Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a data structure for defining a resource of a desired type within a resource management application. The method for creating a resource comprising steps for: selecting a catalog based on the desired type; identifying a template associated with the catalog; creating an initial instance of the resource; creating attributes associated with the resource based on definitions specified by the catalog and applying primary validations specified by the catalog; establishing relationships with the resource by applying constraints associated with the template and the catalog; and applying secondary validations associated with the catalog and the template. The data structure lends itself to being changed or augmented. This permits the modification or addition of resource type definitions without necessitating changes to computer program code in the resource management application.