How to Create an Organization Chart in PowerPoint

Put away the colored pencils and use PowerPoint to create your organization chart.

An organization chart is a diagram that shows a company or institute's structure. It also shows individual leaders within a company or institution. The charts help management in restructuring departments within a company or institution. Organization charts consist of a series of rectangular shapes, lines and text. The charts are not hard to create using the presentation program Microsoft PowerPoint. PowerPoint includes a template for designing and customizing organization charts. Once complete, your organization chart is ready for printing or sharing with others via email or the Internet.

Instructions

1. Click "Start," "All Programs," "Microsoft PowerPoint" to open the program. Click on the circle next to "Blank Presentation" under the heading "Create a new presentation using." Click "OK."

2. Click "Insert," "Picture," "Organization Chart." An organization chart will appear on the blank slide. The "Organization Chart" toolbar will also appear on your computer's screen.

3. Click in one of the chart's text boxes and enter the name or wording you want. Click outside of the box to save the text. Repeat this step for each box on the organization chart.

4. Click on one of the existing boxes to add a new relationship shape underneath it. Click on the down arrow next to "Insert Shape" on the "Organization Chart" toolbar. Select the type of relationship shape you want---"Subordinate," "Coworker" or "Assistant."

5. Click on one of the existing boxes to highlight it. If you want to delete it, press the "Delete" key on your computer's keyboard.

6. Click the down arrow next to "Layout" to modify your organization chart's overall structure. Select the structure you want---"Standard," "Both Hanging," "Left Hanging," "Right Hanging" or "AutoLayout." AutoLayout automatically adjusts and maintains the positions and sizes of the boxes within your organization chart.

7. Click on the icon containing a thunder bolt, AutoFormat, on the "Organization Chart" toolbar to modify your organization chart's overall style. Select a style from under the heading "Select a Diagram Style," then click "OK."

8. Click on the down arrow next to "Select." Click "All Connecting Lines" to highlight all of the lines for changing line thickness, style and color. Click on the down arrow next to the "Line Color" or "Line Style" icon to select the line color or thickness you want.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you are done creating your organization chart, save the chart by clicking "File," "Save As" and entering a name for your organization chart in the "File name" box. Then click "Save."

References

• Microsoft Office: Create Organization Charts and Other Diagrams

Resources

• Microsoft Office: Modify AutoShapes, Org Charts, WordArt, Graph Charts, and Equations