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The purpose of the research is to determine peculiarities of development of modern “conflict-free” and socio-economic systems before, during, and after the 2008 financial crisis and to determine signs of “conflict-free” socio-economic system by the example of modern Turkey and Japan.

The methodology of the research is based on the method of regression analysis, which is used for studying dependence of the indicators that characterize the peculiarities of the process and consequences of the 2008 global financial crisis in various socio-economic systems on the indicators that reflect observation of the principles of “conflict-free” development as of 2018.

Signs of “conflict-free” socio-economic systems could be formulated in the following way: high quality of institutes, high ecological effectiveness, moderate digital competitiveness, moderate innovational development, low balance of the federal budget, and moderate globalization.

It is substantiated that a universal formula for high-precision determination of signs of “conflict-free” socio-economic systems cannot be created, as these signs are manifested differently in each country. That’s why during evaluation of the level of “conflict-free” nature of a socio-economic system, it is necessary to take into account specifics of its functioning and development. The determined signs allowed showing that observing the principles of “conflict-free” development of socio-economic systems does not mean achievement of global leadership in the corresponding directions of economic activities (and this is accessible for all countries of the world), but requires original solutions and balancing the existing alternatives in each separate case.

The purpose of the research is to develop the algorithm of transition of modern socio-economic systems to “conflict-free” path of development, which would be universal and would take into account specifics of each separate system.

The methodology of the chapter includes a complex of general scientific methods – analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, and formalization; and the method of structural programming, which is used for determining a preferable structure and sequence of stages of the process of transition of modern socio-economic systems to “conflict-free” path of development, with compilation of its block scheme.

The algorithm (in the form of block scheme) of transition of modern socio-economic systems to “conflict-free” path of development is offered. The first stage of this algorithm is adaptation of the principles of “conflict-free” development of socio-economic system to peculiarities of its development and adoption of these principles. At the second stage, monitoring and control over quality of institute of economic activities in socio-economic system are conducted (determination of problems). The third stage is improvement of institutes of economic activities in socio-economic system (solving the determined problems). The fourth stage is search and establishment of balance in socio-economic system. The fifth stage is determining the signs of “conflict-free” character and forecasting of scenarios of development of socio-economic system and evaluation of effectiveness of development of “conflict-free” socio-economic system.

The developed algorithm allows overcoming drawbacks of the existing algorithm of crisis management of economic systems and has such advantages as the possibility of application by systems of any level, application at all phases of economic cycle, consideration of specifics of socio-economic systems, and cyclic character.

This study aims to propose a novel method for the conflict detection and eradication of autonomous vehicles which has predetermined routes to establish multi pickup and delivery tasks according to task priorities and vehicle capacity status on each pickup and delivery nodes in assembly cells in the automotive production.

In the designed system, the routing of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and scheduling of pickup and delivery tasks are established in production logistics. Gantt chart is created according to vehicle routes, and conflicts are detected using the proposed conflict-sweep algorithm. The proposed conflict-solving algorithm eliminates conflicts on intersections and roads by considering vehicle routes and task priorities.

In many production systems, there is a need to obtain flexible routes in each pickup delivery task group that changes during day, week, etc. Proposed system provides remarkable advantages in obtaining conflict-free routes for pre-scheduled multi transport tasks of vehicles by considering efficiency in production systems.

A novel method is proposed for the conflict detection and eradication of AVs. Proposed system eliminates conflicts on intersections and roads by considering pre-planned vehicle routes for a fleet of heterogeneous AVs. Unlike most of the other conflict-free algorithms, in which conflicts are solved between two points, proposed system also considers multi pickup and delivery points for AVs. This is pioneering paper that addresses conflict-free route planning with backhauls and scheduling of multi pickup and delivery tasks for AVs.

The purpose of this study is to estimate the impact of conflict witnessed in Pakistan on the enrolment rates of boys and girls. Pakistan has the world’s second-highest number of out-of-school children, with an estimated 22.8 million children aged 5–16 years not attending school.

By merging data on violence with the data on enrolment rates, this paper finds that exposure to violence is correlated with a decline in overall district-level enrolment rates in the short run at primary-level schools and middle-level schools.

However, for boys, violence is also negatively correlated with enrolment rates at middle-level schools in the medium run. One possible mechanism tested in this paper is the potential substitution of boys into the labour market during a period of conflict.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper adds to the existing literature in several ways. Firstly, the effect of conflict on the labour market by impacting schooling for boys and girls is examined for the first time in Pakistan. Secondly, the district-level data set on enrolment rates used for this study is novel and has not been used before for this type of analysis. Thirdly, while this study strengthens the evidence that the short run effects of conflict are stronger than the long-run effects, it also confirms the negative effects of conflict do not fade away immediately. Fourthly, this study emphasizes that each conflict is unique in terms of its heterogeneous effects across different cohorts, such as gender, as these effects are dependent on the mechanism through which conflict impacts each individual.

Construction industrialization is emerging in the construction industry, as a result, buildings with prefabricated assemblies are gaining more and more ground. In most situations, the prefabricated building assemblies are installed by labor crews manually. If some assemblies are ill-designed, clashes between labor crews’ workspaces and them may occur, which will have bad effect on workers’ productivity and even incur hazard. The purpose of this paper is to provide a 4D building information modeling (BIM) based approach to find potential workspace conflicts during the installation process of prefabricated building assemblies in the detailed design process so as to eliminate them in advance.

First, a workspace modeling method is provided; second, three kinds of workspace conflicts are analyzed; third, a 4D-BIM-based approach is established; fourth, a prototype tool based on the approach is developed; and finally, a case study is conducted to test the tool.

