Business Glossary

visual diagram of an organization's structure that depicts formal lines of reporting, communication, and responsibility among managers. Below is a sample organization chart of the controllership.

chart showing the interrelationships of positions within an organization in terms of authority and responsibility. There are basically three patterns of organization: line organization, in which a single manager has final authority over a group of foremen or middle management supervisors; functional organization, in which a general manager supervises a number of managers identified by function; and line and staff organization, which is a combination of line and functional organization, with specialists in particular functions holding staff positions where they advise line officers concerned with actual production.