Defining big data and measuring its associated trends in the field of information and library management

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to define big data and draw its deep understanding. Moreover, trends of big data research in the field of library and information management are explored. With the purpose to explore the research trends, papers indexed in Thomson Reuters’ ISI Web of Knowledge were analyzed. Design/methodology/approach It is a literature-based and scientometric paper. A formal definition is constructed through a review of literature. Moreover, scientometric analysis of papers indexed in Thomson Reuters’ ISI Web of Knowledge has been done to explore the research trends associated with big data in the field of library and information science, using Vosviewer software. Findings The findings of the study indicate the reshaped definition of big data. The findings further indicate major research trends associated with big data. The analysis indicated “Risk”, “Industry”, “Market”, “Creditworthiness” and “Big Data Analytics”, the most repeated research trends associated with big data. Practical implications The paper sums up the learnings required to be a successful data-literate manager. First, the study defines big data. Second, the study describes current research trends associated with big data. Third, on the basis of the explored trends, data managers and library and information management professionals are guided about the learnings they require to be a successful data manager. Where thousands of data-literate managers are predicted to require in future, the present study is a guide to trends associated with big data. Originality/value It is a first study of its type which provides a reshaped definition of big data. It portrays its landscape and associated research trends in the field of information and library management (ILM).