25. A method of managing electronic records, comprising: storing data on a relational database, comprising modeling processes to create a metadata model establishing metadata elements and relationships among the elements and storing instance data following the metadata model; running an application server; authenticating and selectively providing access to users through a directory describing predetermined user rights; rendering instance data from said relational database, allowing users to modify said instance data stored on said relational database.
25. A method of managing electronic records, comprising: storing data on a relational database, comprising modeling processes to create a metadata model establishing metadata elements and relationships among the elements and storing instance data following the metadata model; running an application server; authenticating and selectively providing access to users through a directory describing predetermined user rights; rendering instance data from said relational database, allowing users to modify said instance data stored on said relational database. 27. A method in accordance with claim 25 , wherein said running an application server comprises: running algorithms for one of the steps of data management, data access, business management and concurrency management; processing user requests to modify instance data using a rule engine that includes a set of rules governing relationships among various parts of the instance data; providing means for said users to establish connections to said relational database.