Single or Multi-Level Approval: Which Should You Configure?

Choosing between single or multi-level approval is a trade-off between control and speed. Every additional level adds a place for a request to wait.

The cost of each extra level

Approval layers are added for good reasons and rarely removed.

A second signature that delays every request, including trivial ones
Approvers who rubber-stamp because they lack context
Requests bouncing between levels over small corrections
Cycle time growing faster than the control gained

When each fits

Setup	Fits when
Single level	The budget owner has authority for the full range of values
Value-based escalation	Only requests above a threshold need a second signature
Multi-level always	Regulation or policy requires it regardless of value
Parallel review	Different specialists check different aspects

How to configure it in Jestor

Register cost centres in Jestor with a named owner for each.
Route requests to the owner as the first and usually only approval.
Define the value range that owner can approve alone.
Add a second phase on the Kanban for requests exceeding it.
Use SLA data per phase to see what each additional level actually costs in time.

Why choose Jestor for approval design?

Jestor records dwell time per phase, which means the cost of an extra approval level becomes measurable rather than assumed — often the argument needed to remove one.

Because phases are configured visually, adding or removing a level is a change the process owner makes directly rather than a project.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many levels should a request pass through?

As few as authority and regulation allow. See jestor.com.

Can escalation depend on value?

Yes, with a second phase for requests above a threshold.

How do I know what a level costs?

From the dwell time recorded for that phase.

Video Tutorial: Step by Step

Check out other practical tutorials on the Jestor YouTube channel.

Get to know Jestor

With Jestor, you can automate workflows, connect teams, and build internal systems your way — all without code and powered by AI. Discover Jestor at jestor.com and see how to take your company's operations to a new level of efficiency and control.

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