A system and method for using session beans to integrate business processes. The system includes a process engine which includes a workflow and a plug-in manager. The system further allows for creating session beans, packaging the session beans for deployment, and deploying the session beans to the process engine as a plug-in, to dynamically modify the workflow. The plug-in manager handles event notifications to and from the deployed session beans at runtime, according to the workflow. In this manner, the environment allows for easy development of software applications that are intended to communicate with business processes and external components.