Approval needs an owner, action boundary, exception rule, and visible log before automation becomes operational.
Why this note exists.
The difficult question is rarely whether an agent can draft or route something. The important question is where accountability belongs when the workflow affects customers, money, reputation, or delivery quality.
Observations
- Approval is a workflow design problem, not a final checkbox.
- Some actions can be drafted by agents but still require human decision.
- Exception rules and logs make automation safer to operate.
What we learned
- Define what the agent can draft, recommend, route, or execute.
- Give each approval point an owner and escalation path.
- Store enough context for review and improvement.
Useful artifact
- Workflow map or decision note.
- Test case, approval log, or delivery handoff.
- Reusable pattern for a future service path.