The purpose of this study was to assess the leadership practices of President Jay Kesler during his 15-year tenure at Taylor University. Practices were determined using the theoretical perspective of Kouzes and Posner (2003) by administering the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) and interviewing respondents regarding Kelser's practices. This research gives evidence of how often Kesler used each of the five practices of Modeling the Way, Inspiring a Shared Vision, Challenging the Process, Enabling Others to Act and Encouraging the Heart, as determined by the LPI. It also examines the depth of Kesler's usage of these practices through respondent reports.A case study methodology was used for this research. It entailed both a quantitative element in the administration of the LPI and a qualitative element in the interviews. Kesler and nine people who were associated with him during his tenure at Taylor responded to the LPI and were then interviewed. The LPI was considered a structured interview, according to the Fraenkel and Wallen (1996) method of interviewing. Retrospective interviews were then conducted with each respondent, and archival data were consulted to add support and validity to the research.Conclusions drawn as a result of this study were:Kesler did use all five practices in the Kouzes and Posner model. The order of frequency in which he used the practices is: 1) Inspiring a Shared Vision; 2) Encouraging the Heart; 3) Enabling Others to Act; 4) Modeling the Way; and 5) Challenging the Process.Kesler's avoidance of conflict and his treatment of women in leadership were leadership challenges he faced. Respondents' evaluations of Kesler did not correlate with his self-evaluation, presumably due to the fact that Kesler was opposed to formal performance evaluations.Kesler did demonstrate characteristics of humility and excellent communication that contributed to the success of Taylor University under his tenure.Results of this study were not generalized beyond studying Kesler's leadership practices. This study, however, contributes new information to the field of leadership research and could be used with a series of other case studies to make generalizations about how university presidents effect change. It also is significant to the institution by providing historical documentation of Kesler's leadership during his tenure at Taylor University. / Department of Educational Studies

La Tesis en cuestión presenta un estudio sobre el comportamiento de la rigidez de una suspensión neumática, así como de los parámetros que la definen y/o afectan.El trabajo realizado propone un modelo capaz de predecir el comportamiento de una suspensión neumática ofreciendo una buena correlación con la experimentación y marcando el camino a seguir para controlar esta respuesta ante las perturbaciones externas.El análisis se ha centrado en dos suspensiones neumáticas de diferente configuración. Por un lado, una suspensión formada por una cámara de volumen variable en la que se estudia la influencia del movimiento del pistón en las evoluciones de la presión y de la temperatura. Por otra parte se analiza el comportamiento de una suspensión neumática formada por dos cámaras separadas por un orificio, el cuál tendrá una influencia determinante sobre la rigidez.Se demuestra la poca fiabilidad de la metodología clásica a la hora de estudiar la influencia de las irregularidades del terreno sobre la rigidez de las suspensiones a presiones elevadas, pese a su extensa utilización en el mundo de la ingeniería de automoción. Se ha desarrollado un modelo el que se tienen en cuenta los efectos no ideales del gas, mediante la resolución de la ecuación de Lee-Kesler.Han sido construidos dos bancos experimentales para el desarrollo de un modelo de diagnosis que define el coeficiente de transferencia de calor. Dicho modelo se ha contrastado frente a otras técnicas utilizadas en suspensiones neumáticas, obteniendo una mejora en la precisión.Los efectos del gas real también han sido analizados a la hora de caracterizar el flujo a través del orificio de separación de los recintos en la configuración de dos cámaras. Para dicho estudio, la utilización de la Norma Internacional ISO 6358 ha sido descartada, puesto que se basa en la hipótesis de gas perfecto. Para la realización del modelo ha sido necesario el desarrollo de un algoritmo capaz de definir el comportamiento del gas en la garganta de la tobera analizada. En este caso también ha sido necesaria la construcción de un banco experimental específico para desarrollar el modelo de diagnosis.Los submodelos descritos (resolución de la ecuación de estado, la caracterización del orificio y la evaluación de la transferencia de calor) han permitido construir un modelo de predicción capaz de anticipar el comportamiento de la suspensión neumática en función de las irregularidades del terreno. Estas perturbaciones externas han sido simuladas mediante un banco de pruebas para suspensiones.Una vez cotejados los resultados con la experimentación se asegura una buena correlación, tanto para el caso de una suspensión neumática de una única cámara como en el caso de la suspensión neumática de doble cámara. Finalmente se han dado las pautas para la construcción de un prototipo capaz de regular el comportamiento de la suspensión en función de las variables perturbadoras de entrada.El diseño de un mecanismo o artilugio equivalente capaz de regular el área eficaz de paso del flujo entre las dos cámaras se muestra como la llave para un control absoluto de la rigidez neumática de la suspensión. El mecanismo en cuestión ha de ser capaz de convertir la suspensión neumática en un elemento rígido que aísle a los pasajeros y a la masa suspendida de las irregularidades del terreno cuando la situación lo requiera. Del mismo modo, debe ser capaz de adaptar la suspensión a una característica mucho más suave para asegura el confort de sus ocupantes, siempre manteniendo el compromiso rigidez - suavidad, asegurando así una buena maniobrabilidad.El prototipo, además, podrá diseñarse en función de un rango de rigidez escogido a priori en relación al tipo de vehículo o condiciones a soportar. / A study about pneumatic suspension stiffness and its dependent parameters is presented in this PhD Thesis.It is performed a model which is able to predict the behaviour of a pneumatic suspension. Good correlation with experiments is achieved. It is also shown the way to control this behaviour in front of external forces.Analysis has been focused in two different configurations. First, a piston influence on gas pressure and temperature in a single chamber suspension has been studied. Then, it is analyzed a pneumatic suspension which is constituted by two chambers separated by an orifice. The orifice will have a definitive influence on suspension stiffness.It is shown poor classical approach accuracy to predict stiffness at high pressure conditions, although it has an extended use in vehicle engineering. A model which has in account nonideal gas effects has been developed. Lee-Kesler equation of state has been used.Two experimental units have been built to develop a diagnosis model which defines heat transfer coefficient. Model has been compared to other methods used in pneumatic suspension. An improved accuracy has been obtained.Real gas effects have been analyzed as well in flow through an orifice characterisation in two chambers configuration. International Standard ISO 6358 has been discarded because perfect gas hypothesis is used in the method. An algorithm which is able to define gas behaviour in the nozzle studied has been developed. For this case, to build another specific experimental unit which completes the diagnosis model has been an essential requirement. Submodels described above (equation of state determination, orifice characterisation and heat transfer evaluation) constitute a prediction model which is able to advance pneumatic suspension behaviour as a function of road irregularities. External forces have been simulated with suspensions special equipment.Once theory has been compared with experiments, good correlation is guaranteed for both sorts of suspensions, single and double chamber.Finally, prototype setup guide has been given. This unit must be able to control suspension behaviour versus input external forces.Design of a device capable of change effective pass area of the flow between the two chambers is the key for an absolute control of pneumatic suspension stiffness. Such an apparatus must transform vehicle suspension in a stiff part capable of isolate passenger and sprung mass from road irregularities when it is required. It must be able to give smoother behaviour to ensure occupants comfort as well, and always maintaining the ratio stiffness - smoothness to ensure a good handling.Prototype, in addition, could be designed for a determined stiffness range which could be chosen as a function of vehicle type and/or conditions to be supported.