In a large storage area network (SAN), many administrative tasks perform various operations. Managing the tasks can be a formidable activity. A network management application, operable to identify and manipulate the tasks, organizes the tasks in a common graphical user interface (GUI) which allows task management from a single operator console. The task manager provides a GUI having display panes for managing the tasks. The task manager allows selection and invocation of tasks, in which the same task is identifiable by each of the plurality of attributes. The task manager displays the hierarchy of tasks in a task tree, including selectable task icons, in a task tree pane. The task icons are expandable into the corresponding subtasks and operations in a task list pane, and status details about the operations and task status are displayed in a context detail pane. An operator traverses the task tree to drill down into the operation and completion status of tasks in the task tree.