A method for operating a role-based user interface for an enterprise resource management application, the method comprising: providing a system having a terminal being available to a user and executing the user interface; providing an application (1040, 1050, 1060), the application (1040, 1050, 1060) forming or being part of a back-end responsive to the user interface; the user interface collecting user information; the user interface making a call to the back-end for appropriate role-based content; characterized in that the method further comprises in an administrative mode of the user interface, presenting a full range of navigation functions in a navigation area of the interface; in a working mode of the user interface, hiding the navigation area while presenting a working session of a launched transaction corresponding to a role-based activity; in response to a user input, navigating directly from the working mode to the administrative mode; and in response to a user input, navigating directly from the administrative mode to the working mode; wherein the back end includes metadata and functionality configured to associate user information, user role and/or identity, with corresponding role-based content to be present in the user interface, wherein in response to selecting a given role-based activity, the user interface collects or aggregates business objects from background applications that match both a user's role and the selected activity category; the method further comprising: entering the administrative mode of the interface, the administrative mode including the navigation area having the full range of navigation functions to navigate among role-based objects and activities; from the administrative mode, navigating to the selected activity; in response to an input in a transaction window of the selected activity, entering the working mode of the user interface, the working mode including launching the transaction corresponding to the selected activity; hiding the navigation area while in the working mode; displaying an indicator for the launched transaction in a session area; displaying a field for navigating directly to the administrative mode; in response to an input in the field, navigating directly from the working mode to the administrative mode. providing a system having a terminal being available to a user and executing the user interface; providing an application (1040, 1050, 1060), the application (1040, 1050, 1060) forming or being part of a back-end responsive to the user interface; the user interface collecting user information; the user interface making a call to the back-end for appropriate role-based content; characterized in that the method further comprises in an administrative mode of the user interface, presenting a full range of navigation functions in a navigation area of the interface; in a working mode of the user interface, hiding the navigation area while presenting a working session of a launched transaction corresponding to a role-based activity; in response to a user input, navigating directly from the working mode to the administrative mode; and in response to a user input, navigating directly from the administrative mode to the working mode; wherein the back end includes metadata and functionality configured to associate user information, user role and/or identity, with corresponding role-based content to be present in the user interface, wherein in response to selecting a given role-based activity, the user interface collects or aggregates business objects from background applications that match both a user's role and the selected activity category; the method further comprising: entering the administrative mode of the interface, the administrative mode including the navigation area having the full range of navigation functions to navigate among role-based objects and activities; from the administrative mode, navigating to the selected activity; in response to an input in a transaction window of the selected activity, entering the working mode of the user interface, the working mode including launching the transaction corresponding to the selected activity; hiding the navigation area while in the working mode; displaying an indicator for the launched transaction in a session area; displaying a field for navigating directly to the administrative mode; in response to an input in the field, navigating directly from the working mode to the administrative mode. entering the administrative mode of the interface, the administrative mode including the navigation area having the full range of navigation functions to navigate among role-based objects and activities; from the administrative mode, navigating to the selected activity; in response to an input in a transaction window of the selected activity, entering the working mode of the user interface, the working mode including launching the transaction corresponding to the selected activity; hiding the navigation area while in the working mode; displaying an indicator for the launched transaction in a session area; displaying a field for navigating directly to the administrative mode; in response to an input in the field, navigating directly from the working mode to the administrative mode.