Techniques for performing diagnostics are described. In one embodiment, in response to an alert or a request to perform diagnostics, a topological relationship is generated comprising a set of applications and a set of systems determined based upon information in the alert or request. The topological relationship encapsulates relationships between the set of applications and the set of systems. In one embodiment, a set of causal network models to be used for performing the diagnostics is determined based upon the applications and systems in the topological relationship.