Understanding Organizational Charts: Types and Purposes

Understanding Organizational Charts

The charts are the graphical representation of the organizational structure of a company or organization that reflects, in outline, the position of the areas that comprise it, its hierarchy, lines of authority and advice.

Types of Organization by Nature

This group is divided into three types of charts:

• Microadministrative: They correspond to a single organization, and can refer to it globally or mention any of the areas that constitute it.
• Macroadministrativos: They involve more than one organization.
• Mesoadministrativos: one or more organizations consider a single sector or industry specific. Note that the term mesoadministrativo corresponds to a convention generally used in the public sector but can also be used in the private sector.

Types of Organization by Purpose

This group is divided into four types of organization:

• Report: These charts are designed to be accessible to the general public, providing information to non-specialists. They show the parts or units of the model and relationships of lines and advisory units, and are plotted on a general level when they are organizations of a certain size.
• Analytical: This type of chart aims at the analysis of certain aspects of organizational behavior, as well as certain types of information presented in an organization. It allows for a macro or holistic view, such as in the analysis of a budget, distribution of plant personnel, expenditure items, wages, informal relations, etc. It is targeted at people who specialize in the knowledge of these instruments and their applications.
• Formal: This is defined as a chart that represents the operating model of a planned or formal organization, and is a written instrument of approval. For example, the organization of a corporation is considered formal when it has been approved by the Board of SA.
• Casual: This type of chart represents a model that does not yet have a planned written instrument of approval.