A formal definition of Big Data based on its essential features
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify and describe the most prominent research areas connected with "Big Data" and propose a thorough definition of the term. Design/methodology/approach The authors have analysed a conspicuous corpus of industry and academia articles linked with Big Data to find commonalities among the topics they treated. The authors have also compiled a survey of existing definitions with a view of generating a more solid one that encompasses most of the work happening in the field. Findings The main themes of Big Data are: information, technology, methods and impact. The authors propose a new definition for the term that reads as follows: "Big Data is the Information asset characterized by such a High Volume, Velocity and Variety to require specific Technology and Analytical Methods for its transformation into Value." Practical implications The formal definition that is proposed can enable a more coherent development of the concept of Big Data, as it solely relies on