If you need to illustrate the people or department structure of your company or organization, you don't require specialized software or expensive templates. The Organization Chart template from the SmartArt graphic gallery provides powerful tools for making organization diagrams. Check Using the Organizational Chart Tool for the details of creating the new organizational chart.

Sometimes you need to reassign some positions in the organizational chart from one place to another. Word isn't a really convenient application for organizational charts as Excel, but you have some possibilities to do that.

Object effects are special transformations such as reflections, glows, bevel, and 3-D rotation. Depending on the type of object (shape, text box, chart, etc.), some effects can be applied using commands on the Format tab or choosing the appropriate options on the Format pane.

Microsoft PowerPoint offers a handy WordArt utility that includes 20 artistic text effects to create spectacular and engaging presentations. WordArt consists of predefined artistic text effects that can be applied to any text (or can be inserted independently). Applying a WordArt text effect retains the original font and font size but adds various font colors, gradients, outline, dimensional, and reflective elements.

When you insert pictures to your org chart (see how to create organization chart with picture) or other SmartArt chart with pictures, you don't need another program to prepare pictures. PowerPoint provides you a feature rich functionality for cropping, rotating, painting, and other formatting needs.

If you create a diagram, graphic, or even flow chart with cyclic procedures, you can use predefined SmartArt graphics, but the Cycle diagrams set is very limited. Moreover, modification of SmartArt graphics is not easy, and sometimes you will spend a lot of time on even trivial changes. So, it is easier to create your own arrows in a circle diagram if you want to add a fresh look to your presentation.

If you show historical data, creating a timeline chart is often more informative. Several different predefined SmartArt graphics can be used for timeline charts.
This tip shows simple steps for creating a simple and informative timeline using Microsoft logo design changes (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft#Logo).

Circular diagrams are very popular, and you probably tried various SmartArt cycle flow diagrams in your presentations. This tip shows how to create an excellent presentation using an unconventional type of circular four steps diagram.

These seven elements of a pie or doughnut chart will teach you some important PowerPoint tricks, which will allow you to create an appealing circular diagram. It uses a combination of Excel charts and SmartArt shape editing tricks.

The Glow and Soft Edges effects are quite similar. The difference is that Glow creates a color “halo” around the object and adds radiance using the selected color, while Soft Edges makes objects look ”softer” by blurring object edges. It is like the difference between outer and inner shadow.