How To Fix I4171 - Not all subordinate approvals are issued

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: I4 - WCM: Work Clearance Management

• Message number: 171

• Message text: Not all subordinate approvals are issued

What causes this issue?

You tried to issue an <DS:GLOS.ECC50548CCB2D311AE6B0060B03C9BBE>
approval</>. This approval cannot be issued until all lower-level
approvals have been issued.

System Response

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

How to fix this error?

Grant the remaining lower-level approvals.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message I4171 - Not all subordinate approvals are issued ?

  The SAP error message I4171, "Not all subordinate approvals are issued," typically occurs in the context of workflow processes, particularly when dealing with approval workflows in SAP systems. This error indicates that a document or request requires approvals from subordinate levels before it can proceed to the next stage.
  Cause:
  
  Pending Approvals: The primary cause of this error is that there are still pending approvals from subordinate users or roles in the approval hierarchy.
  Workflow Configuration: There may be issues with the configuration of the workflow, such as incorrect assignment of approvers or missing approval steps.
  User Roles and Authorizations: The users who are supposed to approve may not have the necessary roles or authorizations to perform the approval.
  Document Status: The document may not be in the correct status to allow for approvals to be processed.
  
  Solution:
  
  Check Approval Status: Review the approval status of the document or request. Ensure that all required subordinate approvals have been completed.
  Review Workflow Configuration: Check the workflow configuration settings to ensure that all approvers are correctly assigned and that the workflow is set up properly.
  User Authorizations: Verify that the users responsible for providing approvals have the necessary authorizations and roles assigned to them.
  Resubmit for Approval: If necessary, resubmit the document for approval after ensuring that all required approvals are in place.
  Consult Workflow Logs: Use transaction codes like SWI1 or SWI2 to check the workflow logs for more detailed information about the approval process and identify where the bottleneck is occurring.
  Contact Support: If the issue persists, consider reaching out to your SAP support team or consulting SAP documentation for further troubleshooting steps.
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as SWI1 (Work Item Selection) and SWI2 (Work Item Overview) to monitor and manage workflows.
  SAP Notes: Check for any SAP Notes related to this error message for specific patches or updates that may address known issues.
  Documentation: Review SAP documentation on workflow management and approval processes for best practices and configuration guidelines.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the cause of the I4171 error and implement a solution to resolve it.