„Wo die Cloud die Erde berührt“. Rechenzentren zwischen Nachhaltigkeitsanforderungen und Innovationsblockaden

The paper presents findings from an interdisciplinary pilot study on organizational blockages to sustainable transformation in the field of data centers. Computing centers are considered to be the basic infrastructure of digitalization, and although climate-friendly alternatives for the operation of computer centers are available, they are barely implemented. Accordingly, the aim was to analyze exemplary how organizational dynamics can impede necessary transformation processes, which defensive narratives and mechanisms—delegation, splitting or isolation of responsibility—are effective. Environmental sustainability is not accepted as part of the innovation mandate of the companies, which implicitly threatens their future viability.