1. A method for performing a reconfiguration of a plurality of resources with a policy-based automation manager, wherein said resources reside on multiple different system platforms including a mainframe, and wherein interdependencies exist between at least two resources of different platforms, comprising the steps of: a) defining an automation choice group construct as a part of a predetermined automation policy, wherein the automation choice group construct describes a group of software configuration alternatives having at least two different members, and each member represents a set of alternative resource configurations, wherein at most one member is allowed to be active at a time, b) pre-selecting one group member as “preferred” to be activated in case a predetermined automation choice group is determined for operation, c) providing a user interface for triggering a reconfiguration of said resources automation policy, d) initiating an automatic change from a first resource configuration into a second resource configuration, when said trigger is actuated.