All vs Any-of: Sequential vs Parallel Approval Conditions
"All must approve" requires every assigned approver at a stage to sign off before the request advances; "any one of" advances it when a single approver from the group decides. The first is a control; the second is a speed.
One small setting carrying the entire risk-versus-velocity tradeoff of a stage. This guide covers when each is right and the failure modes of choosing wrong. Part of the builder guide; the matrix these live inside: What Is an Approval Matrix?
When to use each
| Condition | Use it when | Example |
|---|---|---|
| All must approve | High-value or high-risk — two independent checks are the point | $80K commitment: finance and the CFO both sign |
| Any one of | Coverage, not consensus — any qualified deputy can clear it | Routine invoices: either of two AP clerks approves |
The two failure modes
- "Any of" where "all" belongs. Two approvers who both assumed the other checked — the diffused-responsibility gap. If the second signature exists for control, it must be required, not assumed.
- "All" where "any" belongs. Two deputies, both required — one on vacation, requests red-timer for a week. If the stage is about coverage, requiring both converts a backup into a bottleneck.
The rule of thumb
Ask what the second approver is for. If they're a second opinion — different lens, different risk — it's "all": two checks only count if both happen. If they're a second pair of hands — same authority, different time zone — it's "any": the decision is qualified either way. Value scales with the first pattern; volume scales with the second.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between sequential and parallel approval?
Sequential is stages in order — Manager, then Finance, then CFO. Parallel is multiple approvers within one stage — "all" (consensus) or "any one" (coverage). Most real workflows combine both.
When should multiple approvers be required?
When they represent independent lenses on the risk — finance plus the business owner on a large commitment. If they hold the same authority and the goal is uptime, any-one-of is correct.
Approvdit sets All or Any-of per stage, per workflow — with every decision from either pattern landing on the same tamper-evident trail. Book a live demo.