PMcrunch

Using organizational charts in project-planning is very effective in a number of ways. One of the interesting things about organization charts is that they can benefit the project at various times in the lifecycle. Let’s take a look at five top benefits of using organization charts in project-planning.

Time spent in the early stages of a project, thinking through the organizational structure, and the players within that structure, is time very well spent. Here are five benefits of using an organizational chart as part of your project-planning:

1. Organization charts help the team to understand the players involved in the project. There is nothing like the visual aid of an organization chart to put into perspective where the project fits in the organization.
2. Organization charts help to identify key stakeholders and their relationships. The organization chart can highlight who might best benefit from the project and how all stakeholders relate to one another. This is very helpful in developing RACI diagram of the roles of various stakeholders on the project.
3. An organization chart can be very useful for problem-solving on the project. Oftentimes, problems arise that affect a certain segment of stakeholders. On more complex projects, this is sometimes not so apparent and can be hard to fully identify. The organization chart can make it easy who might be affected by an issue.
4. A good organization chart can serve as a great part of the communications plan for a project when shared with all stakeholders and as part of the publicly available information on the project. The organization chart can help others understand how they might be affected by a project and where the project fits into the organization.
5. The organization chart can be invaluable at project close and beyond. Oftentimes, I have experienced the end of a project where the closing seemed a bit awkward as not all of the parties were represented. It is very important to make sure that all essential parties are involved in the project close and sign off on the project. In addition, beyond the project close, identifying and communicating clearly with the power stakeholders on the project can lead to good follow-on projects and it takes good communication with the aid of the organization chart to do that.

Make sure and take the time at the beginning of a project to clearly delineate the players involved on the project, their positions in the organization, and their positions within the project and their relation to each other. The process of thinking through the structure and the relationships is well worth it in and of itself as it can often reveal key answers, as well as key questions, about the project. It also serves all others on the project to understand the organizational structure and relationships around the project in a consistent manner.

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John Reiling, PMP
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