How To Build a Modern IT Team Structure (+ Org Chart Examples)

As companies lean more on AI and other technology to grow, IT teams have become one of the most important facets of business over the years. 

According to the 2025 Customer Experience (CX) Trends Report, 73% of respondents feel that traditionally “back-office” teams like IT now play a major role in customer satisfaction and retention. 

Whether you’re a fast-growing SaaS company or a regular business updating your technology, you must have a strong, well-organized IT team structure backing you.

A defined structure helps make sure projects run smoothly, the business properly allocates resources, and teams can respond quickly when issues arise, all while supporting key business objectives. But getting that structure right isn’t always straightforward. Leaders must weigh everything from company size and tech stack to long-term goals and cybersecurity risks. 

In this guide, we’ll break down how to build a modern IT team structure that fits your business needs, plus org chart examples to help you map out what might work for your organization.

Common Types of IT Team Structures

There’s no perfect IT team structure that works for every business. The right setup depends on your size, goals, and how your business operates. For example, IT organizational structures for a B2C business vary from a B2B setup. Likewise, what you’re selling is a factor since physical products, digital products, services, digital marketing, advertising, and software all need different kinds of IT teams backing them.

That said, a few tried-and-true models keep showing up for a reason. Let’s walk through the most common ones and how they function in the real world.

Functional model

One of the most common setups, the functional model, organizes the IT team by their specialty. Roles like security specialists, developers, and support staff are grouped into separate departments, each focused on their specific function. 

This structure can boost efficiency and deepen technical knowledge within each team, though it sometimes creates communication gaps between departments.

Project-based structure

Instead of organizing teams around functions, the project-based structure groups teams around specific projects. Team members from different departments come together to focus on a particular product or initiative. 

This approach drives strong collaboration and flexibility, making it easier to meet deadlines and adapt to changing business needs. However, teams may need to reshuffle once a project wraps up, which can create challenges in maintaining consistency and long-term stability. 

Matrix model

The matrix model is a flexible approach combining functional and project-based structures. In this setup, team members report to both their functional managers (like development or support leads) and project managers overseeing specific projects. 

While this dual reporting is a great way to encourage cross-functional collaboration and promote flexibility, it can also create challenges with conflicting priorities and requires effective business communication.

Structure	Pros	Cons
Functional	Clear roles and deep technical expertise in each specialty	Slower collaboration and communication between departments
Project-Based	Strong collaboration across functions with high flexibility and adaptability	Team reshuffling after projects can lead to a lack of long-term stability
Matrix	Combines functional expertise with project focus	Conflicting priorities due to dual reporting

Centralized vs. Decentralized IT Structures

In addition to picking a specific model, you’ll need to decide whether a centralized or decentralized IT structure works best for your business. When weighing the two, it comes down to where decisions are made and how control is distributed within the team.

In a centralized setup, all IT resources and decisions come from a single hub, often resulting in tighter security, more consistent processes, and better cost control. 

In contrast, a decentralized structure spreads IT responsibilities across departments or locations. It gives teams more autonomy to make fast, boots-on-the-ground decisions.

Generally, centralized IT is ideal for large organizations with standardized processes, while decentralized IT suits businesses that need to stay agile and respond quickly to changing priorities or market conditions.

How To Design the Right IT Team Structure for Your Business

Designing the right IT team structure is key to making sure your technology efforts support your business goals. The best structure will align IT with your company’s operations. It should help your team drive innovation, boost operational efficiency, and stay ahead of compliance and security needs through effective IT governance.

Here’s what to consider when choosing an IT team structure for your organization:

1. Assess your current IT team structure

Start by asking yourself: What’s your IT team structure? Do you even have one?

Believe it or not, there was a time when most companies didn’t have an information technology department at all. As technology advanced, businesses realized they needed someone, usually a “tech person,” to fix their computers. Then, as tech grew more complex, that “someone” became a whole team. And just like that, the “IT department” was born.

At first, the IT team was simply a group of people who did IT stuff, and there wasn’t much structure. Unfortunately, many IT teams stayed that way even as companies grew; just a collection of folks handling tech tasks without clear roles or organization. But that approach doesn’t cut it anymore.

If your IT team isn’t organized and structured, you’re seriously holding your business back.

2. Identify your gaps

It’s important to address any gaps in your current IT structure. Ask yourself some pointed questions to identify current gaps, like these:

• If I have a request, do I know which team can help me?
• Are my employees and customers getting the technical support they need?
• Do our technical projects run smoothly? If not, why?
• Are my various IT teams working together seamlessly?
• Is my IT department helping my company’s growth?

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, it’s time to take a step back to re-evaluate. And a final, very important question is this: Is my IT team a cost center?

If the answer is “yes,” then some major changes may be in order. Your IT staff is there to support the business, of course. But they’re also likely among the highest-skilled members of your entire organization. If you’re not using that skill to drive profit, you’re missing out.

3. Consider your business goals

Before you decide on an IT structure, you need to know what you’re building it for. Your IT team should actively help your business strategy and drive your business objectives, rather than focusing on just keeping the lights on.

Start by looking at your short- and long-term goals. Are you planning to scale rapidly? Launching a new product line? Expanding globally? Or maybe you’re focused on improving internal operations and cutting costs. Your IT structure should reflect those goals and make them easier to achieve.

For example, if business growth is your top priority, you’ll want a scalable structure, with roles dedicated to automation, cloud architecture, and software development. If you’re in a highly regulated industry, you might prioritize building out a strong security and compliance team.

Bottom line: Your IT structure should reflect your business’s future, not just where it is today.

4. Map out your teams

Separating your IT folks into teams is the first step in developing a structured department. The “jack of all trades” sort of department is a thing of the past. To effectively support your business, you need specialists. The tech specialties you choose and the different teams you develop will depend on your individual business and its needs.

