The answer to downsizing, offshoring and outsourcing is, according to the British Computer Society, 'upskilling.'

Quite what the English language ever did to IT to deserve such ugly twisting ought to be the subject of a public inquiry.

But without endorsing the term, the notion that increased technical and commercial proficiency might be the right way to deal with the emigration of jobs is worthy of serious consideration.

The argument may not be new but rarely has it been approached with such determination and clarity.

For a start, it recognises globalisation as an inevitability that cannot be fought or wished away.

There's no point kidding ourselves that offshore outsourcing is a passing fad.

There has indeed been a recent spate of stories about companies taking back control of IT - a trend with another repellent name, insourcing.

But the businesses involved have rarely become anti-outsourcing. They have made a mature commercial decision based on a strategic assessment of benefits to specific areas of the enterprise, having explored the alternative.

Outsourcing then is part of the mix, permanently.

There are still some who also cling to an illusion that places like India have nothing to offer but barely-skilled workers willing to accept rock-bottom salaries.

Belief in the innate superiority of our professionals is the fastest possible way to the job centre.

What 'upskilling' calls for is recognition that we need to compete on a global scale.

We need to be better educated, more flexible, quicker on our feet.

We need business brains to go with technical skills and to see opportunities coming before our rivals.

What the BCS is saying is that we need to be positive and attacking, not defensive and pessimistic.

It has correctly identified the trend and the necessary response - if only it could find a nicer word to describe it.