Decomposition Tree in Power BI: Build Interactive Employee Hierarchies

If you’re building Power BI reports for HR teams or working with any hierarchical data, an organizational chart can help visualize relationships across different levels of a company. In this guide, you’ll learn how to create a fully interactive org chart using only native visuals in Power BI - specifically, the Decomposition Tree.
May 15 / datatraining
Let’s break it down step by step.

Step 1: Prepare Your Data

Start with a basic Employees table that includes:
  • Employee Name
  • Employee ID
  • Manager ID
Each employee’s manager is referenced by their ID, allowing you to build the hierarchy.

Step 2: Generate a Hierarchical Path Column

Use the PATH() function to trace the management chain from top to bottom.

Create a new column:
This returns a delimited string showing the reporting chain (e.g. "1|2|5"). But that’s not exactly what I wanted.

Step 3: Extract Individual Levels with PATHITEM and LOOKUPVALUE

To visualize hierarchy levels like CEO → Manager → Analyst, use PATHITEM() and LOOKUPVALUE().

Example for Level 2 Manager:
Level 2 Manager Name
Repeat for Levels 1, 3, 4, etc., adjusting the index in PATHITEM.
Step 4: View Hierarchy in a Matrix
  1. Add a Matrix visual.
  2. Drag Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, etc. to rows.
  3. Enable drill down via the "+" icons or Expand All.
Optional:

  • Apply filters to hide blank levels using the visual filter panel (e.g., Level 4 is not blank).
Step 5: Switch to a Decomposition Tree

Now for the real magic,

  1. Add the Decomposition Tree visual.
  2. Drag Level 1 to the "Analyze" field.
  3. Click the + icon to drill into Level 2, Level 3, etc.
This creates an intuitive, collapsible view of your org chart.

Step 6: Hide Default Counts and Clean the Visual

Power BI automatically adds counts of employees under each level. If you want only the names:
  1. Go to Format > Values.
  2. Set Font Color to match Background (hides the text).
Step 7: Add Department Slicer

Overlay the chart header with a slicer to filter by department.

  1. Add a slicer with the Department field.
  2. Format it as tile or button layout.
  3. Position it over unwanted default labels (acts as a mask).
Step 8: Normalize Bar Widths

To make bar widths equal (for design clarity):

  1. Change aggregation to "Count (Distinct)"
  2. This removes scaling based on team size
Step 9: Apply Conditional Formatting (e.g., Full-time vs Part-time)

1. Create a measure:
CF Contract Type =
SWITCH(TRUE(),
    Employees[Contract Type] = "Full-time", "#4CAF50",
    Employees[Contract Type] = "Part-time", "#FF9800",
    "#9E9E9E"
)

2. Apply it under Formatting > Conditional Formatting > Data Bars
→ Use Field value → Choose the CF measure.
Step 10: Clean Up Connector Lines and Add Custom Tooltips

  1. Connector color: Go to Tree > Connectors, set to dark gray.
  2. Tooltips: Create a report page with:
  • Employee photo
  • Email, phone
  • Key competencies

    Assign the page as a custom tooltip for the Decomposition Tree.
Final Result

 Now you have a beautiful, fully interactive org chart:

  • Drillable from CEO to analyst
  • Filterable by department
  • Colored by contract type
  • Enhanced with custom employee tooltips
Optional Limitations and Workarounds

  • Tooltips may not appear properly for the top level (e.g. CEO).
  • Use an empty text box overlay to mask placeholder tooltips.

Hope you like it!

Give it a try and see how it works for you! I’d love to hear what you think or see how you use this trick in your own reports.

How to Power BI

Watch it here

Launch Power BI Reports
that bring your organization
to a fully data-driven world.

Power BI Launch
After years of consulting we have developed a holistic solution for launching Power BI Reports in 3 months. From key metrics discovery, to report design, implementation and stakeholders' training. We know precisely how to launch Power BI reports that drive organizations' growth.

Power BI Trainings

Our technical trainings for report developers instantly upskill your teams. Alongside our unique business user trainings the improvement in overall organizational data literacy becomes immediately actionable.

Take your Skills to the Next Level

Power BI Trainings

__________



ULTIMATE TEAM TRAINING

Tailored to Your Team’s Needs

__________

This training takes Power BI developers team from beginner/intermediate to advanced. End result? A team that can build reports from data import, transformation, through model, DAX calculations to out-of-the-box visuals. 


  for teams 

 For Teams Only
 Fully Customizable

 Flexible Timing

DATA ANALYST
PL-300

The Only Training You Need to Start

__________

Everything you need to build Power BI reports and gain real-world skills. Whether you're looking to improve reporting skills or advance career with passing PL 300, our training prepares you for success at every step.



  self-paced

 All you need to know
 Knowledge checks
 PL 300 Practice Exams 

 DESIGN TRANSFORMATION

Transform Your Mindset and Skills

__________


Master Power BI report creation process and design. This training is based on 28h of live sessions with Bas. It is designed for the experienced Power BI developers who want to take their skills to a new level.




  self-paced  or    live





 Become a Design Expert
 Live sessions    

 4 weeks

BUSINESS
USERS

Knowledgeable Users = Report Success

__________


This fun training helps every Power BI Report viewer feel motivated to use all functionalities that Power BI has to offer for better decision making and team interaction, fostering a truly data-driven culture across the organization.


  self-paced




 
Unique user training
 Self Paced
 Bult access for organizations