1. A method to rank a data object, wherein the data object is a member of a plurality of groups, the method comprising: obtaining a group-value for each group In which the data object is a member; obtaining an object-value associated with the data object for each group in which the data object is a member; obtaining a weighting factor value; combining the group-values and the object-values and the weighting factor in a group-by-group fashion to assign a scalar strength score to the data object; and processing the data object according to the strength score.