diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/res/__init__.py b/openerp/addons/base/res/__init__.py
index 2b4da739f54..8bfaba2fe24 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/base/res/__init__.py
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/res/__init__.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import res_request
 import res_lang
 import res_log
 import res_widget
+import res_needaction
 import ir_property
 
 import wizard
diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/res/res_needaction.py b/openerp/addons/base/res/res_needaction.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..529444b6e4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/res/res_needaction.py
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+##############################################################################
+#
+#    OpenERP, Open Source Management Solution
+#    Copyright (C) 2009-Today OpenERP SA (<http://www.openerp.com>)
+#
+#    This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+#    it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+#    published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+#    License, or (at your option) any later version
+#
+#    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+#    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+#    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+#    GNU Affero General Public License for more details
+#
+#    You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+#    along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>
+#
+##############################################################################
+
+import time
+from osv import osv, fields
+from tools.translate import _
+
+class res_needaction(osv.osv):
+    '''Mixin class for object implementing a need_action mechanism
+    
+    Need action mechanism can be used by objects wanting to be able to
+    signal that an action is required on a particular record. If in the
+    business logic an action must be performed by somebody, for instance
+    validation by a manager, this mechanism allows to add have a field
+    linking to the user requested to perform the action.
+    
+    Technically, this class adds a need_action_user_id field; when
+    set to false, no action is required; when an user_id is set,
+    this user has an action to perform. Setting an user_id is done
+    through redefining the get_needaction_user_id method, that
+    stores the need_action_user_id function fields.
+    
+    This mechanism is used for instance to display the number of pending action
+    in menus.
+    '''
+    _name = 'res.needaction'
+    _description = 'Need action Engine'
+    
+    def get_needaction_user_id(self, cr, uid, ids, name, arg, context=None):
+        if context is None:
+            context = {}
+        result = {}
+        for obj in self.browse(cr, uid, ids, context=context):
+            result[obj.id] = False
+        return result
+
+    ''' Wrapper: in 6.1 the reference to a method is given to a function
+    field, not the function name. Inheritance is therefore not directly
+    possible.'''
+    def get_needaction_user_id_wrapper(self, cr, uid, ids, name, arg, context=None):
+        return self.get_needaction_user_id(cr, uid, ids, name, arg, context=context)
+
+    _columns = {
+        'need_action_user_id': fields.function(get_needaction_user_id_wrapper,
+                        type='many2one', relation='res.users', store=True,
+                        select=1, string='User'),
+    }
+
+# vim:expandtab:smartindent:tabstop=4:softtabstop=4:shiftwidth=4: