Abstract: A workflow management system and method is described. The illustrated embodiment is a contact management system, more particularly adapted for employment in a debt collection context. Methods and systems are described for allowing a debt collector to associate debtors with different categories, either manually or automatically in response to predetermined condition. Thus, the system can efficiently manage the status of debtors by associating each debtor with a particular category. As part of this system, the debtor accounts are moved from one category to another, and from one individual to another, as the collection process is undertaken. The system maintains each debtor account within a predetermined category, and then displays each of the categories to a collector on a graphical display. The graphical display uses rectangular bars for representing each category, and indicates within the rectangular bars how many contacts belong to the category.

Abstract: Methods of managing workflow information in an account-based system are described. The illustrated embodiments include a contact management system, and some embodiments are adapted for employment in a debt collection context. In addition, methods and systems are described for allowing a debt collector to associate debtors with different categories, either manually or automatically in response to predetermined condition. Thus, the system and method provide for efficiently managing the status of debtors by associating each debtor with a particular category. In certain embodiments, the debtor accounts are moved from one category to another, and from one individual to another, as the collection process is undertaken. The system and method maintain each debtor account within a predetermined category, display each of the categories to a collector on a graphical display, and display a list of debtor accounts within the category in response to the collector pressing a function key corresponding to a category.