Abstract: First and second applications having disparate concrete configuration models are integrated into a unified abstract model wherein configuration elements and associated element values are used to control configurable functions of the first and second application programs, respectively, and wherein the second configuration element has a similar configuration function as the first configuration element; using a first equivalence definition reflecting a functional relationship between the first application configuration element and an abstract model configuration element having the similar configuration function, wherein the abstract model configuration is application-independent and platform-independent; using a second equivalence definition reflecting a functional relationship between the second application program configuration element and the abstract model configuration element; and producing and associating a second configuration element value with the second application configuration element wherein the se

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for integrating first and second applications having disparate concrete configuration models into a unified abstract model comprising through mapping corresponding configuration objects with similar functions in each application, defining an equivalence between at least one particular object within the first application and at least one particular object within the second application, optionally receiving user input at a time of configuration regarding user permissions as they relate to the mapped configuration objects, and configuring each application using the received user input, automatically translating the user input, through mapping rules and equivalence definitions, so that each application is automatically configured to the unified abstract configuration model.