1. A method for modifying automated business processes in a computer system, comprising: opening a business object representing a workflow in the computer system, the business object having executable logic that: 1) defines workflow operations to be performed within the computer system and workflow recipients to collaboratively perform them, wherein workflow operations are tasks to be performed to complete execution of the workflow and 2) stores data acquired during performance of the workflow, the business object having persistence in storage of a business application server of the computer system; responsive to a command from a user terminal to modify the workflow, copying data from the opened business object to a temporary business object, the temporary business object not having persistence in storage of the business application server; modifying the workflow definitions of the temporary business object according to user input; executing the modified workflow definitions of the temporary business object and storing data acquired from the execution in the temporary business object; and when the workflow of the temporary business object is complete, extracting data from the temporary business object and integrating the extracted data into the database.