One of the more common ways of dealing with an approval request is via email, where the backend application triggers an automated email to the approver along with some pertinent information, and a link to the source application with the complete request details. The approver can then review the summary information, click on the link to bring up the application, and deal with the request. In theory, email-based approvals sounds like a good approach, but in reality it’s flawed and ineffective.