This paper explores the perceptions of Australian health service managers (and health service management students) regarding the qualities of effective managers, comparing and contrasting these views with those of Australian general managers (and general management students). The study forms part of a wider international project aimed at exploring the role of national culture in managerial behaviour and effectiveness. Overall, the skills dimension was perceived to be more important in terms of managerial effectiveness, particularly amongst health service managers, compared to the other main dimensions of knowledge and learning, beliefs and values and personality characteristics. Decision-making and planning and evaluation were considered to be the most important amongst the range of skills listed, followed by negotiation and conflict resolution. Health service managers rated pertinent technical knowledge more highly than any other aspect in the knowledge and learning dimension, indicating the importance of specialist education for health service managers. Some implications of these and other findings are discussed.