It is possible to add the 'Approvals' functionality to a normal 'file' and to a 'page' and to a 'Discussion'. This is only possible if your user profile is set to allow this (your local GVO manager can add this to your profile).
To do this follow the steps below...
1. Navigate to the 'file', page or discussion where you want to switch the Approvals on.
2. Use Actions/Add Approval Options
3. The Document will refresh and you will now see the 'Approval' tab (next to Preview).
4. To remove the Approval Options from a Document (or Page or Discussion) then navigate to the document and use Actions/Remove Approval Options - please note that all approvals recorded on this document will be lost. You can only do this if you have edit rights to the item and your user profile settings allow it.
In the folder listing any document with 'approval' options available will be shown with the following icon (see example below).
Icon to show approvals are available... 
Example of how it looks in the list of items in a folder
