How to Make an Organizational Chart

Organizational charts are used for many purposes. They are included in business plans, grant applications, handbooks and other documents. They are used to show the chain of command, the order of importance or the setup of an organization. So, instead of breaking out the pencil and the ruler, make an organizational chart in Microsoft Word 2007. There are tons more options for making organizational charts in Word 2007 than in previous versions of the program. Using Word's tools will help you make a professional and stylish organizational chart.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Open Microsoft Word 2007 on your computer.

2. Click on the "Insert Tab."

3. Click on "SmartArt" in the Illustrations section. You will be given several flowchart options. Click on "Hierarchy" to see options for creating organizational charts. Click once on a style and some information about it will appear on the right side of the box. This information might help you in choosing the best chart layout.

4. Double click on a flowchart when you have chosen one. The organizational chart will open.

5. Make the template pane bigger if you will be adding levels to the organizational chart. The template pane surrounds the organizational chart. To make it bigger, place your cursor over the box until it becomes a white line with arrows on both ends, click and drag to the desired size.

6. Add text to the organizational chart. The word "Text" should be inside all of the boxes of the organizational chart. Click inside the box and enter your text. As text is entered, the box will re-size to fit the text.

7. Add more boxes to the organizational chart. To do this, click on the box closest to where you want to add a new box. Click on the "Design" tab. Click on the arrow next to "Add Shape" in the Create Graphic section. Click "Add Shape After" if you want the new box to be on the same level, but after the selected box; click "Add Shape Before" to put the new box on the same level but before the selected box.

8. Move boxes within the organization chart. Use the Promote and Demote buttons in the Create Graphic box in the Design tab to do this. This will change the level of the boxes. The Promote and Demote buttons will be extremely useful when creating organizational charts.

9. Change the color and style of the organizational chart. Click on "Change Colors" in the SmartArt Styles section of the Design tab. A box will open that allows you to choose different colors. Click on some different organizational chart styles next to the Change Colors box to change the design.

10. Title the organizational chart. To add a title, draw a text box above the flow chart. In the Insert tab, click on "Text Box" in the Text section. Click "Draw Text Box." The cursor will be in the shape of a cross. Click and drag to create the text box. Type the title into the box. Reformat the text using the tools in the Format tab.