The present invention provides a method for identifying a serialization bottleneck in a computer system (FIG. 1). The method comprises the steps of providing statistical data with regard to the actual response time (FIG. 2) of a computing resource, providing statistical data with regard to an expected response time of the computing resource and applying a mathematical formula to the actual response time to derive a relationship between the actual and expected response time. The relationship between the expected response time and the actual response time provides an indication of the presence of a serialization problem in a computing system.