Abstract: System and method for facilitating operations for users of an industrial automation network with a plurality of automation devices, wherein work orders for the automation devices are managed in the automation network and are transmitted via a communications network, where a message service for exchanging messages between participants is operated with a list of participants that is prepopulated with virtual roles as participants such that the participants in the list of participants become variable participants, the users, the work orders or the automation devices are assigned to the virtual roles, and where a communications forum for exchanging messages between a virtual role of the work order and a first virtual role of a first user is created during determination of the work order.

Abstract: Method for facilitating operations for users of an industrial automation network with a plurality of automation devices, wherein work orders for the automation devices are managed in the automation network and are transmitted via a communications network, where a message service for exchanging messages between participants is operated with a list of participants that is prepopulated with virtual roles as participants such that the participants in the list of participants become variable participants, and where the users, the work orders or the automation devices are assigned to the virtual roles.