IT experts

This paper investigates whether Internet Financial Disclosure (IFD) can be
explained by the elements of the company’s characteristics and dominant
personalities in board committ ees. Ten variables have been tested using
data collected from 194 Malaysian listed companies’ websites, namely,
internationality, leverage, foreign shareholders, information technology
(IT) experts, fi rm’s age, number of shareholders, listing status, dominant
personalities in the audit committ ee, chairman of audit and nomination
committ ees, and dominant personalities in the audit and nomination
committ ees. It is found that IT experts, fi rm’s age, number of shareholders
and listing status are signifi cantly aff ected by the level of IFD. However
dominant personalities in the audit and nomination committ ees are
negatively related to the level of IFD in Malaysia. The study provides some
evidence to support the signalling theory and the cost and benefi t hypothesis
in relation to Internet disclosure.