Organizational chart templates are great tools for businesses, regardless of how big or small they are. It’s because these templates offer a simple yet effective way to visualize the structure of an organization. You can add everything about a company in an org chart, from the roles of its members to the flow of communication. Some excellent and customizable templates can be found in the Wondershare EdrawMind Template Gallery.
In the following guide, let’s explore the benefits of org chart templates, their common types, and the best practices to use them.
Benefits of Organizational Chart Templates
Let’s quickly explore some key benefits of using org chart templates in the following.
A. Enhance Visual Communication and Simplify Complexity
Creating an org chart can be exhausting as there is so much info to handle. Org chart templates simplify it as they visually represent complex hierarchies and relationships. They include easy-to-understand shapes and connections to make your company’s structure clear.
Take EdrawMind, for instance. It is a user-friendly tool with a variety of org chart templates in its template gallery. You can select any template and start adding data to it instantly. The tool also comes with lots of features that you can use to customize your org chart.
B. Improve Clarity, Transparency, and Reduce Misunderstandings
Whether a company is big or small, dealing with data is never easy. This is why org chart templates are good at making things clear and transparent. They help you illustrate reporting lines, departments, and job titles with clarity. When represented like this, it reduces misunderstandings among work.
C. Streamline Decision-Making by Identifying Key Roles
Org chart templates highlight key roles and their relationships. When everyone knows their responsibility, decisions can be made more efficiently. It also helps avoid unnecessary delays and confusion.
EdrawMind’s templates allow you to showcase both positions and the lines of authority. This means that you can clearly highlight decision-makers on the chart. Such a pattern promotes a culture of accountability and decision-making.
Types of Organizational Chart Templates
Org chart templates come in four types, each with a particular purpose and benefits. Let’s dive into each type and explore its structure below.
A. Hierarchical: Traditional Top-Down Structure
The hierarchical org chart template is like a pyramid, flowing from top to bottom. It shows clearly all the authoritative figures and their subordinates. This way, everyone is connected to each other. This type is perfect for businesses where decisions need to be made quickly. Everyone has a specific role to play, so it can be represented in a hierarchy.
EdrawMind’s template gallery includes hundreds of hierarchical org chart templates. You can choose to customize it to your preference, add elements, and create a roadmap for your company.
B. Matrix: Multiple Reporting Lines
As suggested by the name, a matrix org chart template is like a web connecting everyone in multiple ways. This type is ideal for companies where employees report to many bosses or managers. Thus, this results in a web of collaboration with multiple reporting lines.
However, you should also note that a matrix org chart is super-complicated to create. This is why EdrawMind offers matrix templates with easy customization. Such features help you easily visualize the complex network of your company.
C. Flat: Horizontal Structure for Collaboration
Flat org charts may look similar to hierarchical org charts, but there is a difference. Hierarchical charts have a longer command chain. Contrary to that, flat charts feature a shorter chain of command.
These charts are for companies with fewer levels of hierarchy. So, employees are also involved in decision-making. This means more communication and sharing of ideas as everyone connects to everyone. When drawing such a chart, you can use EdrawMind’s template to show your company’s teamwork and open communication of your company.
D. Team-Based: Cross-Functional Teams in Agile Environments
Team-based org charts are when different people have their unique tasks for a common goal. Simply put, environments where employees from different departments team-up for a shared goal.
Such a structure is most suitable for a team-based org chart. Thanks to EdrawMind’s template gallery, you can show cross-functional teams easily. You can also display the shared goals of your company in your team-based org chart.
Best Practices for Using Templates
You can draw an org chart generally or use any tool like EdrawMind. Either way, there are some tips and tricks to simplify things. Let’s dive into the best practices for using org chart templates to make the process easier for you.
A. Prioritize Simplicity and Clarity
The simpler and clearer an org chart is, the better everyone will understand it. So, make sure to include basic shapes and easy-to-read text. Do not over-crowd the elements on your chart, and keep it simple and clear. In EdrawMind, you can find templates designed with clear lines and straightforward labels. All these features make it easier to create a simple org chart.
B. Update Regularly for Accuracy
Org charts are frequently updated. You will need to update your chart for a promotion, a new employee, or when someone is leaving the company. This is why EdrawMind’s templates are perfect, as you can go back and edit your org chart anytime.
Outdated charts can lead to confusion, so make sure to update your template for accuracy.
C. Include Relevant Information Without Clutter
An org chart should be without any clutter. The information should be presented in a sequence without overcrowding the chart. So, only include the necessary information to avoid a messy chart. Stick to job titles, names, and reporting relationships. Leave out any details that can overwhelm the reader.
D. Tools and Software for Creation
Now that you know how to create perfect org charts, let’s talk about the tools you need to make them. EdrawMind is one such easy and effective tool to help you create org charts for your company.
A. Online Platforms for Ease and Features
EdrawMind is a great tool for creating organizational chart templates. It’s an online platform that offers a template gallery for different org chart types. Other than that, it also provides tools to customize these templates as you like. You can add colors, shapes, and even pictures to make your chart truly unique.
What else? It is completely free to use. You can either download the software on your device or use it online with your ease.
B. Spreadsheet Software for Basic Charts
Other than EdrawMind, you can create quick org chart outlines on spreadsheet software. There are many software that support this like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. This software offers basic tools to create a basic org chart. You can use them to create a rough outline first. Then, you can perfect your chart using EdrawMind’s templates.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, using organizational chart templates has many benefits. They make things easy and help everyone understand their jobs and who to talk to. However, keep in mind that clarity is super important to make these templates work well. So, make sure to keep things simple, update them frequently, and don’t over-crowd them. Thus, you can create clear, transparent, and super-helpful org charts for the company.
