1. A method for operating a complex system, the method comprising: (a) monitoring information generated during operation of the complex system; (b) associating the information with metadata describing the information, wherein associating the information with metadata comprises tagging the information such that it can be mapped to an element taxonomy; (c) normalizing the information to a complex system base element expressed according to the element taxonomy, wherein the information inherits characteristics of the base element during normalization; (d) storing the normalized information in an information database; (e) generating knowledge related to operation of the complex system; and (f) utilizing the knowledge to increase performance of the complex system when the complex system is automated.