database 108 may include information to identify which user in a plurality of users has been granted the authority of a project planner which user in the plurality of users has been granted the authority of a candidate manager and which user in the plurality of users has been granted the authority of a staffing manager the third database 110 may include a description of a universe of candidates for possible placement as staff in any given project plan the i o unit 118 may permit communication with external devices not shown for example the i o unit 118 may allow a user to input or read data from the first second and or third databases 106 108 110 rules governing access to databases may be stored in memory or in any database table 1 illustrates one possible set of rules during the course of the program planning cycle a user having an assigned role may or may not be able to gain access to any given database based on the user 39 s role and a staffing state in accordance with one embodiment a grant of authority to modify a database is preceded by the system 39 s examination of a set of rules such as those.