Automated Decision Management System for Approval Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Decision-making in large organizations is time-consuming due to the need for input from many people across various departments, often resulting in repetitive approval requests and unnecessary duplication of effort, as existing systems fail to efficiently route approval requests to the right people at the right time and account for prior approvals.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented decision management system that classifies requests based on metadata, identifies a decision approval rule set, and applies prior approvals to streamline the approval process by removing redundant approvers and integrating with other systems like ERP for automated decision-making.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hierarchical management structure is used for decision-making, then proper authorization and control are maintained, but the decision-making process becomes time-consuming and repetitive
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically identifying and applying prior approvals to current requests before human intervention is needed. The automated decision manager proactively checks approval histories and rule sets, preparing the approval status in advance so that only outstanding approvals need human attention, thus maintaining authorization control while reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing the automated decision manager to independently track, evaluate, and update approval statuses without continuous human intervention. The system serves itself by automatically routing requests, applying prior approvals, and notifying stakeholders, reducing the time-consuming manual coordination while preserving hierarchical authorization through programmed rules.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual approval routing is used, then flexibility in handling different decision types is maintained, but repetitive approval requests and duplication of effort occur
Solution Approach 1:
The automated decision manager implements universality by using a single system to handle multiple types of decisions across different hierarchies and departments. The system universally applies approval rules, tracks prior approvals, and routes requests regardless of decision type, eliminating repetitive manual routing while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to various decision scenarios through configurable rule sets.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by automatically tracking the status of approval requests and prior approvals, then using this information to intelligently route subsequent requests. The feedback loop enables the system to learn from previous decisions and avoid redundant approvals, improving productivity while preserving adaptability through dynamic rule application based on historical data.
3Reliability
If multiple approvers are involved in each decision request, then thorough review and oversight are ensured, but unnecessary duplication of effort occurs when prior approvals exist
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and separates the function of evaluating prior approvals from the main approval process. The automated decision manager independently identifies and applies prior approvals before routing to current approvers, removing redundant evaluation steps. This extraction ensures thorough review by focusing human effort only on necessary approvals while automatically handling duplicate detection, thus reducing resource consumption without compromising review quality.
4Reliability
If traditional approval systems are used, then all necessary approvals are obtained, but the process lacks automation and efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automated actions by proactively identifying prior approvals and applying them before human approvers are engaged. The automated decision manager pre-evaluates request histories, matches them against approval rules, and prepares the approval status in advance, ensuring completeness while maximizing automation. This preliminary automation reduces manual effort while maintaining reliability through systematic rule application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical approval processes with an automated electronic system. The automated decision manager substitutes human tracking and coordination with algorithmic processing, automatically routing requests, evaluating prior approvals, and updating statuses. This substitution maintains approval completeness through systematic rule enforcement while dramatically increasing automation levels and efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for decision making. One example method includes receiving a request for a decision at a decision manager system, the received request associated with a unique identifier, classifying the request based on metadata associated with the received request, identifying a decision approval rule set based on the classified request, the decision approval rule set identifying a set of approvers, identifying at least one prior approval associated with the unique identifier, the at least one prior approval associated with the at least one approver, and applying the at least one prior approval to the decision associated with the received request and updating the set of approvers by removing the at least one approver from the set of approvers.