IT team structures for a B2C business vary from a B2B setup. Likewise, what you’re selling is a factor. Physical products, digital products, services, online marketing, advertising, software, all need different kinds of IT teams backing them.

Let’s take a look at a tried and true IT structure that could work wonders for your business. This model works especially well for B2B companies in the SaaS (software as a service), PaaS (platform as a service), and DbaaS (database as a service) space.

• Program management: This team specializes in project management, from implementing technology systems to strategizing new products. It’s generally made up of one or more project managers working alongside an IT operations manager and the CIO.
• Technical team: The team develops new tools for your staff or new products for your business. They’re also tasked with ensuring your company’s technical infrastructure is running smoothly and securely. It typically consists of individuals (or sub-groups) with particular expertise, like network architecture, system integrations, security, and various areas of development.
• Data team: A team of data analysts and database administrators handles all the information coming in, going out, and being stored. The data team’s job is to ensure your company’s data is stored in a way that’s easily accessible, secure, and orderly, often contributing to key business intelligence initiatives.
• Functional team: The functional team usually comprises business analysts and business process owners who often do the “legwork.” You’ll see them speaking with members of the business and key stakeholders to gather requirements, understand business needs, and map out processes.

5. Choose a structure that fits your organization

There’s no one-size-fits-all IT team structure, and that’s a good thing. The right setup depends on several factors: the size of your business, the complexity of your operations, what industry you’re in, and whether your team works remotely, in person, or hybrid.

Smaller businesses might lean on a more generalized structure, where a handful of IT pros wear multiple hats. That works, but only up to a point. As your business grows, so does the need for specialization and clearer lines of responsibility.

Mid-size and enterprise-level companies often benefit from more formalized models like the functional, project-based, or matrix structures. Each has pros and cons, but the key is to choose a setup that helps you get the most out of your IT talent and aligns with your workflow.

6. Integrate your IT team with the rest of your business

When we think of IT staff, we often have images of people working in a server room or in some back office disconnected from the rest of the business. If you want to build a productive IT team that gets excited about what they’re doing, include them in the daily rhythm of your company. 

That means more than just physically sitting near other teams (though that can help, too). It means involving IT early in strategic conversations, inviting them to cross-functional meetings, and establishing clear communication channels between departments to fuel bigger and better ideas.

Key IT Team Roles and Responsibilities

A well-rounded IT organization is a mix of specialists who each help keep your business running, secure, and positioned for growth. Here’s a high-level look at the core roles you’ll typically find on an effective IT team:

• Chief Information Officer (CIO): Sets the overall IT strategy and ensures it aligns with business goals. They act as the bridge between executive leadership and the IT department, often leading digital transformation initiatives, such as implementing AI.
• Chief Technology Officer (CTO): Focuses on the long-term technology strategy and external-facing technology, driving innovation and assessing new technologies to gain a competitive advantage.
• Chief Information Security Officer (CISO): Develops and implements the organization’s data security and overall cybersecurity strategy, overseeing all aspects of network security and incident response.
• IT Director: Oversees day-to-day operations, manages team leads, and ensures projects are completed on time and on budget.
• Systems Administrator: Keeps your internal systems, servers, and networks running smoothly. Handles software updates, backups, and troubleshooting.
• Network Administrator: Manages your network infrastructure, from routers and firewalls to remote access and uptime monitoring.
• Security Analyst: Protects your organization from cyber threats by monitoring for vulnerabilities, enforcing policies, and responding to incidents.
• IT Support Specialist/Service Desk: Provides front-line support to employees, resolving tech issues quickly and ensuring minimal downtime.
• Software Developer: Builds and maintains custom tools, applications, and platforms your business relies on. Can also support website and API development.
• Database Administrator (DBA): Manages how your company stores, accesses, and interprets data, making sure it’s both secure and useful for decision-making.

Each of these roles contributes to an important IT service line that supports the broader organization.

IT Team Org Charts

Small team

Smaller IT teams often need to do more with less, which means flexibility is key. A matrix structure works well at this size because it allows team members to collaborate across departments while still maintaining core responsibilities. Instead of rigid roles, everyone wears a few hats and supports both day-to-day IT operations and cross-functional projects.

Here’s what that might look like:

Large team 

In a larger organization, IT needs a functional structure to stay efficient and aligned. In a functional model setup, the IT department is divided by specialty, and each function has clear leadership, responsibilities, and workflows.

Here’s an example of a large IT team org chart:

Best Practices for Organizing an IT Team

There’s not much you can do to turn your IT team into a profit-generating machine overnight. But there are small steps you can take that will help you unlock growth, boost team productivity, and make sure your tech investments are paying off.

Whether you’re building a team from scratch or refining an existing one, these best practices can help your IT department become a stronger, more integrated force in your organization.

• Align teams around shared goals: Make sure all IT functions understand business priorities and are working toward the same outcomes.
• Loop in IT from the start:  Involve IT from the start of any project. Early input helps avoid costly mistakes and keeps plans realistic.
• Use collaboration tools: Corporate communication tools make it easy for IT and other departments to stay connected and share real-time updates, which is especially important for remote teams.
• Document roles and growth paths: Clearly define responsibilities and outline how team members can grow in their roles.
• Revisit your structure regularly: As your company evolves, your IT structure should too. Adjust roles, teams, and processes to match changing needs.

Build an IT Team Structure That Scales With You

The big takeaway is that your IT staff should be appointed in well-defined teams that will best serve your business. You don’t have to copy the IT department structure of Google, Amazon, or other tech giants, but take a page from their playbook. 

The best IT teams are separated by expertise and task, but all work toward the same goal. Focus on developing a diverse, remote team that supports your business and pushes it forward by creating innovations and driving profit.