When you own stock in a company, you can help elect the board of directors, but beyond that your power is some-what limited. The company management is entrusted with the task of growing the value of the company and hence the value of the stock, for all shareholders. Theoretically if they fail to do this, shareholders can vote for new management; however, real life isn’t necessarily quite that direct or efficient. In most cases small investors like most people will not own a sufficient amount of share to be able to significantly effect change in the company’s management structure. Larger investors possible made up of entrepreneurs who are worth billions are going to be the ones to make the decisions.
Most ordinary man-on-the-street investors are not particularly concerned about their lack of control over company management. They are more concerned about making money for little effort. They are comfortable enough being owners; knowing that they will participate in collecting any profits the company makes. When the company’s value increases and increases the value of the stock these profits can be distributed among the many shareholders in the form of dividends. Obviously, the more shares you own the greater your share in the profits will be. The only time a person needs to be concerned about their ownership and any claims on the company’s assets is when or if the company should ever go bankrupt. In that case the company assets will be liquidated and after all debts are paid, what is left is distributed among the shareholders. Without you ownership in the company and its assets and earnings your stock would simply be a worthless piece of paper.
In addition to the ownership in assets and earnings, the other important aspect of a stock is its limited liability. This means that should the company need to pay off large debts, you as an owner are not going to be held personally liable for the debts.