A system for managing objects in a hierarchial structure, the system being implemented preferably in a network management program. The system determines a composite index for a network object in the hierarchical structure from one or more parameters. In addition, the system determines composite indices for parent objects based on composite indices for child objects. Preferably, parameters are based on a scale common to all objects. Parameters are defined in the range of zero to one inclusively. Multiple composite indices for an object may be determined and combined with multiple indices of other objects at a same level of the hierarchical structure to determine multiple composite indices for parent objects. Alternatively, multiple composite indices may be combined to determine an overall state index for a parent object. Further, multiple composite indices may be determined for a root object of the hierarchical structure. The system determines a next index value in time for an object based on past values of the index and a presently calculated value. Preferably, the system implements a memory effect whereby high index values are maintained longer than low index values. The system presents an indicator associated with a network to a network administrator. The indicator preferably is a flag having a color and showing the composite index for the network object. The color of the flag indicates a level of one or more properties of the object, and the index represents a degree of confidence that the object is at that level.