Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Service Revenues:
Total service revenues	$ 262,730	$ 217,057	$ 758,686	$ 600,631
Income Before Income Taxes:
Operating income	29,124	19,978	70,742	41,839
Less reconciling items	(56,808)	(45,808)	(161,912)	(133,774)
Consolidated Income Before Income Taxes	31,161	20,920	75,494	44,326
Total Reportable Segments [Member]
Income Before Income Taxes:
Operating income	87,969	66,728	237,406	178,100
SapientNitro [Member]
Service Revenues:
Total service revenues	178,745	134,840	501,719	376,079
Income Before Income Taxes:
Operating income	60,334	41,359	159,952	106,339
Sapient Global Markets [Member]
Service Revenues:
Total service revenues	70,489	69,135	216,338	188,431
Income Before Income Taxes:
Operating income	23,419	21,637	65,728	61,631
Sapient Government Services [Member]
Service Revenues:
Total service revenues	13,496	13,082	40,629	36,121
Income Before Income Taxes:
Operating income	$ 4,216	$ 3,732	$ 11,726	$ 10,130

Segment Reporting Reconciling Items For Operating Profit Losses.

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- Definition

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 5

-Section 03

-Paragraph 10

+ Details

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- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of total revenue for the reportable segments, including revenue from external customers, transactions with other operating segments of the same entity, and (gross) interest revenue. All considered to be "operating revenue" for purposes of the taxonomy.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 27

-Subparagraph a, b, c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 280

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 22

-Subparagraph (a),(b),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6534315&loc=d3e8736-108599

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