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The purpose of this paper is to explore what information systems are used within the data center industry and to develop a data center information systems classification framework for facilitating the investigation of the dimensions, operational characteristics, and value attributes of the data center information systems.

A preliminary data center information systems classification framework is proposed based on a comprehensive review of existing information systems research. A case study of five data centers in Australia and a review of the practitioner literature in data centers are conducted. An open coding method is adopted for facilitating the analysis of the data using existing content analysis techniques.

In total, 19 different types of data center information systems are identified in data centers. These information systems are being used for managing the information technology and the facility infrastructure in the data center and for improving the agility, the operational and cost performance, as well as the environmental footprint of individual data centers.

The paper builds a data center information systems classification framework to examine the role, portfolio, managerial function, and utilization of data center information systems. Such a classification would provide a foundation for further investigating the adoption of various information systems in data centers towards the continuous pursuit of sustainability development from different perspectives.

The paper provides data center managers with recent trends and issues regarding the adoption of information systems in data centers to manage their operations. It offers data center management a valuable means for exploring innovative ways of effectively adopting various technologies to improve their performance.

Given that there is limited research on what and how information systems are used in data centers, the paper can be viewed as one of the few data center information systems investigations that provide a good comprehension of what information systems are used and what the value drivers are with respect to the use of information systems in data centers.