Whether you are a new hire, an investor, or a stakeholder in the company, you would’ve heard about organizational (org) charts. Org charts are familiar tools for businesses to visualize how a system works and how companies make decisions.
And EdrawMind is one useful tool for organizations to design their own org charts. It is all thanks to its ready-made templates and intuitive user interface. Here is a complete guide on how to create organizational charts with EdrawMind.
What is an Organizational Chart?
An org chart offers a visual representation of a company’s hierarchical structure. It uses boxes and circles to show the employees within the company, along with their jobs and status. Similarly, lines and arrows connect these boxes to define the reporting structure.
Here are some ways companies use org charts to benefit them.
- It helps investors understand where the power and authority lie.
- It shows how any change (new hiring, reduction of employees, and so on) would impact the people working in a company.
- It allows the new hires to get to know the company’s structure better.
Types of Organizational Charts
Although there are numerous types of org charts, these are the common ones used in organizations.
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Hirerachal Organizational Chart
Hierarchy org charts are the most used corporate charts. They follow the command chain system that shows the structure of the company from top to bottom. Each level of authority is visible to the viewer.
The hierarchy charts look like a pyramid to visualize the level of management. The employees at each level of authority have separate groups. These groups are categorized on the basis of departments (admin, IT, HR, technical) and products (services).
Benefits
- Clear relationship between the employees working in a company.
- Better understanding of decision-making authority for investors
- Clear career path for each employee in the structure.
- Facilitate the new hires’ to communicate their issues to the specific people within the command.
2. Matrix Organizational Chart
The matrix charts are unusual in the sense that they show relationships between people with similar skill sets. The hierarchy is set up in grids, so there is more than one reporting authority at each level.
For instance, the creator draws all the engineers or writers of the company in a chart for a specific project. Hence, it is easier for project managers to borrow deserving people from different departments. It also creates a flexible working environment where the resources are put to work for maximum efficiency.
Benefits
- Better management of resources
- Flexible working environment
- Better communication between employees
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Flat Organizational Chart
Flat org charts are the hierarchy org chart but without the middle management. These charts are a great way for smaller companies and new start-ups to portray the relationship between employees.
It allows them to direct the only available limited workforce in the right direction. Moreover, this type of structure promotes less supervision and more involvement of the workers.
Benefits
- Better coordination and resource management
- Improves the speed of work operations
- Open communication between the employees
- More involvement of employees in the implementation of ideas
2. Divisional Organizational Chart
Also known as M charts, the divisional org charts are a great way to show the distribution of companies within a larger organization. Each division works like a company in itself and has a separate workforce and resources.
This division promotes independent decision-making across all departments of the bigger organization. Moreover, they come in sub-categories on the basis of market, geography, and functions of each company setup.
Benefits
- Independent departmental operations
- Promotes professional work culture
- Ability to respond to market changes in a better way
- Promotes independent decision-making
How to Create Organizational Charts with EdrawMind?
To get started on EdrawMind, you have to set up an account on the tool. It is straightforward and doesn’t take more than three minutes. Here is how you do it:
- Open the Wondershare EdrawMind on your browser or download the app.
- Register your email and log into your EdrawMind account.
Once it is complete, here is how to create organizational charts with EdrawMind.
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Define a Purpose
Org charts come in different layouts and shapes on the basis of function. This is why you should ask yourself why you are making an org chart before choosing a template. For instance, if you are using it for a separate department, go for flat org charts. If you want are making it for a business project, go for matrix or grid org charts.
2. Start from Scratch
Next, you can create an org chart in EdrawMind from scratch. For this, go to the main menu and select Organizational Chart. It will open the editing panel. Start dragging and dropping elements to represent your employer’s profile. Build relationships, and voila, you have an org chart.
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Select the Template
There is another way you can create an org chart, which is by using the templates. After you are clear about the type of chart you want to make, it is time to find the template. You can find editable examples for org charts by clicking EdrawMind Gallery on the main menu.
It will open multiple templates for you. Set the filters to find the perfect match for the task. After this, click on the template of your choice, and it will take you to the editing panel.
2. Make Changes
After this, make any changes regarding the data. For this, you can use the top toolbar to add subtopics, topics, and connect boxes. EdrawMind has different editing tools, so your chart is not only clear but also appealing. After you have a draft, do check the data twice before you start customizing the chart elements.
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Personalize the Chart
It is time to customize the chart. For this, go to the customization tool on the right side of the editing panel and change the theme of the chart. You can also change the color, font, and shape of individual elements.
2. Export the Chart on Your Device
Finally, you can download the org chart on your device by clicking Export > Your Preferred Option from the top right corner. EdrawMind supports multiple file formats, including PDF, PNG, JPEG, BMP, SVG, and XSG.
Conclusion
Org charts are a great way to visualize the chain command system of the organization. It is because they offer a better understanding of who makes the decision and how employees interact within the system. Here was a guide on how to create organizational charts with EdrawMind for you to complete the entire process in five minutes. So, do give it a try.
