1. A computer system for controlling actions in a computer-based process, the system comprising: one or more processors operable to provide: a status schema model that is defined at design-time; and a computer-readable storage device including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform operations comprising: creating a status schema instance for a particular data object node instance being used in a computer-based process, the status schema instance corresponding to the status schema model, and the data object node instance including a status variable, multiple status values for the status variable, and actions capable of being performed by the data object node instance, each status value of the status variable being a precondition for at least one of the actions, the precondition identifying whether the associated action is to be allowed to be performed at runtime by the data object node instance; based on the status schema instance, monitoring a status of the status value of the status variable of the data object node instance to determine whether a precondition associated with a particular action is satisfied; in response to the determination that the precondition is satisfied, enabling the particular action to be executed; and in response to executing the particular action, altering the status value of the status variable.