The Corporate Social Responsiveness Orientation of Hospital Directors: Does Occupational Background Make a Difference?

The results of a survey of 184 directors from 15 hospitals are analyzed to determine their corporate social responsiveness orientation. They indicate that board members whose occupational background is not in health care exhibit greater concern for economic performance and the legal component of corporate responsibility than their counterparts whose occupational background is in health care. No significant differences between the two groups were observed with respect to the ethical and discretionary dimensions of corporate social responsibility. Some explanations as well as limited generalizations and implications are developed.