One embodiment of the system of this invention can include software programming stored in a computer readable memory. The software programming can comprise a public API layer further comprising an object model containing generic software objects representing underlying workflow processes and functionality and an adapter layer comprising one or more adapters operable to map the generic software objects of the public API layer with the vendor-specific APIs of underlying workflow engines. The generic object model maintained by the public API layer can, in one embodiment of the present invention, comprise generic software objects corresponding to the reference model developed by the Workflow Management Coalition. In this manner, the public API layer can present an interface based on industry standards.