1. A work object manager for performing operations on work objects, comprising: a user interface for receiving user inputs, the user interface allowing a user to construct queries defining a set of work objects on which simultaneous operations are to be performed and to specify an operation to be performed on the set of work objects; and a plurality of operational modules, one or more of the operational modules being operative to perform the specified operation on the defined set of work objects, one of the operational modules being a batch unlock manager operative to receive a query specifying a range of locations to be searched for work objects, the query further specifying characteristics relating to locking of work objects, the batch unlock manager being operative to return work objects in the specified range of locations and having the specified lock characteristics, the batch object manager being further operative to simultaneously unlock the returned work objects upon a selection by the user.