1. A system for managing annotations for one or more different type data sources manipulated by a plurality of different type applications, comprising: a processor; and a memory operatively connected to the processor, the memory containing: an annotation database for storing annotations separately from the data sources associated with the annotations; a set of annotatable data object points defining portions of the data sources associated with the annotations described by the associated annotations; an annotation server configured to receive requests to access annotations for one or more of the annotatable data object points issued by the one or more of the applications running on the client computer and generate a graphical user interface screen, based on an annotation structure associated with the one or more of the annotatable data object points, for creating or viewing annotations for the one or more annotatable data object points; and one or more configuration tools allowing a user to define annotation structures and associate annotation structures with one or more of the annotatable data object points, wherein the configuration tools allow users to associate one or more annotation structures with at least one of: one or more combinations of annotatable data object points and roles; or one or more combinations of annotatable data object points and users.