Approval system for buyer-initiated requisition modifications

Abstract

A non-transitory computer-readable memory may include instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including receiving a first requisition by a computer system of a procurement organization. The operations may also include receiving, by the computer system of the procurement organization, first SQL commands that generate a first change to be applied to a budget allocation associated with the first requisition. The operations may additionally include determining, by the computer system of the procurement organization, that the first change to the budget allocation does not violate a threshold. The operations may further include in response to determining that the first change does not violate the threshold, creating, by the computer system of the procurement organization, second SQL commands that generate a purchase order based on the first change.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a first requisition by a computer system of a procurement organization;   receiving, by the computer system of the procurement organization, first SQL commands that generate a first change to be applied to a budget allocation associated with the first requisition;   determining, by the computer system of the procurement organization, that the first change to the budget allocation does not violate a threshold; and   in response to determining that the first change does not violate the threshold, creating, by the computer system of the procurement organization, second SQL commands that generate a purchase order based on the first change.   
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold allows some changes to be made to requisitions without additional approvals. 
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 1 , wherein the second SQL commands are for a relational database of the procurement organization. 
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving a second requisition by the computer system of the procurement organization;   receiving, by the computer system of the procurement organization, third SQL commands that generate a second change to be applied to a budget allocation associated with the second requisition;   determining, by the computer system of the procurement organization, that the second change to the budget allocation associated with the second requisition violates the threshold; and   in response to determining that the second change to the budget allocation associated with the second requisition violates the threshold, performing particular operations comprising:   creating, by the computer system of the procurement organization, for a relational database of the procurement organization, fourth SQL commands that generate a particular purchase order based on an indication as to whether a second approval is granted.   
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 4 , wherein the particular operations further comprise:
 receiving, by the computer system of the procurement organization, from a computer system of a requesting organization, the indication as to whether the second approval is granted.   
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 5 , wherein the particular operations further comprise:
 sending, by the computer system of the procurement organization, the second change to the computer system of the requesting organization for the second approval.   
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the indication as to whether the second approval is granted indicates that the second approval is not granted; and   the particular purchase order includes at least one line that is within a relational database and that is unaffected by the second change.   
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 4 , wherein the second change is approved based on:
 an approval from a member of a requesting organization who requested a first line in a set of relational database lines associated with the second requisition; and   an approval from an authority that originally approved the first line.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 1 , wherein the first requisition is from a relational database of a requesting organization. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 9 , wherein the first requisition comprises one or more lines, each of which has been approved by the requesting organization. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 1 , wherein the first change is a change to a line within one or more lines in a relational database of the procurement organization. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 1 , wherein the first change is a change to a line associated with the budget allocation. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 1 , wherein the first change is received from a buyer in the procurement organization. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the budget allocation is a first budget allocation; and   the first change is associated with a second budget allocation that is different than the first budget allocation.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 recording, by the computer system of the procurement organization, and in a document history log, information comprising:
 the first budget allocation; 
 the second budget allocation; and 
 an indication as to whether a second approval is granted. 
   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 causing to be allocated, by the computer system of the procurement organization, and in a computer system of a financial department, the second budget allocation according to encumbrance accounting procedures.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the threshold comprises a maximum cost increase between the first budget allocation and the second budget allocation.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the threshold comprises a type of product for purchase associated with a line within one or more lines in a relational database of the procurement organization.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 1 , wherein the first change comprises:
 substituting a comparable product for a product specified by a line within one or more lines in a relational database of the procurement organization;   adjusting a quantity of products associated with the line; and/or   changing a supplier associated with the line.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the threshold is received from a computer system of a requesting organization from which the first requisition was received; and   the computer system of the requesting organization is separate from the computer system of the procurement organization.