1. A computer system for controlling actions in a computer-based process, the system comprising: a status schema model that is defined at design-time, stored in computer-readable medium and includes preconditions for performing actions, each precondition identifying how a status affects whether an action is to be allowed to be performed at runtime by a data object node instance having the status, and instructions stored in computer-readable medium that, when executed, 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 values for variables and methods capable of being performed by the data object node instance; based on the status schema instance, monitoring status of the data object node instance to determine whether a particular action is allowed to be performed by the data object node instance; and in response to a determination that the particular action is allowed, enabling the particular action to be executed.