1. A method for scheduling execution of a work unit in a data processing system, wherein the execution of said work unit involves the execution of at least one program, the method comprising: providing at least one first collection of pieces of information necessary to execute the work unit, said first collection of pieces of information being arranged in at least one pre-defined, re-usable program profile corresponding to the at least one program to be executed; receiving, in a request for scheduling execution of the work unit, a second collection of pieces of information necessary to execute the work unit; determining execution information for the execution of the work unit based on the first and second collections of pieces of information; and scheduling the execution of the work unit based on the determined execution information.