Abstract: A business process management system comprises a core process model and a highly configurable extension component. The extension component includes extension process elements and functionality that are configured to operate in connection with a subset of core process elements so as to execute a particular business process management function on the subset. The extension process elements and functionality are entirely separate from and are not a part of the process flow containing the subset of core process elements such that the business process management function does not affect or influence the core process flow. Examples of business process management functions configurable for such purposes include service level agreements, business process monitoring and KPI collection, policy compliance and trend prediction.