systems that provide users with a model for designing , implementing , complying with , and proving compliance with , message life cycle management policies are disclosed . such a model may be based on the notion of folders upon which policies are defined , new restrictions on such folders , mechanisms to assure that users have such folders , and mechanisms to establish how well users are complying with the policies by determining how they are filing items into the folders . the concept can be extended to other mutually exclusive grouping mechanisms .