Certain embodiments described herein are generally directed to improving performance of one or more machines within a system by clustering multidimensional datasets relating to the performance of the machines using inter-group dissimilarities between groups of the dataset. The method for improving performance of one or more machines within a system, includes forming a multidimensional dataset having a plurality of groups using performance related data associated with one or more machines in the system, clustering the plurality of groups into one or more clusters based on intergroup dissimilarities between the plurality of groups, identifying one or more anomalous clusters from among the one or more clusters, identifying the one or more anomalous groups in the one or more anomalous clusters, and adjusting a configuration of the system to improve the performance of the one or more machines corresponding to the one or more anomalous groups.