diff --git a/src/lib/pipeline/stage-machine.ts b/src/lib/pipeline/stage-machine.ts
index f9b40b0..635cca2 100644
--- a/src/lib/pipeline/stage-machine.ts
+++ b/src/lib/pipeline/stage-machine.ts
@@ -2,16 +2,26 @@ import type { StageStatus } from "@/generated/prisma/client";
 
 /**
  * Valid stage status transitions.
+ *
+ * NONE-approval stages take the IN_PROGRESS → APPROVED shortcut ("Mark
+ * Complete"). FORMAL/SIMPLE-approval stages route through IN_REVIEW
+ * first (the StageReviewPanel's Submit-for-Review → Approve flow).
+ * Both paths are allowed at the state-machine level; UI gating decides
+ * which one is exposed.
+ *
+ * CHANGES_REQUESTED → APPROVED and IN_PROGRESS → SKIPPED are quality-
+ * of-life shortcuts producers asked for so they don't have to bounce
+ * through an extra status to close out simple work.
  */
 const TRANSITIONS: Record<StageStatus, StageStatus[]> = {
-  BLOCKED: ["NOT_STARTED", "SKIPPED"],
+  BLOCKED: ["NOT_STARTED", "IN_PROGRESS", "SKIPPED"],
   NOT_STARTED: ["IN_PROGRESS", "SKIPPED"],
-  IN_PROGRESS: ["IN_REVIEW"],
-  IN_REVIEW: ["APPROVED", "CHANGES_REQUESTED"],
-  CHANGES_REQUESTED: ["IN_PROGRESS"],
+  IN_PROGRESS: ["IN_REVIEW", "APPROVED", "CHANGES_REQUESTED", "SKIPPED"],
+  IN_REVIEW: ["APPROVED", "CHANGES_REQUESTED", "IN_PROGRESS"],
+  CHANGES_REQUESTED: ["IN_PROGRESS", "APPROVED"],
   APPROVED: ["DELIVERED", "IN_PROGRESS"], // reopen if client sends updated files
-  DELIVERED: ["IN_PROGRESS"],             // reopen for rework
-  SKIPPED: ["NOT_STARTED"],              // unskip if stage becomes needed
+  DELIVERED: ["IN_PROGRESS", "APPROVED"], // reopen for rework
+  SKIPPED: ["NOT_STARTED", "IN_PROGRESS"], // unskip if stage becomes needed
 };
 
 export function canTransition(