A contract workflow should make it clear what is being requested, which version is under review, who can accept each risk, who may sign, what was executed, and which obligations must be performed afterward. Signature is one controlled transition, not the entire process.
Decision snapshot
| Decision | Practical approach | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Intake | Is the request complete enough to review? | Owner, counterparty, scope, value, timing, and documents |
| Authority | Who reviews and approves each risk? | Approval matrix and recorded decisions |
| Execution | What exactly was signed and what happens next? | Final package, obligations, owner, and dates |
h
Create a complete request record
h
Route by risk and subject
h
Control negotiation versions
h
Separate approval from signature authority
h
Activate obligations after execution
Action checklist
- Complete request and business owner
- Risk-based review route
- Controlled negotiation version
- Recorded approvals and exceptions
- Verified signing authority
- Executed package and obligation register
Working worksheet
Record these fields in the same working document so the decision can be reviewed and handed off:
- Stage
- Required input
- Decision owner
- Evidence
- Next state and deadline
Common failure patterns
- Starting legal review without a business owner or clear deal
- Approving one version and signing another
- Filing the PDF without assigning post-signature obligations