22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein the first parameter is based on the user's rights to access an application.
15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions to: supply, by an action framework to a client, a graphical user interface component with an embedded control associated with an action defined by a workflow performed by executable instructions, the action framework being interposed between the client and a business intelligence (BI) platform; identify, by the action framework activation of the embedded control by a user at the client, wherein the activation invokes the action in an action context, wherein the action comprises the workflow performed by executable instructions in a software application and the action context characterizes conditions associated with the software application, the workflow comprising a plurality of actions; augment, by the action framework, the request with an action context characterizing a set of conditions under which the action is requested; form, by the BI platform, a query to a metadata source for the action, wherein the query includes: a first parameter based on the rights of the user, and a second parameter based on a criterion in a request for the action; receive, by the action framework from the BI platform, a set of results from the query, wherein the set of results from the query includes metadata for a suitable action; retrieve, by the action framework, a graphical user interface element using the metadata for the suitable action; insert, by the action framework at the client, the graphical user interface element into a portion of a graphical user interface that is used to invoke the workflow performed by the executable instructions; and return, by the action framework a the client, the metadata and the graphical user interface.