A design-time Status schema model describes the progress of a data object through a Computing process. The Status schema model includes Status variables, processing actions and constraints for performing actions. The Status schema model also may describe permitted changes to a Status variable in response to performing an action. At runtime, the Status schema model is used to control processing performed by, or on, an instance of a data object corresponding to the Status schema model. A graphical user interface may be used to define Status schema modeis.