A task manager for operating and performing management tasks called for by a system administration manager. The task manager includes a command task manager for performing command tasks, a function task manager for performing function tasks, and a remote task execution manager for performing remote or distributed task. In addition, the task manager includes a single application program interface for interfacing the command task manager, function task manager, and remote task execution manager with the system administration manager. The task manager further performs error handling and automatic logging operations. The task manager uses a task registration manager which stores the individual task descriptions and makes them available to the task manager.