The significance of user roles in application management is that they dictate access levels and permissions within the software. Assigning specific roles helps enforce security measures by ensuring that only authorized users can access sensitive data or functionalities. Role-based access control (RBAC) streamlines user management, making it easier to administer user privileges and enhance compliance with regulations. Additionally, clearly defined user roles contribute to better collaboration among teams by streamlining workflows, enhancing accountability, and optimizing application performance based on user requirements.