What is an approval workflow?

An approval workflow is a structured process used by organisations to review and authorise decisions before work moves forward. In many projects, certain actions cannot proceed until the appropriate person has approved them. For example, budgets, design revisions, vendor contracts or marketing campaigns often require approval from managers or stakeholders. An approval workflow defines who must review the request, in what order approvals should occur, and how decisions are recorded. Structured approval workflows help organisations maintain accountability, ensure that decisions are properly authorised, and create a clear record of who approved what and when.