Approval field flapping

[AmanPratapS7233]

Hi All,

In PDI, I create a catalog item with 2 levels of approvals (if first approved then, second will be created). And I check the history of approval field and it seems that the approval value flaps many times between "Approved" and "Requested" until, it is approved finally. 

Just wanted to know how the flapping works ?

Any flow/script link would be very helpful.

[pr8172510]

Hi @AmanPratapS7233 ,

This behavior is expected in ServiceNow and happens because the approval field on the RITM is recalculated multiple times during the approval lifecycle.

For multi-level approvals, ServiceNow updates the approval field based on the current state of all approval records (sysapproval_approver).

 flow:

Not Yet Requested
→ Requested
→ Approved
→ Requested
→ Approved

Why this happens:

• Level 1 approval gets created → RITM becomes Requested
• Level 1 gets approved → RITM temporarily becomes Approved
• Workflow/Flow then generates Level 2 approval
• Since a new approval is pending, RITM goes back to Requested
• Once Level 2 approves → final state becomes Approved

So the “flapping” is basically the platform recalculating approval state whenever new approvals are inserted or completed.

This is handled OOB by:

• Approval Engine
• Workflow Approval Activities / Flow Designer Approval Actions
• Business Rules on sysapproval_approver

Main OOB logic usually comes from:

Approval Events (sysapproval_approver)
Approval Engine
Task / RITM approval state synchronization

So this is normal behavior and not an issue in your PDI.

[AmanPratapS7233]

Hi @pr8172510 ,

Thanks for the detailed reply. Could you please also share some relevant links to the flows/scripts/BRs so that, I can also check the implementation aspect of it.

Thanks

[Tanushree Maiti]

Hi @AmanPratapS7233 

1. In your flow, place the first Ask for Approval action under Core Actions. Select your target record (like sc_req_item) and define your initial approver/group

2.Below the first approval, add a Wait for a duration of time step from Flow Logic. Set the wait time to exactly 2 minutes. This brief pause ensures the first approval completes properly and avoids overriding the second

3. Place a second Ask for Approval action right after the timer. Select the same target record and define your second approver.

Refer: https://support.servicenow.com/kb?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0955137

[AmanPratapS7233]

Hi @Tanushree Maiti , I think is something else but, I just wanted to understand how exactly does the approval flapping works.