Practitioners must begin to recognize that technology encompasses far more than machinery. In fact, computers do not operate on the basis of technical knowledge alone, but rather specific philosophical tenets must be accepted before data processing is possible. Simply put, computers function according to the principles associated with a unique approach to conceptualizing knowledge, sometimes called a "world-view." This world-view, moreover, shapes how behavior is classified and services are delivered. In this paper, the importance of the computer world-view for planning social services is outlined.