Abstract: Techniques for integrating software systems, application tools, and business modules into a unified platform and open framework for building, deploying, and maintaining business applications of different types and varying nature in a heterogeneous computing environment. This is achieved by configuring the semantics of business entities, the presentation of structured and semi-structured information, the processing rules and logics among business modules, and the relationships of the participating users and organizations with other business entities. Integration of the software systems, application tools and business modules is achieved through integration of the key elements, which are business semantics, presentation logics, business rules, user entities and system models.