What Is Corporate Governance?: Key Takeaways
What Is Corporate Governance?: Key Takeaways
Corporate governance is the system of rules, practices, and processes by which a firm is directed
and controlled. Corporate governance essentially involves balancing the interests of a company's
many stakeholders, such as shareholders, senior management executives, customers, suppliers,
financiers, the government, and the community. Since corporate governance also provides the
framework for attaining a company's objectives, it encompasses practically every sphere of
management, from action plans and internal controls to performance measurement and corporate
disclosure.
Key Takeaways
Corporate governance is the structure of rules, practices, and processes used to direct and
manage a company.
A company's board of directors is the primary force influencing corporate governance.
Bad corporate governance can cast doubt on a company's reliability, integrity, and
transparency, which can impact its financial health.
Most companies strive to have a high level of corporate governance. For many shareholders, it is
not enough for a company to merely be profitable; it also needs to demonstrate good corporate
citizenship through environmental awareness, ethical behavior, and sound corporate governance
practices. Good corporate governance creates a transparent set of rules and controls in which
shareholders, directors, and officers have aligned incentives.