triggers the chain reaction of the rest of the tiles, causing them to topple as well. Depending on the pattern in which they are stacked, this can result in elaborate designs. The basic game has two main categories, blocking games and scoring games.
Domino is also the name of a company that sells pizza and other food delivery services to businesses. In a segment of the popular TV show Undercover Boss, Domino’s CEO Don Meij went undercover in one of its stores to observe the business and the way employees interact with customers. Meij saw that although the company was making progress, it needed to focus on customer service and improving employee morale.
He recommended that the company implement leadership training and a new management structure, and Domino’s did just that. The company also improved the quality of its products and launched an online ordering system. It now has a strong presence in the United States, and it has a global reach with over 700 franchises.
Another example of a domino effect is the outbreak of the hepatitis C virus among hospital patients. This infection can be spread by unwashed hands and can have devastating consequences for a patient. If left untreated, it can spread to other patients and even to the entire hospital staff. This is an example of a domino effect that could have been avoided by following simple infection control measures.
When writing a story, authors need to keep in mind that a domino effect can also be negative. If your hero does something immoral, for instance, readers will need enough motivation and logic to give him a pass or at least keep liking him as a hero.
Similarly, you need to carefully pace your scenes so that they do not feel too long and slow or too short and choppy. Just like a domino’s pulse, a good scene should maintain its speed and momentum, and should pick up momentum when reaching important plot points or moments of discovery. A great scene should also have the right balance of action and dialogue. It should be exciting, but not over-the-top. The action should make sense for the hero and be believable. It should also make the reader want to see the next scene pretty quickly. This is what makes a good domino effect work.