Systems and methods for signature loop authorizing using an approval matrix

A method for obtaining approval for a business process comprising:

• selecting an approval matrix associated with the business process, wherein the approval matrix includes one or more rows and one or more columns, wherein each entry in the approval matrix is defined by a corresponding row and a corresponding column, wherein each column in the approval matrix defines a potential condition and each row in the approval matrix defines a corresponding approval role, wherein each entry defines whether the approval role in the corresponding row is required for the business process when the potential condition in the corresponding column is met;
• determining which of the columns in the approval matrix define potential conditions that are met by the conditons that apply to the business process;
• selecting a set of approval roles corresponding to rows in the approval matrix, as defined by the entries within the columns corresponding to the potential conditions that are met;
• identifying one or more positions corresponding to each of the approval roles in the selected set of approval roles;
• and
• obtaining approval from each of the identified positions.

A method for identifying which of a plurality of roles is required to authorize a business process comprising:

• providing an approval matrix associated with the business process, wherein the approval matrix includes one or more rows and one or more columns, wherein each entry in the approval matrix is defined by a corresponding row and a corresponding column, wherein each column in the approval matrix defines a potential condition and each row defines an approval role, wherein each entry in the approval matrix defines whether the approval role in the corresponding row is required for the business process when the potential condition in the corresponding column is met,
• determining a set of conditions that apply to the business process,
• determining a set of entries in the approval matrix which are in columns defining potential conditions that are met by the conditions that apply to the business process,
• identifying the approval roles defined by the set of entries in the approval matrix as the roles required to authorize the business process, and saving and/or displaying the identified approval roles.