FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. — Mercedes-Benz Financial Services revealed this week its employees will now have the opportunity to participate in a program facilitated by the Detroit Institute of Arts, which focuses on the sharing of art and culture.

Through the program, the company noted “they (employees) are exposed to the artistic masters from different continents and different centuries in a setting where they can express their views on the art work, ultimately learning about each other.”

Commenting on the news, Jennifer Czajkowski, DIA executive director of learning and interpretation, noted, "We are applying a strategy we know works with students — one that improves their critical thinking and communication skills — and transferring that strategy to the corporate world.

"Our early experience with the Mercedes-Benz Financial Services employees indicates this strategy has value for business applications as well,” she added.

Delving further into what the program entails, the company contends that “expressing their views on the selected art works from the DIA's wide-ranging collection in a small-group setting, employees from MBFS's diverse workforce are learning about the different points of view informed by the intellectual and cultural frames of reference of their fellow employees.”

For example, instead of providing analysis on art history, a DIA facilitator will ask the participants what they see in the piece.

“When participants offer an observation, they are asked for supporting evidence with the question, ‘What do you see that makes you say that?’” officials noted.

This conversational format, called Visual Thinking Strategies, is designed to encourage discussion that leads to observation, according to the company.

The company also explained what the goals of these sessions are.

MBFS noted that the sessions are designed to help corporate employees see how art can “play a role” in building skills including observation and attention to details, communication and understanding, as well as creative and collaborative problem solving.

"In a global business environment with a diverse workforce, it is so important that we learn to listen to and respect the different points of view of our co-workers here and in other countries," said Leila Matta, manager of brand identity, design and art programs for MBFS.

"After our executive management team went through a VTS session late last year, they saw the positive value of the format and quickly made the decision for their managers to invite groups of employees to participate in this program at the DIA,” she continued.