1. In a computer system capable of running at least one application and maintaining a database, each application having at least one feature, a method for defining a user's access to said at least one feature comprising the steps of: assigning at least one attribute to said user; storing said at least one attribute in a first table in said database; running an application in said computer system; retrieving from said first table one or more of said at least one attribute assigned to the user; and enforcing the retrieved attributes, whereby the user's access to said at least one feature of said application is defined in accordance with the retrieved attributes.