Multi-Level Approvals — Proposed Guide

Planned API — Reference Only

Multi-Level Approvals: Multi-level review separates decisions required at different organizational responsibilities. A completed first level does not mean…

Overview

Multi-level review separates decisions required at different organizational responsibilities. A completed first level does not mean that all remaining reviewers have authorized the request.

Key concepts

Define sequential versus parallel review and the conditions for advancing. Retain a distinct decision record for each level.

Implementation considerations

A rejection may stop the chain or return the request for correction; that behavior must be specified. Do not infer approval from partial completion.

Illustrative data model

This local fixture shows a possible representation for the concepts above. It is not an endpoint response, production configuration or a claim that the described capability is implemented.

JSON fixture

Fictional concept fixture

{
  "reference_only": true,
  "topic": "Multi-Level Approvals",
  "approval_id": "apr_example_123",
  "level": 1,
  "status": "draft",
  "reviewer_ids": [
    "usr_example_123"
  ]
}

Design review checklist

Document which organization owns the multi-level approvals representation and which actor may view or change it.
Test the boundaries of approval id, level, status, reviewer ids using synthetic values, including missing or inconsistent references.
Before future implementation, obtain an approved contract and review failure behavior. This documentation does not authorize production activation.

Proposed data types

Illustrative field dictionary
Name	Type	Description
approval_id	string	Stable fictional approval reference; not a secret and not evidence that a resource exists.
level	integer	Illustrative level value; its allowed range must be finalized before implementation.
status	string	Proposed lifecycle value. Its meaning depends on the resource and must not be inferred from HTTP success.
reviewer_ids	array<string>	Fictional reviewer references; validate ownership and avoid duplicate membership.

Manager Approvals

Approval Workflows

Approve Expense