Organizational chart: what it is and what it means

The organizational chart is the graphic representation of a company's organizational structure: it shows how people are grouped, who reports to whom and where responsibilities lie. It does not describe tasks or activities — it is the map of roles and lines of responsibility. Unlike the job description, which answers the question 'what does each person do', the organizational chart answers 'where does each person sit in the structure and who do they report to'.

Distinctive: map of roles and lines of responsibility
Distinctive: who reports to whom
Essential: graphic representation of a company's organizational structure
Essential: where responsibilities lie
Essential: how people are grouped
Constant: does not describe tasks or activities

Glossary

Organizational chart

A graphic representation of a company's organizational structure: it shows how people are grouped, who reports to whom and where responsibilities lie.