1. A method of automatically identifying and notifying an appropriate user to unlock a currently locked shared electronic document in a computer system, comprising: locking said electronic document in response to a first request to edit said shared electronic document, said first request from a first user; in response to said first request to edit said shared document, generating an unlock group definition user interface object through which said first user defines an unlock group and an unlock group hierarchy; wherein said unlock group includes a plurality of members, wherein each member in said unlock group is a user having access rights allowing them to unlock said electronic document when said electronic document is locked by another user; wherein said unlock group hierarchy defines an order in which said members of said unlock group are automatically contacted to unlock said electronic document; receiving, prior to said first user unlocking said shared electronic document, a second request to edit said shared electronic document, wherein said second request to edit said shared electronic document is received from a second user; and in response to said second request to edit said shared electronic document, sending unlock requests to individual members of said unlock group in said order defined by said unlock group hierarchy until one of said unlock group members unlocks said shared electronic document.
1. A method of automatically identifying and notifying an appropriate user to unlock a currently locked shared electronic document in a computer system, comprising: locking said electronic document in response to a first request to edit said shared electronic document, said first request from a first user; in response to said first request to edit said shared document, generating an unlock group definition user interface object through which said first user defines an unlock group and an unlock group hierarchy; wherein said unlock group includes a plurality of members, wherein each member in said unlock group is a user having access rights allowing them to unlock said electronic document when said electronic document is locked by another user; wherein said unlock group hierarchy defines an order in which said members of said unlock group are automatically contacted to unlock said electronic document; receiving, prior to said first user unlocking said shared electronic document, a second request to edit said shared electronic document, wherein said second request to edit said shared electronic document is received from a second user; and in response to said second request to edit said shared electronic document, sending unlock requests to individual members of said unlock group in said order defined by said unlock group hierarchy until one of said unlock group members unlocks said shared electronic document. 10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said unlock group includes at least one pre-defined user group.