1. A method of integrating components for processing a request, comprising: providing an architecture for supporting a plurality of independent components, the architecture providing for the direction and transformation of messages between the independent components, whereby the independent components are able to perform tasks and delegate tasks to other components; managing an identity across the plurality of independent components in order to provide for sharing the processing of the request across the plurality of independent components, the identity corresponding to one of an authorized principal, process, or event; in response to receiving the request or an action corresponding to the request, initiating a workflow to process the request using the plurality of independent components and the managed identity.