1. A method for scheduling execution of work units in a data processing system including a plurality of resources, at least one relationship being established among the resources, wherein for at least one work unit the method includes the steps of: providing a definition of the work unit including an indication of at least one formal resource required by the work unit, each formal resource indicating at least one property of the formal resource and at least one formal relationship with at least another formal resource, resolving each formal resource into at least one resource possessing the at least one property and satisfying the at least one formal relationship indicated in the formal resource, and submitting the work unit on a selected one of the at least one resource corresponding to each formal resource.