Unable to update tasks in a Project pending approval

[LisaKi1]

Hi all Can anyone help? Some of our projects are linked to an approval process and I've found that I'm unable to update tasks in a project that's pending approval. I assume this would be a customisable setting in WF but can't seem to find where?! Any help will be greatly appreciated!! Thanks Lisa Lisa Kiddie Domino's

[EricLu2]

Hi: This is not a customizable setting. You can flip a switch so that you can edit some of the custom attributes while a project is in the approval workflow. The reasoning behind locking a project from change assumes: You can't approve a moving target; It won't take long to get a project through the approval workflow; If I have a multi-step approval workflow, and I approve the project for $25K, then someone changes the project and its now $35K, well, my approval is no longer valid. Therefore, so that people know what they are approving, WorkFront locks the elements of the project that drive cost and schedule – which is essentially everything. I happen to agree with that philosophy. What had the same challenge and so what we did was optimize the approval workflow and expedite it. We still have some projects in the workflow that need changes mid-approval-workflow, but the number is greatly reduced. Not sure that helps �� Eric

[VicAl]

One thing you CAN do is change the Status of the Task/Issue back to New (or anything other than xxx-Pending Approval) and it releases the Task/Issue so you can edit it. Then you can change the Status back to xxx-Pending Approval and restart the Approval process. Vic Alejandro, PMP, CSM | IT | Sr. IT Project Manager Denver Water | t: (303-628-7262) | c: (303-319-6473) "http://www.denverwater.org/"> http://www.denverwater.org INTEGRITY | VISION | PASSION | EXCELLENCE | RESPECT

[LisaKi1]

Thank you to you both. I think we need to discuss our workflows internally as some projects legitimately require updates whilst approval is pending. A fine example of continuous process improvement :) Thanks Lisa Lisa Kiddie Domino's

[tiffenbacha]

Hi Lisa, We have encountered the same hurdle when using an approval process for project proposal workflow. We had hoped to have the resource owners enter their budgeted hours for the project in their assigned task. Workfront confirmed we are unable to edit tasks while in a Requested status. Please share if you find another solution! Thanks, Audrey Audrey Tiffenbach Credit Union of Colorado

[VicAl]

Perhaps you can create a special Project Status in the Setup for projects in this state, then use the Approval process at the end. We created a few Statuses to depict the project in various stages of approval. But we didn't use the actual Approval process in WF, we just had different statuses show the progression on it's way to Approval. Just a thought. Vic Alejandro, PMP, CSM | IT | Sr. Technical Project Manager Denver Water | t: (303-628-7262) | c: (303-319-6473) "http://www.denverwater.org/"> http://www.denverwater.org INTEGRITY | VISION | PASSION | EXCELLENCE | RESPECT

[LisaKi1]

Thanks Vic, that's exactly what we've done! Lisa Kiddie Dominos

[LisaKi1]

Hi Audrey I'm afraid I couldn't find an easy solution that still linked to an approval path so we've done the same as the suggestion made by Vic. Thanks Lisa Lisa Kiddie Dominos

[VicAl]

Actually I think you can add a single Approval Process to the project that has multiple Approval Paths (one for each of the Statuses). Not sure if that helps, but thought I'd mention it. They've made some decent improvements to the Approval Processes. Vic Alejandro, PMP, CSM | IT | Sr. IT Project Manager Denver Water | t: (303-628-7262) | c: (303-319-6473) "http://www.denverwater.org/"> http://www.denverwater.org INTEGRITY | VISION | PASSION | EXCELLENCE | RESPECT