Hierarchical Organizational Chart

An hierarchical organizational chart indicates the formal structure of a business or company. Most often, a rectangle represents a person, position, or department on a chart. In a hierarchical organizational chart, the Chief Officer or President is the top rectangle. The level underneath the chief officer contains high-level managers or executives, and each succeeding level includes the subordinates of the line above.

In standard hierarchical organizational charts, the shape is similar to a pyramid. Often, box size is relative to the authority level of the position; for example, an executive position may have a larger rectangle than a subordinate position. Peers generally have boxes of similar size on an organizational chart. Lateral positions on an hierarchical organizational chart indicate a relationship between departments on the same level of hierarchy in the organization.