A clearly structured organisation chart increases efficiency in teams by making responsibilities and communication channels visible. A professionally designed organisation chart is not just a tool for visualisation, but an indispensable aid to making a company's internal processes transparent.
In this article, you will find out what an organisational chart is and how it is structured. We show you step by step how to create an effective organisation chart and which types are suitable for different requirements. With Collaboard, you can benefit from flexible tools that not only make design easier, but also ensure the highest security standards.
An organisation chart is a graphical representation of the organisational structure of a company, institution or project. It shows the hierarchies, departments and responsibilities at a glance and helps to clearly visualise the structure. The typical components of an organisation chart are clearly defined units and their connections, which illustrate the relationships and communication channels.
The basic elements of an organisation chart are as follows:
A decision is made between the following organisation charts:
An organisation chart helps you to visualise the structure of your company clearly and concisely. It provides a basis for defining responsibilities and communication channels and making them accessible to all employees. Use this step-by-step guide to create a professional organisation chart:
Before you start creating it, you should be clear about the purpose and target group of your organisational chart. Consider whether it includes all departments or focuses on specific teams. Also clarify whether additional information such as contact details or responsibilities should be integrated. Examples are
Research the relevant information such as departments, teams, roles and reporting channels. Ensure that all data is up-to-date and correct. Create a rough sketch to organise the hierarchy levels.
Tip: Ask team leaders for details to avoid confusion.
Organise the collected data into a logical structure. Start with the top management level and work your way down step by step. Each unit (e.g. a department or a team) should be clearly recognisable.
Design note: Use colour distinctions for different departments to increase readability.
Create boxes or circles for each unit. Connect these with lines to show hierarchies or cooperation paths. Make sure that the connections are clear and easy to understand. The following connections are distinguished:
Decide which details you would like to include in your organisation chart. In addition to the names and positions, you can also add further details depending on the purpose. Useful additions are, for example:
Tip: Avoid too many details on one level to maintain clarity. For complex organisations, you can create additional levels or separate diagrams for sub-units.
Now it's getting visual: use a tool like Collaboard to create your organisation chart online. With the flexible drawing tools, you can design your chart intuitively and customise it at any time. Why Collaboard is ideal:
Design tip: Use colours to highlight departments or areas of responsibility. Use symbols to clearly define different levels or roles.
Share your organisation chart with colleagues and have it checked. This way you can make sure that no unit is missing and that all connections are shown correctly. Share a draft version with relevant people or teams and ask them to point out any missing or incorrect information. Then make changes based on the feedback.
Once your organisational chart has been finalised, you can use it on various platforms. Publish it on the intranet for employees or add it to internal documentation. You can provide a reduced version for external purposes.
An organisation chart not only serves as a visualisation, but also creates transparency about the internal structure of your company. These four tips will help you create a professional and useful organisation chart.
An organisation chart will only be effective if it is easy to understand. Avoid too many details and concentrate on the most important information. For example, names, positions and responsibilities may be sufficient.
Colours or symbols help to visually differentiate between departments or teams. With Collaboard, you can flexibly insert such design elements and ensure that the result remains appealing.
The digital creation of an organisation chart offers you numerous advantages that make the process more effective and flexible. Compared to the traditional method, online tools allow you to save time, manage data securely and improve team collaboration.
With an online tool like Collaboard, you can not only save time creating your organisation chart, but also customise and share it. Try Collaboard now for free and design your organisation chart professionally and securely!
Yes, many platforms offer free templates, including Collaboard. With Collaboard, you can access practical templates directly and customise them.
Yes, you can test Collaboard free of charge and create organisation charts. For more extensive functions, there are paid plans that are especially suitable for teams or companies.
Organisation charts can be used for project structures, team overviews or temporary working groups. They are also ideal for planning events or visualising processes.
A tool like Collaboard offers flexibility, simple editing and visual design options. You can also save your organisation chart securely and collaborate with your team in real time.
Too many details are often added, which impairs clarity. Another mistake is that organisational charts are not updated regularly and therefore appear outdated.
With Collaboard you can share your organisation chart in a protected environment. Choose between on-premises hosting or a private cloud to maintain the highest security standards.
Collaboard allows you to flexibly adapt colours, symbols and layouts. This allows you to design your organisation chart clearly and adapt it to your company.