Zero Approvals

What is Zero Approvals?

Understand how an approval checkpoint assigns authority, presents evidence and resumes a flow from an approved, rejected or modified decision.

A decision in the flow
Automated check: applies a defined rule
Specialist agent: assesses the case
Person or team: makes an authorised decision
Flow continues from the outcome
Assign each decision to the authority appropriate to the work.

Kinds of checkpoint

  • A policy or rule check

    A defined rule evaluates the result and determines the next step.

  • Review by a specialist agent

    An agent assesses the work and records its decision or proposed changes.

  • A threshold

    Work continues on its own below a line you set, and escalates above it.

  • Sign-off by a role or a team

    Anyone who holds the role can decide, and one answer moves the process on.

  • Confirmation by a customer

    The customer decides on a matter that is theirs.

  • A named person

    One person decides, as themselves.

Assess risk
Approval
Approved: continue
Rejected: stop
Modified: continue with changes
Three outcomes: approved, rejected, or modified.

Approval 83hj29 · Supplier review v3

  • Requested09:00:01Assess risk recommends suspending a supplier
  • Checked09:00:01Policy check: above the automatic line
  • Assigned09:00:02To a specialist agent
  • Assigned09:00:40To the procurement lead
  • Decided09:14:02Approved, with one change
  • Resumed09:14:02The run continues

What the person deciding sees

  • What is asking

    Assess risk, in Supplier review v3.

  • Why

    The recommended action is above the automatic line.

  • Evidence

    Three references from the run.

  • Proposed action

    Suspend the supplier and notify the buyer.

What is an approval?

A checkpoint in a flow where a decision is made before work continues. The decision is approved, rejected, or modified.

Who or what can decide?

An automated check, a specialist agent, a role, a team, a customer, or a named person. The decision is assigned according to the authority and judgement it requires.

What happens to the process while it waits?

The run pauses at the checkpoint and keeps its place. It picks up from the decision the moment it is made, whether that takes seconds or days.

What does the person deciding see?

A short card: what is asking, why, the evidence, and the proposed action. They approve, reject, or modify.

Can a decision change the work?

Yes. A modified decision continues the run with the changes the approver made.

Approval

A checkpoint in a flow where an authorised check, agent, or person decides how work continues.

Approver

Whoever or whatever an approval names to decide: a check, an agent, a role, a team, a customer, or a person.

Decision

The outcome of an approval. Approved continues the run, rejected stops it, and modified continues it with changes.

Escalation

Passing a decision to another agent or an authorised person when their assessment or authority is required.

Zero Approvals is part of Zero, the agentic orchestration platform.