1. A non-transitory signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus of a computer system to perform operations for managing a computer system on an activity basis, the operations comprising: monitoring use of the computer system to determine current actions being performed by a user with the computer system and at least one current application program being used to perform the current actions; accessing a plurality of activity models, wherein each of the activity models describe a group of related actions performed using the computer system to accomplish a specific end and at least one application program used to perform the related actions; comparing the current actions being performed with the computer system and the at least one current application program being used to perform the current actions with the activity models; identifying a particular activity model that best fits the current actions being performed with the computer system; accessing a management plan associated with the particular activity model, wherein the management plan establishes management procedures to be used in managing the computer system when actions corresponding to the activity model are detected as being performed with the computer system; and managing the computer system in accordance with the management procedures while performing the actions corresponding to the activity model.