A method of managing a resource, comprising: receiving a reference utilization level; executing a plurality of application modules (104a-104m, 106a-106n, 108a-108p, 604a-604h) on a resource (110a-110r, 602a-602d) of a processing system; and allocating portions of a total processing capacity of the resource (110a-110r, 602a-602d) among the plurality of application modules (104a-104m, 106a-106n, 108a-108p, 604a-604h) based on a plurality of priority levels (610a-610h) associated with the plurality of application modules (104a-104m, 106a-106n, 108a-108p, 604a-604h) to maintain a load level of the resource to be substantially equal to the reference utilization level, wherein the reference utilization level corresponds to a target load level for the resource; wherein the step of allocating comprises: receiving a request from a first application module of the plurality of application modules for more of the processing capacity of the resource; and automatically transferring a portion of the processing capacity of the resource from a second application module of the plurality of application modules to the first application module based on a first priority level associated with the first application module being greater than a second priority level associated with the second application module; wherein the second application module is taken off-line by allocating it a processing capacity of 0%; wherein the second application module is woken up in response to the resource determining that requests for processing capacity from the first application module are winding down; wherein a revised reference utilization level is received in accordance with a predetermined schedule, and wherein the reference utilization level is set to indicate a lower utilization level at a first time during the day, and to indicate a revised higher utilization level at a second time during the day, and wherein the processing capacity is allocated among the plurality of application modules to maintain the load level of the resource to be substantially equal to the lower utilization level during a period between the first and the second time, and to be substantially equal to the higher utilization level during a period after the second time. receiving a reference utilization level; executing a plurality of application modules (104a-104m, 106a-106n, 108a-108p, 604a-604h) on a resource (110a-110r, 602a-602d) of a processing system; and allocating portions of a total processing capacity of the resource (110a-110r, 602a-602d) among the plurality of application modules (104a-104m, 106a-106n, 108a-108p, 604a-604h) based on a plurality of priority levels (610a-610h) associated with the plurality of application modules (104a-104m, 106a-106n, 108a-108p, 604a-604h) to maintain a load level of the resource to be substantially equal to the reference utilization level, wherein the reference utilization level corresponds to a target load level for the resource; receiving a request from a first application module of the plurality of application modules for more of the processing capacity of the resource; and automatically transferring a portion of the processing capacity of the resource from a second application module of the plurality of application modules to the first application module based on a first priority level associated with the first application module being greater than a second priority level associated with the second application module; wherein the second application module is taken off-line by allocating it a processing capacity of 0%; wherein the second application module is woken up in response to the resource determining that requests for processing capacity from the first application module are winding down; wherein a revised reference utilization level is received in accordance with a predetermined schedule, and wherein the reference utilization level is set to indicate a lower utilization level at a first time during the day, and to indicate a revised higher utilization level at a second time during the day, and wherein the processing capacity is allocated among the plurality of application modules to maintain the load level of the resource to be substantially equal to the lower utilization level during a period between the first and the second time, and to be substantially equal to the higher utilization level during a period after the second time.