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This paper focuses on the strategic planning method linked to the territory's sustainable development as it is currently being proposed by various organisms involved in public policies in Peru. It is aimed to discuss the methodology in terms of its validity as a new theoretical paradigm. Its ultimate goal is to bring about a new comprehension of the strategic planning process within the present competitive framework -among districts, provinces, regions, etc.- featured by factors such as human resources assessment, expressive technological investments and emphasis on inter-connectivity, among others. The paper starts by revising the strategic planning model genesis within the public initiative sector and its relationship with the attraction of private investments at local scale. The percourse which links one point to the other goes through both the perspective of economists and administrators and the vision of prominent planners. It ends up by showing the possibilities of a new prospect in the strategic planning of development at local scale, as well as existing doubts regarding the model: firstly, if we lack adequate information in reference to the objective capacities of our closest competitors, we will hardly be able to elaborate competitive strategies favorable to us in a specific environment; secondly, we consider that, in the current context of our country, the goals in the territory development process must be guidelined by employment and income generation for local population and this, without doubt, relies on systematic planning of investment attraction; and finally, we accept that strategic planning may constitute a tool that will enable to consolidate the decentralization and territorial integration processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]