Cascading approval

Approvals vary depending on the case type. An application for auto insurance may need one approval from the company underwriter. Some case types, such as a purchase request or an expense report, may require a series of approvals. A cascading approval process configures a series of approvals.

The two cascading approval models are reporting structure and authority matrix.

You use the reporting structure model when approvals always move up the reporting structure of the submitter or another defined list.

You use the authority matrix model when a set of rules directs the approval chain to individuals both inside and outside the organization of the submitter.

To determine which model to use, write the requirement in a simple sentence, beginning the sentence with "When." If approval conditions exist, use the authority matrix model.

An authority matrix uses a decision table. The decision table identifies each party in the approval process as well as the conditions that determine when each party must provide approval.

The application evaluates the decision table. Each satisfied row or condition adds the results to a list of approvers. Approval assignments route to approvers in the order of list appearance.

For example, an application uses an authority matrix to manage expense report approvals. The matrix contains three conditions based on the expense amount. The fourth condition states that Accounts Payable must approve any billable expense.

If a consultant submits an expense report for USD700 that includes billable time, the application creates an authority matrix with three approvals: Accounts Payable, the manager of the consultant, and the director who oversees the consulting department.