1. A computer system for carrying out engineering tasks as part of an engineering project, comprising: a plurality of client computers; at least one server computer accessible by the client computers via a communications network; a multi-tiered software system that includes system programs, application programs, and database programs, each of which is stored on one of the computers; wherein the system programs include a system objects module, a job manager module, an event manager module, and a work book module; and wherein the system objects module is operable to provide security and authentication services, the application programs are operable to carry out at least some of the engineering tasks, the job manager module is operable to manage use of the application programs, the event manager module is operable to receive and distribute notifications between at least some of the modules, and the work book module is operable to provide a user of the application programs with engineering information related to one or more of the engineering tasks.