Default approvers are automatically assigned to a request based on information such as the requester's department, the types of items being ordered, and the cost of the items.

If an approval list, group, or role is designated as a required approver, any member of the list, group, or role can approve or deny a request for the list, group, or role, at which point the request moves to the next approver in the approval flow.

Parallel approvers or watchers are notified of a request at the same time as the first approver or watcher in the approval flow.

A user with the necessary privileges can add approvers to a submitted request, even if that user was not in the approval flow.

Actions taken while a request has the status of Composing (such as adding approvers) do not appear in the summary on the History tab; actions are recorded only after the status changes to Submitted.

1. Select an approver to add to the approval flow, or create an approval list by selecting multiple users, groups, or roles.
   • To select a single approver, use the pull-down menu. A new node, or box, containing the selected approver will be added to the approval flow. The selected approver can be an individual user, a group, or a role.
   • To create an approval list, click Select Approval List. The selected users, groups, or roles will be grouped together and added to the approval flow in one node, or box.
2. Designate the new approver as a required approver who must approve or deny the request, or as a watcher to simply monitor the request.
3. Explain why you are adding an approver or watcher to the approval flow.
4. Indicate where to add the approver or watcher in the approval flow.
   • If you are creating a request, you can add an approver or watcher at the start of the approval flow. For example, you might add your direct manager at the start of the approval flow, to ensure your manager sees your request (and can add comments) before a default approver, such as your department manager. If you add subsequent approvers, they are added in sequence after the first approver you added. You can also add an approver or watcher in parallel to the approval flow. For example, you can add your direct manager in parallel, so your manager sees your request at the same time as the first default approver.
   • If you are approving a request, click the radio button of an existing approver or watcher to select it, and then add the new approver or watcher before or after the one you selected. You can also add an approver or watcher in parallel to the approval flow.
   • When you add a watcher at the start of the approval flow, the new watcher and the first approver are notified of the request at the same time.
5. To add another approver, repeat the process.
6. When you are done adding approvers or watchers, click OK to return to the previous screen and display the updated approval flow, or Cancel to return to the previous screen without changing the approval flow.