Vista University

About: Vista University is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Boron trifluoride & Higher education. The organization has 225 authors who have published 336 publications receiving 3345 citations.

The relationship between organisational culture and strategy formulation in South African firms

Abstract: In this article the relationship between organisational culture and strategy formulation in South African firms is investigated. The intention is to analyse whether South African firms with specific organisational culture types formulate strategies in the same manner. Literature available on the individual concepts of organisational culture and strategy formulation is extensive, but the relationship between the two concepts is generally ignored. During the empirical survey a self-administered questionnaire was send to 3000 firms. The culture type exhibited by firms was compared to the manner in which these firms formulate strategies. The findings confirm statistical significant relationships between firms with different organisational culture types and how strategies are formulated. Firms should therefore increase their emphasis on aligning culture and strategy.

Asymptotic behavior of a stochastic evolution problem in a varying domain

Abstract: We study the asymptotic behaviour of the initial boundary value problem for a stochastic partial differential equation in a sequence of perforated domains. We prove that the sequence of solutions of the problem converges in appropriate topologies to the solution of a limit stochastic initial boundary value problem of the same type as the original problem, but containing an additional term expressed in terms of some characteristics of the perforated domain.

An assessment of land degradation in the northern province from satellite remote sensing and community perception

Abstract: Assessment of land degradation in developing rural areas of South Africa is often hampered by a lack of reliable data. Physical land features are sparsely mapped, if at all. A cost-effective and time-efficient methodology is needed. Relatively inexpensive time-series analysis of Landsat MSS remote sensing data may offer partial solutions. Remote sensing of vegetation, using vegetation indices such as the soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAVI) are used in the study. These indices give an indication of a general decline in the vegetation environment at district level. Recent developments in the field of desertification and land degradation however suggests that only relying on physical criteria for assessment often leads to misleading results. This case study in the Sekgosese 2 district of the Northern Province proposes a combination of temporal remote sensing and local knowledge of degradation to provide a more accurate assessment methodology. A time-series of SAVI images revealed land degradation ...

The (HI)Stories We Live by: Power/Knowledge and Family Therapy in Africa

Abstract: There is a need to Africanise family therapy so as to serve the interest of local communities. Western approaches to family therapy have been accused of being irrelevant to African contexts. They are seen as forming part of a dominant scientific knowledge which invalidates local folk and cultural psychologies and thereby continuing a historical tradition of oppressive colonial power relations. This paper aims at archaeologising and evaluating such criticism by situating family therapy within different fields of knowledge that have emerged historically and are currently co-existing in Africa. The advantages and disadvantages of dominant family therapy approaches in African contexts are explored by focussing on power relations between different knowledges in Africa. It is argued that many global narratives of family therapy offer congenial companionship to many local African narratives, but that family therapists should pay more attention to local spiritual and political narratives so as to attain more legitimacy and validation by local communities.