Method for dynamically identifying hardware and/or software components (204, 206, 208, 210) of at least one element of a cluster comprising a plurality of elements (305, 310) and for automating optimised management operations for said cluster, said at least one element belonging to said plurality of elements and each element of said plurality of elements having data processing capabilities, said method comprising the following steps: - within said at least one element, referred to as at least one first element, detecting an event and in response to said detection: ∘ identifying (405, 410) at least one hardware and/or software component of said at least one first element, ∘ creating at least one local inventory, said at least one local inventory comprising at least one feature of at least one hardware and/or software component of said at least one first element; and ∘ transmitting said at least one local inventory to an element of said plurality of elements of said cluster other than said at least one first element, this element being referred to as the second element; - within said second element: ∘ receiving said at least one inventory; ∘ creating a partial or complete inventory comprising at least said at least one feature of said at least one hardware and/or software component of said at least one first element; and ∘ initiating a management operation for said cluster in accordance with said partial or complete inventory; the method being characterised in that said management operation for said cluster comprises an optimisation for distributing load among a plurality of hardware components of elements of said plurality of elements. - within said at least one element, referred to as at least one first element, detecting an event and in response to said detection: ∘ identifying (405, 410) at least one hardware and/or software component of said at least one first element, ∘ creating at least one local inventory, said at least one local inventory comprising at least one feature of at least one hardware and/or software component of said at least one first element; and ∘ transmitting said at least one local inventory to an element of said plurality of elements of said cluster other than said at least one first element, this element being referred to as the second element; ∘ identifying (405, 410) at least one hardware and/or software component of said at least one first element, ∘ creating at least one local inventory, said at least one local inventory comprising at least one feature of at least one hardware and/or software component of said at least one first element; and ∘ transmitting said at least one local inventory to an element of said plurality of elements of said cluster other than said at least one first element, this element being referred to as the second element; - within said second element: ∘ receiving said at least one inventory; ∘ creating a partial or complete inventory comprising at least said at least one feature of said at least one hardware and/or software component of said at least one first element; and ∘ initiating a management operation for said cluster in accordance with said partial or complete inventory; the method being characterised in that said management operation for said cluster comprises an optimisation for distributing load among a plurality of hardware components of elements of said plurality of elements. ∘ receiving said at least one inventory; ∘ creating a partial or complete inventory comprising at least said at least one feature of said at least one hardware and/or software component of said at least one first element; and ∘ initiating a management operation for said cluster in accordance with said partial or complete inventory;