Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Broadens Its Support of the Arts by Turning to the Detroit Institute of Arts for an Innovative Education Program for Employees
 |
Visual Thinking Strategy at DIA gets exposure to business world
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI--April 3, 2012: In addition to seeing contemporary art in their offices every day,Mercedes-Benz Financial Services employees now have the opportunity to participate in an innovative program facilitated by the Detroit Institute of Arts. There they 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.
"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," said Jennifer Czajkowski, DIA executive director of Learning and Interpretation. "Our early experience with the Mercedes-Benz Financial Services employees indicates this strategy has value for business applications as well."
By 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.
Instead of providing art-historical facts, a DIA facilitator asks 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?"
This open-ended, inquiry-based conversational format, called Visual Thinking Strategies, leads to a discussion that encourages a variety of observations. Since the observations are backed with visual evidence, the participants have the opportunity to see and understand each others' perspectives.
"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 Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. "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."
The goal of the sessions is to help corporate employees see how art can play a role in building the following skills:
- Observation and attention to details
- Communication and understanding
- Creative and collaborative problem solving
Note: Media are welcome to observe an upcoming VTS session with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services employees at the DIA. Contact Pam Marcil at 313-833-7899 or Jack Ferry at 248-991-6610 for dates and times.
The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), one of the premier art museums in the United States, is home to more than 60,000 works that comprise a multicultural survey of human creativity from ancient times through the 21st century. From the first Van Gogh painting to enter a U.S. museum (Self-Portrait, 1887), to Diego Rivera's world-renowned Detroit Industry murals (1932-33), the DIA's collection is known for its quality, range, and depth. The DIA's mission is to create opportunities for all visitors to find personal meaning in art.
Programs are made possible with support from the City of Detroit.
About Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, headquartered in Farmington Hills, Mich., with Business Center Operations in Fort Worth, Texas, provides brand-specific financial services and products for Mercedes-Benz automotive dealers and their retail customers. It also provides financial support to Sprinter and smart dealers and customers.
In the U.S. trucking industry, it conducts business as Daimler Truck Financial and finances Daimler Trucks North America commercial vehicles branded Freightliner, Western Star and Thomas-Built Buses. Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC serves as the headquarters for operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, and has approximately 1,500 employees. It is a company of the Daimler Financial Services Group, headquartered in Berlin, Germany, which does business in 39 countries with an employee base of approximately 6,700. Daimler Financial Services is one of the leading financial services organizations worldwide. For more information, go to: www.mbfs.com/corp, facebook.com/mbfsamericas, or MBFS Art.
