1. A method of data processing in a data processing system, said method comprising: a hardware management component receiving, from a software component of the data processing system, a request for management access to a hardware component of the data processing system; in response to receipt of the request for management access, the hardware management component determining whether or not the request contains a parameter indicative of the intended scope of hardware components to be accessed in response to the request; and in response to the request, the hardware management component selecting a scope in accordance with the determination and issuing one or more hardware management commands to one or more target hardware components of the data processing system within the selected scope, such that an operating state of the one or more target hardware components is modified.