Adding an approval workflow to a topic

As a configuration administrator, you can enable approval workflows in topics. For any topic, a service center role can be specified to approve a case that uses the topic. For example, a topic can be configured so that when an agent specifies the topic in a new case the agent’s manager must approve the case.

Instead of specifying a role that approves the topic, you can specify an approval template. In this case, any individual that is specified in the template can approve the case. For example, if the approver template uses the HR Approver role and that role includes two approvers, then both approvers are eligible to approve cases that use the topic. This requires that an approval template is created in the application before the template can be assigned to the topic.

Cases that have been created but that have not yet been approved have the status of Pending Approval. These cases cannot be closed by service center users until they are approved or rejected.

This list shows the possible roles of an approver:

  • CaseEmployee
  • CaseManager
  • CaseAgent
  • CaseFieldRep
  1. Select Administration > Setup.
  2. In the Primary pane, click Topics.
  3. Right-click the topic to configure and select Open.
  4. In the Approvals section, specify this information:
    Approval Type
    Specify the role that is required to approve the case when the topic is used. For example, select Manager.
    Approver Template
    This option is available if Approver Template is selected in the Approval Type field. Select the template. Requests are sent to individuals that are specified in the template, any of whom can approve the case.
    Require Approval
    Select Single Approver to require approval by any individual that is specified in the approver template. Select All Approvers to require approval by all approvers that are specified in the approver template.
    Approval Notification
    Select this check box to send an approval request notification to the approver.
    Timeout Option
    Select the action that is taken if the approver does not respond to the request in the specified number of days. For example, if the action is Approve and the manager does not respond to the request in the specified number of days, then the case is automatically approved.
    In Days
    Specify the number of days from the date that the request is made that must pass before the action that is specified in Timeout Option is taken.
  5. Click Save.