Domino, also known as dominoes or domino blocks, are small rectangular game pieces used to play a variety of games. Each domino has one side bearing an arrangement of spots, or pips, similar to those on the face of a die, and the other blank. In the most common game, players place dominoes in rows and columns to form lines or angular patterns that can be knocked over by other dominoes. Other games use the pieces to build 3D structures such as towers and pyramids. The first domino that is tipped over triggers a chain reaction that can result in hundreds or thousands of additional pieces falling. This inspired the term domino effect, which refers to a single action that causes other actions to occur. The concept is often used in business to describe how focusing on one key activity can cause a chain reaction that leads to success in other areas.
In the early 1960s, Tom Monaghan began to expand his pizza restaurant chain in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The company’s growth accelerated after Monaghan decided to put Domino’s restaurants near college campuses to attract young consumers who wanted fast pizza delivery. By the end of the decade, the Domino’s chain had grown to more than 200 locations.
The company’s success was driven by its focus on fast pizza delivery, but in the late 1980s the chain started to run into trouble. After a series of accidents involving Domino’s drivers—including one fatality—Domino’s management decided to increase its emphasis on speedy delivery in order to differentiate the company from competitors. In 1984, the Domino’s Pizza Guarantee was introduced. The guarantee promised that customers would receive their pizzas within 30 minutes or they could get a refund.
Today, Domino’s is focused on leveraging technology to make it easier for people to order pizza and other food delivery. The company is experimenting with self-driving cars and other innovative ways to deliver goods to customers. It is also working on new pizza toppings and expanding its delivery service to include groceries.
Domino’s is also using the concept of the domino effect to improve internal processes. For example, when a customer orders a pizza online, Domino’s uses a “domino design” system that allows it to identify the best route for delivering the product to the customer. The company then updates its dispatch system with the information to ensure that the correct vehicle is sent to the customer’s location. Domino’s has found that this simple but effective process has improved its customer service and has helped it to grow even faster. This approach is also being adopted by other companies as they look to innovate their services.