When sustainability backfires: The ACCESS Framework for more inclusive organizational change

Organizations are investing in sustainability through digital transformation, automation, workspace redesign, paperless systems, AI-enabled operations, and efficiency initiatives, yet many such efforts quietly underperform. Hidden accessibility barriers can weaken adoption, increase support burden, trigger redesign costs, and undermine trust. This article introduces the ACCESS Framework, which helps leaders Assess hidden exclusion risks, Consult affected stakeholders, Create inclusive design standards, Evaluate real user experience, Safeguard critical trade-offs, and Sustain continuous adaptation. The framework distinguishes six forms of access: physical, digital, cognitive, sensory, linguistic, and procedural. It also provides a trade-off matrix and a worked example showing how ACCESS can guide a paperless HR platform from initial assessment through post-launch adaptation. ACCESS helps leaders build sustainability initiatives that are more inclusive, credible, and durable.