The result shows that the proposed tool can detect or precaution workspace conflicts and visualize them in a series of views; in doing so, valuable information can be obtained for improving the design quality of prefabricated assemblies.

The proposed approach and tool only concern the congestions caused by ill-designed prefabricated components; the tool needed to be further optimized for speed; the tests on the tool are limited to a single case study; and more tests are needed to verify its effectiveness.

This research provides a 4D-BIM-based approach and a prototype tool for installation workspace analysis. It can be used to provide support for design optimization of prefabricated building assemblies.

Challenges one of the dominant assumptions of the current cultural paradigm, namely that conflict is inevitable between people and groups with differing goals, values and priorities. Given that conflict is seen as inevitable, the field of conflict resolution has arisen to resolve conflict through a variety of techniques and behavioural tools. Two main schools of thought exist on the issue: (1) the traditional school, whose approach sees conflict as “bad” and its elimination as desirable; (2) the interactionist or modern school, whose approach sees conflict as functional and in need of being “managed” effectively. Virtually no one in the field would even suggest that a conflict‐free state could be reached. Argues that the technology for understanding and creating such a state exists and is available for use.

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how a focal firm can manage sustainability in its lower-tier suppliers which lie beyond the firm’s visible horizon.

This paper presents a new approach to managing sustainability in multi-tier supply chains with an illustrative case study that analyzes how electronic equipment firms make efforts to verify that they are not using conflict minerals.

The nexus supplier (smelters in the electronics supply chain) plays a relevant role in increasing visibility and tracing the source of minerals, thus guaranteeing sustainability upstream in the supply chain.

The paper is based on a specific supply chain (i.e. electronics supply chain) and therefore its conclusions might be only partially generalized to other sectors.

Firms in complex supply chains need to make efforts to identify and manage nexus suppliers to extend sustainability upstream in the supply chain, especially beyond their visible horizon.

The paper focuses on management of sustainability in the invisible zone of the supply chain, which has been neglected in previous literature and is increasingly important to the managerial world in an economy with a growing number of global supply chains.

Islamic banks provide an alternative financial system based on Sharia’h (Islamic law). However, critics argue that operation at Islamic banks is violating Sharia’h particularly in terms of provision of interest free services, risk sharing and legal contract. The purpose of this paper is to empirically evaluate the Sharia’h practice at Islamic banks in Pakistan by considering some basic principles of Sharia’h.

Primary data are collected from 63 branches of Islamic banks in Pakistan. Questionnaire is used as an instrument. The study uses structural equation modeling that includes confirmatory factor analysis and regression analysis. Data are codified and analyzed using SPSS and Amos.

This study finds that Islamic banks are providing interest free services, ensuring that transactions and contracts offered by Islamic banks are legal and offering conflict-free environment to customers. In contrast, estimated results expose that Islamic banks are not sharing risk and Sharia’h supervisory board is not performing its role perfectly. Similarly, it is found that organization and distribution of zakat and qard-ul-hassan are weak at Islamic banks.

Data are collected from Islamabad federal capital of Pakistan that hold just 5 per cent share of Islamic banking industry. This small share may not provide true picture of Islamic banking sector.

To ensure risk sharing, Islamic banking industry must consider the development of new modes of financing and innovation of more products based on Sharia’h. State Bank of Pakistan should ensure separate regulatory framework that enable Islamic banks to provide qard-ul-hassan, organize and allocate zakat.

This paper discusses the perception of bankers, who are actually the executors, about Shariah’s practices at Islamic banks in Pakistan. There are not many discussions on this topic that could be found, and hence this could be considered as a significant contribution by this paper to the existing literature of Islamic finance.

This paper proposes a broad perspective for studying the influence of culture on the process of conflict management. Three models of conflict management are described, based on the culture framework of Glen (1981). In the confrontational model, conflicts are conceptualized as consisting of subissues, and a sense of reasonable compromise aids resolution despite a confrontational style. In the harmony model, conflict management starts with the minimization of conflict in organizations through norms stressing observance of mutual obligations and status orderings. Conflicts are defined in their totality, and resolution is aided by avoidance and an accommodative style. Less emphasis is placed on procedural justice, as on maintenance of face of self and others. Third parties are used extensively, and their role is more intrusive. In the regulative model, bureaucratic means are used extensively to minimize conflicts or to aid avoidance. Conflicts get defined in terms of general principles, and third party roles are formalized. The implications of the differences among the three models for conflict resolution across cultures and for future research are discussed.

Purpose: This chapter examines how two basic rights, freedom of expression, and the right to equality based on one’s dignity, reputation, and honor, were balanced in a case involving a stand-up comedian and an adolescent suffering from Treacher Collins syndrome. Methodology/Approach: The case is contrasted with Jürgen Habermas’ concept of the public sphere and with the intrinsic and utilitarian values that Canadian courts have attributed to free speech. Findings: Because the case was dealt with first in a human rights tribunal and then by a court of appeal, a number of considerations were overlooked in court proceedings: how laughter occurs; the broadening of Ward’s audience and its consequences; and Ward’s publicity strategy. These aspects are explored here to give a more complete picture of the case beyond the court decisions. Originality/Value: In Canada, freedom of expression is usually dealt with ordinary courts. A whole new avenue for dealing with this right is human rights bodies and tribunals. Contesting free speech in the name of defamation is being replaced by rights entrenched in human rights charters, such as the right to equality based on the preservation of one’s dignity, reputation, and honor.