Domino is a small, flat block used for playing a game in which players place dominoes edge to edge against each other so that the numbers on adjacent faces match up. The first domino to fall provides the starting point for a chain reaction, which continues until all of the pieces have fallen and no longer provide any energy for more blocks to be laid down. These chains of dominoes are referred to as “playing cards” in some cultures, and are among the oldest tools for game play. Dominos have several variations that allow for different types of games and tests of skill, as well as professional dominoes tournaments.
The term domino has many uses, including an ancient word for a long hooded cloak worn with a mask during carnival season or at masquerades. In a still earlier sense, it referred to a cape worn by a priest over his surplice. It is possible that the word influenced both the game and its modern spelling, with its oblique reference to a garment, though it does not appear in any English language dictionary before the late 17th century.
In a very early version of the game, players were able to score points by placing dominoes so that they formed a specific total, like five, in one row or column. Then the player would place a piece of his own, and if it had a number matching that of the previous domino, the player scored additional points. This simple form of the game was very popular in Europe.
Later, the game became more complicated as players began to play off of each other’s ends, and the rules were modified so that multiple players could be involved in a game. The game is usually played with a set of 28 dominoes, with each domino containing six dots (also called pips) on each side.
Dominos also come in various sizes, and there are even “extended” sets of dominoes with more than the usual amount of pips on an end. The most common extended sets are double-nine, double-12, and double-18.
The company that makes Domino’s Pizza had a troubled beginning, and in 2004, the corporation was $943 million in debt. The Domino’s of today was founded in 1967, and it opened its first official franchise location in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
In the early days of Domino’s, senior executives pushed for expansion and innovation in the restaurant business. They tried a range of new pizza flavors and other products, but the company struggled to attract customers.
In order to change their fortunes, the company needed new leadership. The incoming CEO, Doyle, restructured the company’s leadership and sent senior executives to work in restaurants and delivery services so they could better understand the issues facing the employees and the customers. He also reworked the training programs for franchise owners to ensure that everyone was on the same page. In the end, the strategy worked. Customers were more likely to order from Domino’s if they were confident that the food would be made correctly and the deliveries would arrive promptly.