Abstract: System and methods are disclosed for generating a document in a collaborative manner. A user may create data elements and activity elements, and associate the appropriate elements with events. Subsequently, when events occur, messages are sent to designated users to focus their attention on performing particular tasks, such as the task of updating data in a data store. A server computer may operate upon one or more of the elements in the data store to provide a message-based database system. Other users, including the lead user, may be assigned responsibilities associated with one or more of the elements in the data store. The various elements stored in the data store may be depicted in a tree format to assist in the visual layout of the numerous processes at work in the system. Using a template, a formatted user-friendly report may be generated that incorporates at least some of the data elements in the system.