Implementing a diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility strategy: Lessons learned at five scholarly communications organizations

Abstract

Key points Diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) is of increasing strategic importance to a wide range of organizations, including scholarly publishers and other information organizations. Many of these organizations are now embedding specific DEIA initiatives in their strategic goals, supported by the budget and resources necessary to successfully implement them—however, progress towards achieving these goals is often slow and incremental. While different organizations may have different experiences and areas of focus, there are also many similarities, which can be widely drawn on by anyone seeking to improve DEIA in their own organization or community. This article focuses on five very different information organizations represented in NISO's DEIA Committee, which are working on improving DEIA—American Chemical Society, Atla, Benetech, Elsevier, and NISO—in order to make recommendations for other organizations in this space, based on our shared experiences.