1. A method comprising: responsive to a command from a user terminal to initiate a workflow, copying data from a business object linked to a database to a temporary business object that is independent from the database; populating fields of a first form with data from the temporary business object; conveying a workflow object comprising the first form populated with data from the temporary business object to the user terminal; extracting data from the workflow object; and after receiving indicia of completion of the workflow, integrating the extracted data into the database.