I agree with Blacksheep on this one. You need experience of what you are managing before you can consider yourself a good manager. There are too many people in middle / senior management positions purely on the basis that they have been on the right management course. They always argue that if you are a good manager you don't need to know about the job but what do you do when someone approaches you with a technical question seeking an executive decision. I suppose you try and get across the alligator infested swamp with a flip chart and a biro!!!