Recent research has identified the major activities and factors that contribute to the success of managerial performance and growth. However, because of cultural differences, it is unwise to generalize such findings to the managerial population in Chinese societies. No comparable study of this sort has been carried out in the PRC. This research study seeks to find out what managerial success factors, as perceived by male managers in two regions in the PRC are the most influential in their rise to senior management positions. The study also compares factors perceived to be important in developing managers in Hong Kong and Guangdong. © 1998, MCB UP Limited