How To Fix E_ACTION159 - Incorrect user assignment. Employee cannot be his own approver.

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: E_ACTION - E-Actions

• Message number: 159

• Message text: Incorrect user assignment. Employee cannot be his own approver.

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message E_ACTION159 - Incorrect user assignment. Employee cannot be his own approver. ?

  The SAP error message E_ACTION159, which states "Incorrect user assignment. Employee cannot be his own approver," typically occurs in the context of workflow approvals, such as in the SAP Employee Self-Service (ESS) or Manager Self-Service (MSS) scenarios. This error indicates that an employee is trying to approve their own request, which is not allowed due to internal control policies.
  Cause:
  
  Self-Approval Attempt: The employee is attempting to approve a request (like a leave request, expense report, etc.) that they submitted themselves.
  Workflow Configuration: The workflow settings may not allow self-approvals for certain actions, which is a common practice to prevent conflicts of interest.
  User Assignment Issues: There may be incorrect configurations in the user assignment settings, leading to the system not recognizing the approver correctly.
  
  Solution:
  
  Change Approver: The employee should select a different approver who is not themselves. This can often be done by changing the approver in the request submission or approval workflow.
  Workflow Configuration Review: If you are an administrator, review the workflow configuration settings to ensure that self-approvals are not mistakenly enabled for certain actions. Adjust the settings if necessary.
  User Role Assignment: Ensure that the user roles and authorizations are correctly assigned in the system. This may involve checking the user’s profile in the SAP system to ensure they have the correct roles for approval processes.
  Consult Documentation: Refer to SAP documentation or your organization's SAP support team for specific guidelines on handling approval workflows and user assignments.
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that might address this specific error or provide updates to the workflow functionality.
  User Training: Ensure that users are trained on the approval process and understand the importance of not approving their own requests.
  System Logs: Review system logs for additional context or related errors that might provide more insight into the issue.
  
  If the problem persists after trying these solutions, it may be beneficial to contact your SAP support team for further assistance.