Abstract: A system and method controlling a controlled system receiving operational status message containing actual state operational parameter values from controlled system components, determining a current observed state, a plurality of predetermined objective operational parameters, an operational model, the determining of an optimal state, determining a set of gaps between corresponding components of the observed state and the determined optimal state including an associated value representing the magnitude of the difference, collecting the determined gaps in a gap list, determining the difference values between stored operational thresholds associated with the determined gaps, comparing the associated difference values of the determined gaps with the operational thresholds for the associated controlled component and providing an alert when the comparing of the associated difference values of the determined gaps exceed the received operational threshold.