The use of a common set of questions makes it easier to compare the viewpoints of different interviewees on relevant issues pertaining to CG and CSR practices. Different hospitals were contacted to cover all of the Lebanese territory. Some interview questions gathered factual data while others allowed room for personal reflection and interpretation. In-depth interviews were based on a semi-structured questionnaire that involved both scaled, closed questions that were pre-coded, and some open-ended questions, to gauge interviewee opinions and perspectives on relevant matters.. A total of 35 hospitals, covering the whole of Lebanon, were contacted for appointments. Appointments were made with key executives of the 21 hospitals agreeing to take part. Of these, nine interviews performed were with the general director of the hospital or the CEO, the rest being with senior executives who had a thorough knowledge of the hospital and the intricacies of it governance and operations.
Questions were grouped into five sections:
1.general information about the hospital
2.business structure of the hospital
3.structure of the board of directors and governance dynamics
4.accountability to customers, shareholder and stakeholders and
5.coporate social responsibility