A computer system is disclosed which has data contained in a plurality of objects described by a model representing host-based application assets. The model is use in the development of business-centric applications. The computer system comprises a data storage means for storing said plurality of objects in the computer system and means for populating the plurality of objects with a specification for a particular host-based asset. The model comprises a hierarchy of classes defined for the computer system, and includes in part a user class representing properties unique to a particular user; a user access application class representing a privilege level that a user has to a particular application; an application class encapsulating a list of host-based assets and a list of users who have access to those assets; a common file class encapsulating those hostbased assets that belong to an application type; and, a database file class encapsulating a generalization of all persistent host-related data.