Corporate governance, information technology and the electronic company in the United Kingdom

There continues to be considerable debate on how good corporate governance principles and practices may be developed and inculcated. While much of this debate focuses on the role of shareholders and non-executive directors and the possible participation of stakeholders there has been little discussion of the potential role of information technology as a mechanism to develop good corporate governance standards. This article reviews the potential role of information technology as a corporate governance tool and recommends that the manner in which information technology is used by companies should be gauged not only in simple efficiency terms but by reference to the impact it may have on users' corporate governance standards.