Abstract: A novel computer-based method and associated network database architecture is described to solve the problem of the management, tracking, tracing, auditing, and life cycle management of information artifacts within a content network. In the context of the content network, information artifacts represent models and relationships associated with documents, components, collections, structures, metadata, tasks, milestones, objectives. All information artifacts that define the content network are represented as individual nodes within the network database, which can be a graph database, or a graph-enabled relational or multi-model database. Relationships that exist between the node and its parent node, between nodes representing individual information artifacts or a set of artifacts, as well as reference links to external sources where the information artifact may have originated (such as an external database or system) are represented as a set of edges.