1. A programmed computer system for generating and controlling workflow processes, the system comprising: a workflow engine executed by a first computer based system for the definition and enactment of workflow processes; a client executed by a second computer based system coupled to said workflow engine; one or more services; and an adapter for providing a communication mechanism between the workflow engine and said one of one or more services, the adapter having a fixed interface that is an object oriented, platform independent and language independent interface, enabling the workflow engine to communicate to a common interface, thereby making the workflow engine independent of the service and enabling a service to be changed without any code changes to the workflow engine.