Abstract: The invention provides a system for accessing business data stored in one or more databases by a user. The system includes a means for presenting a user with a plurality of components with each component representing a discrete element of the business model, having a defined relationship with each other component, and including a plurality of information objects. Each information object represents an instance of the component business element and can be defined by a set of attributes and behaviors. The system further provides means for user selection of a first one of the plurality of components, for user selection of a first one of the plurality of information objects from the first component, and for instantiating the first information object. The user can then manipulate the first information object to cause the object to interact with any of the other components.