1. Apparatus for data discovery and analysis, the apparatus comprising: machine readable memory configured to store a technical data element identifier (“TDEI”); a receiver configured to receive a query for data lineage information corresponding to a business element identifier, the business element identifier associated with a business element comprising a value involved in business decisioning, the value comprising a social security number, a credit rating or an account balance; and a processor configured to: register a logical association between the business element identifier and the TDEI, thereby creating access to information identified only by encoded technical attributes in a machine information system, wherein the logical association between the business element identifier and the TDEI cross-references the business element value with one or more technical data elements (“TDEs”)each TDE comprising a source code element or an object code element; identify one or more TDEs corresponding to the TDEI; and formulate the data lineage information of each TDE associated with the business element identifier.