A domino is a small rectangular piece of wood or cardboard with a pattern of dots on one side. The other face is blank or identically patterned, and the dots are arranged like those on a die. Each domino is normally twice as long as it is wide, making it easier to stack the pieces. Dominoes are used to play a variety of games that involve the placement and knocking over of multiple tiles.
In the 19th century, domino spread throughout Europe and was popular in cafes. In Europe, dominoes are usually played in positional games, where each player in turn places a tile edge-to-edge against another in such a way that the adjacent faces are either identical (e.g., both have the same number of pips) or form some specified total (e.g., a fixed number of points or more).
Dominoes can also be used for solitaire and trick-taking games. Such games are especially popular in areas where religious restrictions prohibit playing cards.
While these games are the most common, there are many other ways to use domino, including building towers, walls or structures with them. Some people even create domino art by placing and arranging dominoes in interesting patterns, shapes or designs.
Although there are some exceptions, the best domino strategies are often centered on how well they fit into a business’s overall goals and objectives. These are known as functional strategies, and they are a key to high-performance organizations.
The first step in a domino strategy involves setting objectives at the functional level, which is an area such as marketing or human resources. Once the functional objectives are achieved, the broader strategic goals can then be put into action.
For example, a company might set an objective to become the world’s premier pizza chain. This might involve improving its food quality, creating innovative pizza options, or opening stores in new locations. The next step might be to develop a marketing strategy designed to achieve this goal. This might include expanding the company’s presence in social media, offering discounts to loyal customers, or encouraging employees to promote the brand.
Domino’s strategy in the 2010s has focused on strengthening its image as a leading pizza chain and attracting young customers. To do this, the company has emphasized its core values, including “Champion Our Customers,” and has made it part of its mission to provide customers with the highest-quality food possible.
This focus on customer satisfaction has helped Domino’s stay ahead of competitors and maintain its strong growth rates in recent years. The company continues to expand internationally and invest in technology that will enable it to deliver pizzas more quickly and efficiently.
The company has also made a point of listening to its employees, and this has paid off. In fact, the CEO of Domino’s has cited this as a major factor in the company’s success. He has worked to improve employee morale by relaxing some of the corporate dress codes and by introducing new leadership training programs, and by talking directly to workers. The company has even hired crowd-sourced auto designers to create a unique, cool-looking, purpose-built pizza-delivery vehicle.