1. In a network defined by a plurality of network elements, a method comprising: enabling a network management master application to interface with a first constituent application and a second constituent application; accessing a customized definition file for the first constituent application; associating, during execution of the network management master application, the customized definition file with the first constituent application; executing the first constituent application that is associated with the customized definition file, within the network management master application; accessing, after initiating execution of and as a consequence of executing the first constituent application, a user script related to the customized definition file; executing the user script in a process independent of the network management master application and the first constituent application; receiving, as a result of executing the user script, an updated management record for the first constituent application; and configuring the first constituent application to present the updated management record to a user.