1. In a computing environment comprising a messaging system and one or more data sources, an apparatus for associating messages with data comprising: an association manager capable of interfacing with an electronic mail messaging system and one or more data sources, said association manager configured to obtain an electronic mail message and to create an association between one or more elements of said electronic mail message with one or more elements of data from said data sources, said association manager further configured to analyze said electronic message to determine one or more external data sources from which said one or more elements of data are to be retrieved, wherein said one or more elements of data comprise workflow data associated with an order in which activities associated with a given task are completed, and wherein said association manager is configured to facilitate workflow management by providing a context for said one or more elements of said electronic mail message and said one or more elements of data; and a user interface enabling a user to create one or more sensory cues indicative of said association of one or more elements of said electronic mail message with said one or more elements of data from said data sources.