Hierarchical organization chart: presentation and creation guide

This article aims to explain how to design and implement a clear and effective hierarchical diagram, allowing you to visualize your internal structure and optimize your team's management. We will cover the definition, the challenges, and the methods for creating a hierarchical organizational chart, detailing each phase of the process.

Definition and issues

What is a hierarchical organizational chart?

An organizational chart is a diagram that graphically represents the hierarchy of a company. When described as hierarchical, it highlights the organization and structure of the company by illustrating the distribution of responsibilities and roles across different levels. This diagram takes the form of a hierarchical organizational plan that defines the lines of command and the flow of internal communication.

What is the purpose of a hierarchical organizational chart?

The main benefit of a hierarchical organizational chart is to clarify the representation of a company's hierarchical structure. By clearly displaying the different management levels and the distribution of tasks, it facilitates decision-making and enables more effective management. This tool also allows for the rapid identification of key positions and recruitment needs.

Furthermore, a well-designed organizational chart aids in the training of new employees by providing them with a clear visualization of internal communication flows and the company's structure. It serves as a benchmark for organizational charts, allowing for comparison and optimization of the distribution of responsibilities and roles.

What is the difference between a hierarchical organizational chart and a functional organizational chart?

Although both terms refer to the graphical representation of an organization, a hierarchical organizational chart focuses primarily on the structure and chain of command, clearly showing the levels of management and subordination. It highlights the distribution of responsibilities and the organizational order within the company.

In contrast, a functional organizational chart focuses on the functions and departments within the organization, detailing how the various tasks and activities are distributed. The hierarchical diagram is therefore more oriented towards visualizing the hierarchy and management, while the functional organizational chart emphasizes the distribution of functions and the optimization of the organizational structure by department.

Guide to creating a hierarchical organizational chart

Identify management levels

The first step in creating a hierarchical organizational chart is to clearly identify the management levels that make up your organization. It's important to define the roles and responsibilities of each department to structure a coherent framework. For example, in a large company, you would distinguish between departments such as human resources, finance, marketing, and production. This step relies on a job mapping exercise that will serve as the basis for your hierarchical organizational plan.

Collect and postpone information

Once the functions have been identified, it is necessary to gather all the information related to each role and responsibility. This collection involves listing the tasks, communication flows, and interactions between the different departments. You can use tools such as spreadsheets or management software to record and centralize this data.

Implementing a data import and indexing process will allow you to obtain an accurate graphical representation of the organization. A rigorous method for data collection and reporting is essential to ensure the performance of your hierarchical organizational chart.

Conceive a clear organization chart

The creation phase involves designing a clear and easy-to-read hierarchical diagram. A good organizational chart should incorporate a dynamic and interactive layout that allows for the visualization of the hierarchy and internal communication flows. For example, a well-designed hierarchical organizational plan helps team members quickly understand the distribution of responsibilities and roles within the team.

Validation, dissemination and update

The final step in the process is to validate your hierarchical organizational chart with managers and teams to ensure the structure accurately reflects the organization. Once validated, the hierarchical diagram should be distributed internally, either digitally or in print, to improve communication and management within the team.

It is also important to implement an automated update process to ensure that the organizational chart remains relevant and reflects changes in the company structure. Regular validation and a collaborative workflow will ensure the continuous optimization of your organizational chart.

Tools and templates for creating a hierarchical organizational chart

Tools

There are many tools available for creating organizational charts. You can start with simple tools like Word or Excel, which allow you to draw a basic diagram. For a more digital and interactive visualization, solutions such as Microsoft Visio, Canva, Lucidchart, Visme, or Creately offer advanced features.

These software programs offer hierarchical organizational chart templates and corporate organizational chart models that will help you standardize the creation process and produce a graphical representation of the hierarchy that meets your needs. They also facilitate the indexing and mapping of functions, thus enabling the configuration of an optimal functional diagram.

Models

Using models and templates is helpful for speeding up the construction of a hierarchical organizational chart. Generally, a subordination diagram includes the following positions, in the form of a pyramid or a tree:

• CEO
• Deputy Managing Director
• Department directors
• Managers
• Employees

These hierarchical organizational chart examples serve as a guide for creating an organizational chart by providing a pre-established structure that can be adapted to your organization. They allow you to visualize the distribution of responsibilities and tasks in a clear and structured way.

Business organization charts available online can be downloaded and personalized according to your requirements, helping you make an organizational diagram that is both aesthetic and operational. This type of organizational benchmark is particularly useful for drawing inspiration and for training in the creation of organization charts.

FAQ - Frequent questions

What are the three forms of organization chart?

The three main forms of organization chart are: the hierarchical organization chart which presents the cascading structure with clear levels, the matrix organization chart which combines functions and projects to promote collaboration within the team, and the horizontal organization chart which favors a flat structure and direct communication between the members.

Is an organization chart in business?

Although a hierarchical organization chart is not legally compulsory, it is highly recommended to clarify the organizational structure and improve internal management. It constitutes a precious tool for training employees and to implement an effective organizational management strategy.

How to adapt a hierarchical organizational chart to changes in the organization?

To remain relevant, it is essential to set up an automatic update system and integrate a collaborative workflow that allows the team to report changes. The use of interactive and digital software facilitates the visualization of the hierarchy and makes it possible to adjust the configuration of the organizational scheme according to internal developments. This is a practical case of optimizing the organizational structure and helps maintain a dynamic organizational management strategy.