Final answer:
Owners, or stockholders, in the corporate hierarchy provide capital, elect directors, receive dividends, and have the potential for capital appreciation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role of owners, also known as stockholders, in the corporate hierarchy is to provide capital to the company by purchasing shares of its stock. These shareholders become part owners and have certain rights and responsibilities within the organization.
One of the primary roles of owners is to elect the board of directors, who are responsible for making major decisions and overseeing the company's management. Shareholders exercise their voting rights to elect directors based on their ownership percentage.
Owners also have the right to receive dividends, which are a portion of the company's profits distributed to shareholders. The amount of dividends received is typically proportional to the number of shares owned.
Furthermore, owners have the potential to benefit from capital appreciation if the value of the company's stock increases over time. They can sell their shares on the stock market to realize a capital gain.