Guide

Approval matrix: the missing primitive in automation

If approvals are implicit, automation becomes risky. Make them explicit: thresholds, roles, and evidence artifacts at each gate.

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Approval matrix builder

Turn implicit approvals into explicit workflow gates: thresholds, roles, and evidence artifacts.

Threshold

25,000 CHF

Higher thresholds require stronger gates and evidence.

Role selection

Evidence requirements

More required evidence increases audit readiness (and reduces drift).

Gate config

Needs approval

Approval gate

policy-bound

gate_id=G‑50 · threshold=25000 · role=manager

evidence=[approval_record, exception_record, version_log]

Risk score

50%

Evidence completeness

92%

Why this is powerful

The matrix is enforceable during execution. Approvals and evidence become workflow primitives—not policy text.

12–16 min read
Advanced

A practical approval matrix

Researched: 2026-03-05

This guide is updated regularly. Sources are listed under “References & evidence.”

Start with a matrix that covers the real levers:

DimensionExamples
Thresholdamount, risk score, customer impact
Rolerequester, approver, reviewer, owner
Evidenceapproval_record, exception_record, attachments, version_log
Exception policycodes, escalation path, SLA

Then attach the matrix to the workflow gates so it’s enforced during execution.

Patterns (SoD, re-approval, and exception ownership)

  • Segregation of Duties (SoD): requester cannot approve their own exception.
  • Re-approval triggers: policy changes, threshold changes, workflow version changes.
  • Exception ownership: every exception code has an owner + SLA.
  • Evidence completeness: gates require structured records, not only screenshots.

References & evidence

Researched: 2026-03-05