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Example workflow · Revenue and customer operations

Deal approvals

Complete deal approvals before the buyer deadline.

Work covered
Review a deal when the requested terms need extra approval.
Owner
Head of Deal Desk
Human decision
The Head of Deal Desk decides whether to approve, return, escalate, or decline the exception.
Starting measure
Approval wait

Follow one case from start to decision.

Use the map to correct the workflow, connect each step to a source record, and mark what is missing.

Example

Deal approvals

What this workflow covers: Review a deal when the requested terms need extra approval.

Your workflow map connects each step to its source records and marks missing information.

  1. Starts with

    A quote or contract request crosses a policy threshold.

    Source systems

    • CRM
    • Quote system
    • Contract repository
  2. Review packet

    Gather the requested terms, policy exception, account details, approval history, open dependencies, and buyer deadline under the deal ID.

  3. Owner

    Head of Deal Desk

  4. Decision

    The Head of Deal Desk decides whether to approve, return, escalate, or decline the exception.

  5. Starting measure

    Approval wait

    Start with the current number. Compare after the change.

What the sources show—and what they do not.

The labels below separate what the source records show, what needs a person’s judgment, and what remains unknown until review.

Seen in source records
Directly visible in a record, interview, example, or system.
Working assumption—confirm with the owner
A reasonable explanation that still needs to be checked.
Not yet known—confirm during review
Missing information that we will not turn into a guess.

What we would check.

  1. How a request enters the approval process.
  2. Where terms, account details, and policy records are gathered.
  3. How other reviewers and dependencies add waiting time.
  4. Where the final decision and reason are recorded.

What stays with the accountable person.

  • The review packet does not make the final decision.
  • The named owner sees the source records before deciding.
  • The decision stays logged to the case.
  • The Head of Deal Desk makes the commercial decision.

Questions we need answered first.

Why this workflow may fit

The work repeats, the deadline is visible, and one person owns the commercial decision.

  1. Which deal ID stays consistent across the quote, contract, and approvals?
  2. Which thresholds reliably trigger a review?
  3. What is usually missing when a request reaches Deal Desk?
  4. Which decisions need finance, legal, or executive review?

The 3-Day Workflow Proof

Replace this example with work from your own team.

Bring 5–10 real examples and the rules a good employee follows. In three days, watch a working version handle the agreed test. If it fails, you owe nothing.