---
aliases: ["Org Chart"]
tags: [pm-skills, skill]
skill: org-chart
description: "Turn a team or reporting structure into a clean org chart. Use when asked to draw an org chart, show reporting lines, visualize team structure, or map who reports to whom. Produces a ready-to-render Mermaid org chart (renders live, exportable as PNG/SVG) plus headcount notes and any structural observations."
---

# Org Chart Skill

A reporting structure described in prose is hard to hold in your head; an org chart makes the hierarchy,
spans of control, and gaps obvious. This skill turns a described team into a clean **Mermaid org chart** —
correct reporting lines, grouped functions, and dotted lines for matrix/indirect reports.

## Required Inputs

Ask for these only if they aren't already provided:

- **The people / roles** — names and/or titles.
- **Reporting lines** — who reports to whom (the manager of each person).
- **Functional groups** (optional) — teams or departments to cluster.
- **Dotted-line relationships** (optional) — matrix or indirect reporting.

If only roles (not names) are given, chart the roles.

## Output Format

### [Team / org name] — structure

One line on scope (whole org, one department, etc.).

```mermaid
flowchart TD
    CEO[CEO]
    CPO[CPO]
    CTO[CTO]
    PM1[PM - Growth]
    PM2[PM - Core]
    EM[Eng Manager]
    CEO --> CPO
    CEO --> CTO
    CPO --> PM1
    CPO --> PM2
    CTO --> EM
    EM -.dotted.-> PM2
```

**Headcount** — totals by function or level, if known.

**Observations** (optional) — overloaded spans of control, vacant roles, single points of failure, unclear lines.

## Mermaid Rules (so it renders)

- Use `flowchart TD` so the hierarchy reads top-down.
- One node per person/role; manager `-->` report (arrow points down the hierarchy).
- Use dotted edges `-.dotted.->` for matrix/indirect reports so they're visually distinct.
- Keep labels to "Name - Title" or just the title; no parentheses/quotes inside labels.

## Quality Checks

- [ ] Every person/role has exactly one solid reporting line (except the top)
- [ ] Matrix/dotted relationships are shown as dotted, not solid
- [ ] Functional grouping is clear where it was provided
- [ ] Vacancies, overloaded managers, or unclear lines are noted if visible
- [ ] The Mermaid block renders without edits

## Anti-Patterns

- [ ] Do not invent reporting lines that weren't given — chart only what's known, flag gaps
- [ ] Do not mix solid and dotted lines arbitrarily — solid = direct, dotted = indirect
- [ ] Do not flatten a real hierarchy into a list — show the levels
- [ ] Do not break Mermaid with special characters in names/titles
- [ ] Do not editorialize on individuals — structural observations only

## Based On

Organizational charting (reporting lines, spans of control, matrix relationships), as renderable Mermaid.

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