signaturkedja

Signaturkedja, or signature chain, is a process in which a document or transaction must be approved by a defined sequence of signatories. The chain creates an auditable record of authorization, linking each signature to the document and to the signer’s authority. The concept is used in both paper-based workflows and digital systems to enforce control and accountability in organizations.

In practice, a signaturkedja specifies who must sign, in what order, and under what conditions a signature is considered valid. Each step captures metadata such as signer identity, role, timestamp, and the method of signing. In digital implementations, signatures are cryptographic and may rely on PKI-based certificates, time stamping, and secure logs to prevent repudiation and tampering. The process can be sequential, where each signer signs before the next step, or hybrid with parallel approvals followed by a final approver.

Benefits include improved governance, adherence to internal controls, traceability of decisions, and compliance with legal or regulatory requirements. Challenges include potential delays, governance overhead, and the need for clear delegation of authority, change management, and robust authentication.

Typical applications include contractual approvals, procurement and purchase orders, HR actions, financial transactions, and change management. The term is closely related to the four-eyes principle, dual control, and chain-of-signatures in electronic records. Legal recognition of electronic signatures varies by jurisdiction, but many regions permit multi-signature workflows as part of an auditable signaturkedja.