When a hierarchical field is selected, the same field will be available as an assigned approver option in approval steps.
Automatically assign using the user field selected earlier will be available in the Approval Step.
If a hierarchy field is selected, Use Approver Field of Object Owner check box will be available. If this check box is enabled, the approval will go the record owner’s hierarchical field instead of the user who is submitting the record for approval.
Example:
UserA’s manager is UserB.
UserX’s manager is UserY.
Next Automated Approver Determined By is set to manager.
Opportunity Owner is UserA.
If Use Approver Field of Opportunity Owner is enabled,
1. If UserA submits the record for approval, it will go to UserB for approval since Opportunity owner is UserA.
2. If UserX submits the record for approval, it will go to UserB for approval since Opportunity owner is UserA.
If Use Approver Field of Opportunity Owner is disabled,
1. If UserA submits the record for approval, it will go to UserB since UserA’s manager is UserB.
2. If UserX submits the record for approval, it will go to UserY since UserX’s manager is UserY.