Conditional approval workflow

[Ron Aisen]

Hello, 

I'd like to know if i have the option to use jira workflows built in feature without using jira automation to design an approval workflow the will act as such:

Fill in approvers in the approvers field -> transition status to waiting for approval -> approvers deny the request -> status transitions to denied by team "x"

or 

Fill in approvers in the approvers field -> transition status to waiting for approval -> approvers approve the request -> status transitions to approved "x" by team

there is usually more than one team who approve or deny the request so it depends whomever approved or denies first but I guess its a matter of how the workflow conditions are shaped,

thanks in advance 

[Marc -Devoteam-]

Hi @Ron Aisen 

This is possible, but you require a JSM subscription for this. Approving ootb in Atlassian is a function of JSM.

Otherwise you need to look a 3rd party option from the marketplace.

[Ron Aisen]

sorry I meant to open it under jsm product, I do have it, do you know how to achieve it?

[Marc -Devoteam-]

Hi @Ron Aisen 

See the following KB articles on how to set up an approval in a JSM flow.

add-an-approval-to-a-workflow 

set-up-approvals 

[Beata Lewandowska]

Hi @Ron Aisen 

If you’d like to configure conditional approval paths - where different teams or approvers are triggered depending on who approves first or which criteria are met - you can achieve that easily with Approval Path for Jira.

Unlike the standard JSM approval feature (which uses a fixed set of approvers), this app lets you:

• Build approval chains with multiple steps and conditions (e.g., based on issue fields, team, amount, or priority).
• Automatically skip or branch approval steps depending on Jira expressions (for example, “if Team = Finance → route to CFO, else → Ops Manager”).
• Track approval history and status within the issue view.Example setup matching your scenario:

Example setup matching your scenario:

• Fill in approvers → transition to “Waiting for approval”.
• If Team A denies → status changes to “Denied by Team A”.
• If Team B approves first → status changes to “Approved by Team B”.

You can find a quick guide here:
https://warsaw-dynamics.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/APFJ/pages/214990851/Conditions+in+Approval+Path

It’s a no-code configuration, and you can test all conditions right inside Jira.
(Disclosure: I recommend it because it’s purpose-built for exactly this use case - conditional and multi-step approvals in Jira Cloud.)