I searched around the Internet for a few minutes trying to find the cheapest/easiest way to make an organizational chart / structure chart / hierarchy chart in order to visually show my company's hierarchy structure. I found a lot of downloadable programs, but I'd hate to download a program from a company I don't trust, so I kept looking.
Turns out it's pretty easy to make an Org Chart in Microsoft Word, and I found it at this website. Here's the gist, written by Ugur Akinci, PhD (great guy I'm sure):
You can create an amazing variety of fantastic-looking Organization Diagrams in Microsoft Word 2003 without using any external graphic programs.
1) Display your DRAW toolbar by selecting View > Toolbars > Drawing.
2) Place your cursor where you want to insert your chart or diagram.
3) Click the 3-spinning-balls icon on your DRAW toolbar. The tooltip message should read "Insert Diagram or Organization Chart."
4) From the Diagram Gallery window, select the Organization Chart button on the Upper Left. The ORGANIZATION CHART Mini-Bar display automatically.
5) Click Insert Shape drop-down menu on the Mini-Bar to insert "subordinate," "coworker" or "assistant" boxes.
6) Click the Autoformat button on the Mini-Bar to select one of the chart templates.
7) To delete a box, click the Select drop-down menu on the Mini-Bar, then press the Delete button.
8) Click on individual boxes on the chart to add text.
9) Click Layout drop-down menu on the Mini-Bar to change the layout of the whole chart and select one of the following options: Standard, Both Hanging, Right Hanging, Left Hanging.
10) Select a text wrapping option (if need be) by clicking the Text Wrapping button on the Mini-Bar and selecting one of the available options.
11) Experiment with other buttons on the DRAW toolbar for an infinite variety of different effects. For example, select an organizational box and change its color by clicking the Paint Bucket button, or add drop shadows by clicking 3D button and selecting an option.
There are several expensive graphic-creation software out there as well. But why spend the extra money when you have great tools at your disposal, already built into the MS Word?
