In a computer system wherein messages are transferred between
participants, at least some of which are human users of the computer
system using the computer system in furtherance of work projects, and
wherein a workflow system handles task-based operations in a structured
environment, tasks embodied in messages are handled as tasks in the
structure environment by transforming messages into workflow items. One
embodiment provides for sending a message from a sender to a user
computer system; upon review of the message at the user computer system
by a user, accepting input from the user representative of a trigger for
transforming the message content to a workflow object, wherein the
workflow object is a structured representation of one or more tasks to be
performed by one or more assignees including linkages between tasks;
following a trigger for transforming, accepting user input as needed to
obtain task-related information other than information present in the
message; once the user input is obtained, generating one or more workflow
objects for tasks representing by the message; and providing the one or
more workflow objects to a workflow system for workflow handling.