To require users to follow the status values as they are on the path and prevent them from reverting back to previous status values, the administrator should use validation rules that check if the status field value is changed from one value to another value that is not allowed by business logic. For example, if status values are New > In Progress > Closed, then a validation rule can check if status is changed from Closed to In Progress or New, and show an error message if true. Predefined Field Values, Global Value Picklists, and Dependent Picklists are not able to enforce status progression or prevent status reversion. References:
https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.validation_rules_overview.htm&type=5

An escalation rule is a tool that allows administrators to automatically escalate cases based on certain criteria and time triggers. For example, an escalation rule can change the owner of a case, send an email notification, or update a field value when a case has been open for more than 7 days. An escalation rule consists of multiple rule entries that define the criteria and actions for each escalation scenario. References:
https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.case_escalation.htm&type=5

Outbound message allows you to send information to an external system as part of a workflow rule or approval process. You can use outbound message to specify which fields to send and which endpoint URL to send them to.
References: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.workflow_om_considerations.htm&type=5
https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.workflow_om_define.htm&type=5

A validation rule is a feature that allows administrators to define criteria for data entry or import operations and display an error message when those criteria are not met. For example, a validation rule can ensure that house showings are scheduled within the current year by comparing the showing date field with a formula that returns the current year. If the showing date field contains a date outside of the current year, then the validation rule will prevent users from saving or importing records with an error message. References:
https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.fields_about_validation_rules.htm&type=5

One possible reason why a manager receives an error when trying to approve a record is that the user in the next approver step is inactive or missing, which means there is no valid user to assign the record to after approval. To troubleshoot this issue, an administrator should check if the user in the next approver step is active and exists in Salesforce; if not, they should activate or create the user or change the approval process to assign the record to another user. Adding a delegated approver for the next approver in the process does not solve this issue because delegated approvers are only used when approvers are unavailable; they do not replace approvers who are inactive or missing. Updating the field level security to view on fields that are updated in the process does not solve this issue because field level security does not affect approval processes; it only affects what fields users can see or edit on page layouts. Reviewing the page layout to ensure fields updated in the process are visible does not solve this issue because page layouts do not affect approval processes; they only affect what fields users can see or edit on page layouts. References:
https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.approvals_considerations.htm&type=5