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Tale of Two Org Charts: How Simplicity Wins and Complexity Kills IT Strategy

Updated: 5 days ago

When Org Charts Kill Strategy

How complexity blocks execution—even with the best intentions.


Org charts often seem like formalities—visuals for HR binders or PowerPoint decks. But I’ve seen, again and again, how they can either unlock business velocity or bring it to a grinding halt.


I’ve lived both extremes. Let me show you.


🏢 A Tale of Two Companies

Let’s compare two real companies I’ve worked with. One operated like a high-speed machine. The other, well a mess.


🚀 Company #1: The Model of Simplicity

  • Revenue: $8 billion

  • Employees: ~30,000 worldwide

  • IT Staff: ~200, across the U.S. and 30+ countries

  • Leadership:

    • 1 CIO

    • 1 CTO

    • No regional CIOs or added layers

Flat IT organizational structure showing CEO at the top, reporting directly to a CIO, who then oversees a single CTO. No additional layers or regional roles.
Company #1

Despite its scale, Company #1 moved quickly. Strategy flowed down. Execution flowed up. Accountability was clear. Results followed.


🐢 Company #2: When Too Many Leaders Spoil the Strategy

  • Revenue: $2.5 billion

  • Employees: ~2,500 (all in one state)

  • IT Staff: 110

  • Leadership:

    • 1 CIO

    • 1 Deputy CIO

    • 1 CISO

    • 4 CTOs

    • 5 CxOs (Chief of End User Computing, etc.)


Alt Text: Overly complex IT organizational chart showing a CIO with multiple direct reports, including a Deputy CIO, CISO, four CTOs, and five specialized CxOs, illustrating confusion and overlapping leadership.
Company #2

Here’s what that structure created:

  • Multiple leaders with overlapping domains

  • Delays on simple decisions

  • Initiatives dragged on for months—sometimes over a year

  • Projects derailed due to unclear ownership and politics

  • Massive overhead cost


And yes, I was one of the many CxOs caught in the chaos.


🔄 Simplicity = Speed

Company #1, despite being 3x larger, moved faster than Company #2. Why?

Because their org chart was built for clarity, speed, and results. Company #2 was built for titles, meetings, and confusion.


🔒 Why I Had the CISO Report to the CEO

In every department I’ve led, the CISO reports directly to the CEO (Where the CEO was on board)—not the CIO.


Why?


  • If a breach happens, the top needs to know immediately

  • If the issue stemmed from IT, reporting to the CIO could delay escalation

  • Cybersecurity requires objectivity, not internal filtering


That one reporting line change often saved us hours in response time—and millions in risk containment.


💡 What’s the Real Cost of Complexity?

Complex org charts don’t just look messy—they slow progress, drain morale, and hide accountability. If you're constantly realigning roles, resolving turf wars, or hosting alignment meetings, your org is likely structured to serve itself, not the business.


✅ The Takeaway


A streamlined org chart:

  • Speeds up decisions

  • Clarifies responsibility

  • Enables real accountability

  • Aligns IT with business needs

  • Removes the fog between strategy and execution


👋 Is Your Org Chart Helping or Hurting?


At JH Strategic IT, I work directly with business leaders to:


  • Simplify IT structures

  • Realign teams to business priorities

  • Remove bottlenecks

  • Drive measurable execution


Let’s make IT a strategic partner, not a political obstacle course.

📩 jhahn@jhstrategicit.com🌐 www.jhstrategicit.com

 
 
 

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