In keeping with this thinking, the papers in this special issue of the JAMR represent research that address broad as well as specific firm level needs in the context of sustainable empirical solutions. These include first some 'best papers' that were selected during the third International Business Conference (IBC) held in Zanzibar, Tanzania which revolve around the conference theme of attaining sustainable business outcomes. In addition, this special issue includes a series of well presented research papers that were selected on the basis of their contribution to the same theme and thinking around actionable outcomes. Hence the development of management solutions that are sustainable and developing an understanding of these via business research is very much at the forefront of sustainable and actionable outcomes oriented research.