Book excerpt: “Big data” has become a commonly used term to describe large-scale and complex data sets which are difficult to manage and analyze using standard data management methodologies. With applications across sectors and fields of study, the implementation and possible uses of big data are limitless. Effective Big Data Management and Opportunities for Implementation explores emerging research on the ever-growing field of big data and facilitates further knowledge development on methods for handling and interpreting large data sets. Providing multi-disciplinary perspectives fueled by international research, this publication is designed for use by data analysts, IT professionals, researchers, and graduate-level students interested in learning about the latest trends and concepts in big data.