Only a year ago, "agility" was the watchword, as information technology departments tailored their systems to support dynamic change. Today, with the threat of worldwide recession, businesses are chiefly concerned with survival and maintaining market position, aware that some competitors might not make it.

"The knee jerk reaction is to pull back into the comfort zone, press the pause buttons and cut costs," says Brian Murray, technology strategist for the consultancy, Morse Group. He says such a tactic can be a false economy.