Public management in Latin America faces the challenge of social development. The multiple difficulties and complexities of the region make it the most unequal in the world. In this way, strategic decision-making serves as a tool that enables the development of effective public policies in this scenario. The objective of the work is to analyze strategic decision-making in public management with a view to social development. A documentary research of different bibliographic sources was carried out. It is concluded that strategic decision-making allows the construction of efficient action plans in order to understand the needs of the population and the development of public policies capable of overcoming the administrative and coverage problems that affect the region. The scope of social development requires communion between the State, social organizations and the private sector.