Objective:

• To understand why an approval workflow requires the document owner's approval on the first step 

Environment:

• PolicyStat

Answer:

The approval workflow is a pillar of PolicyStat's document control structure. If a user owns a document, they should be aware of the document's status at any point in its approval life cycle. 

When a Site Administrator creates an approval workflow, each step contains the option to require the Owner's approval. The best practice for workflow creation is to select the Owner approval requirement option. This will ensure that the Owner will receive notifications about the document as it moves through the approval workflow, especially when other users restart the workflow by making edits. The Owner can then review other users' edits before advancing the workflow forward. 

Please note that the Owner's approval can also be required on the final step of a workflow, to ensure that any necessary education and training occur before the document becomes Active.