A method for managing a distributed system having processing modules and based on the execution of at least a process within a process engine, which is possibly decentralised, entails interventions for run-time adaptation of the processing modules accomplished by means of effectors. A uniform implementation surface configured to interact with the effectors in transparent fashion relative to the technological implementation peculiarities of the effectors themselves. Preferably, the interface has associated therewith a repository of the effectors as well as an implementation module for selecting, instancing, invoking and managing the effectors according to the tasks implemented in the process. The related platform can be used, for instance, to manage personal messaging in a telecommunications network.