Dreamforce 2011: Google's Eric Schmidt urges companies to adopt agile development

Google's executive chairman, Eric Schmidt, has urged companies that wish to create globally successful software to adopt an agile development methodology.

Schmidt spoke to delegates at this year's Dreamforce event in San Francisco, where he was sharing a stage with Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff.

"I have been trained in the classic computer model, where you have two- or three-year timeframes and development cycles. Everything is very predictable. However, the web is not like that," explained Schmidt.

"You are much better off if you organise your system around a continuous iteration model. The idea is that these new systems are so flexible you just make them better every day," he added.

Agile is a form of incremental software development that aims to reduce the risks in traditional development by including continuous planning and feedback processes from the start of the project.

The project is constantly adapted according to how much progress is made and the needs of the business.

A typical agile project involves programmers working in cross-functional teams, giving the approach a flexibility and responsiveness that others lack, according to exponents.

"[Agile] goes against all the classic engineering management and planning that CIOs have been trained in for the past decade," said Schmidt.

"However, just run faster. Just figure out how to release a new version of your software every day. It's hard but it can be done."

Schmidt argued there are now software collaborative development tools that allow companies to "dynamically develop and test in an iterative model".

"Once you have mastered this, then do it globally. When you have done this you will have a world-class software development organisation. The tools are good enough to allow you to operate in that way," he explained.

Schmidt also suggested, during the discussion with Benioff, that Microsoft has failed to keep up with Google's innovation in search and mobile because it is "hard for incumbents to move to the new [agile] model".

"If you follow the model I am describing, where you are continuously iterating, then it will work for you," said Schmidt.

"But if you have the classically designed platforms that Microsoft has, it is very difficult for them to move to the new model."