A method, as well as a computer program product that implements the method, is provided for user modeling, within a computer system, of a lifecycle of uniquely identified computer data objects that are members of a computer data object family. The method includes receiving a user-defined triggering event occurring in a software application system. The method also includes receiving user-defined permissible states for one or more object attributes that may be present for a uniquely identified computer data object that is a member of the data object family, as well as user-defined permissible transitions between the defined permissible states. The method also includes receiving a user-defined action to be performed on a uniquely identified computer data object that is a member of the computer data object family, when the user-defined triggering event occurs and causes a permissible state transition to occur.