The Domino Effect

In a game of domino, the object is to lay down tiles that have a specific number of spots on their ends. These spots, called pips, identify the piece and determine its value in a chain of tiles that eventually will lead to a domino falling over. A person who successfully completes a series of dominoes in this fashion wins the game. Dominoes are a fun way for kids to learn about math and counting. Adults and children can also use them to create intricate designs. For example, people often make a “domino tree,” which is an arrangement of dominoes in a circular shape. Another common design is to set up a row of dominoes and then knock them over. The pieces in a domino set are sometimes known by other names, including bones, cards, tiles, spinners, and tickets. A traditional domino set contains 28 pieces. When a domino is positioned on a table, it is usually placed with one end touching an adjacent end of a previous tile or “pair.” As a result, the chains that develop into a snake-like shape may be arranged in many ways according to the players’ preferences and the limitations of the playing surface. A domino that has all blank sides is often referred to as a “wild” domino and can be ascribed any value. Some games, however, require that the pips on a domino match the pips on other tiles to be considered a match. For example, a double-blank domino cannot be played onto a tile that already has three or six pips on its end because the two matching sides would make the new tile too powerful for the chain to continue. When a domino falls, much of its potential energy converts to kinetic energy, which provides the push that brings over the next tile. This process continues, with each succeeding domino receiving a little more energy from the one that fell before it. In business, the domino effect is a term used to describe a positive chain reaction. For example, if one person in an organization takes on a challenging task that requires a significant amount of time and effort to complete, the subsequent impact will be far greater than if the person had not taken on this project. Taking on the right projects is key to building an effective domino effect in business. To build the right domino effect in your organization, you must be clear about the desired outcome and then plan your strategy accordingly. For example, if you are trying to grow your company’s profits, you may want to focus on strategies that will bring in new customers or expand existing relationships. To accomplish this, you must pick the right tasks for your team and then prioritize those in order of their importance. The more important the task, the higher it should be on your list and the more attention you should give it. This will help ensure that the positive effects of the domino effect spread quickly and continue to have a significant impact on your business.