Retirement-Related Benefits (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Retirement-related plans cost
Total defined benefit and contribution plans cost recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings	$ 749us-gaap_PensionExpense	$ 474us-gaap_PensionExpense
U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Retirement-related plans cost
Interest cost	508	555
Expected return on plan assets	(989)	(1,024)
Amortization of prior service costs/(credits)	2	2
Recognized actuarial losses	415	269
Total net periodic pension / nonpension (income)/cost of defined benefit plans	(64)	(198)
Non-US Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Retirement-related plans cost
Service cost	108	116
Interest cost	271	390
Expected return on plan assets	(483)	(572)
Amortization of prior service costs/(credits)	(25)	(29)
Recognized actuarial losses	401	360
Curtailments and settlements	4	4
Multi-employer plans/other costs	248	79
Total net periodic pension / nonpension (income)/cost of defined benefit plans	524	348
U.S. Defined Benefit Non Pension Postretirement Plans
Retirement-related plans cost
Service cost	6	7
Interest cost	41	45
Expected return on plan assets	0	0
Amortization of prior service costs/(credits)	(2)	(2)
Recognized actuarial losses	11	0
Total net periodic pension / nonpension (income)/cost of defined benefit plans	56	50
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Non Pension Postretirement Plans
Retirement-related plans cost
Service cost	2	2
Interest cost	14	16
Expected return on plan assets	(2)	(2)
Amortization of prior service costs/(credits)	(1)	(1)
Recognized actuarial losses	3	3
Total net periodic pension / nonpension (income)/cost of defined benefit plans	$ 15	$ 17

The amount of gains or losses recognized in net periodic benefit cost.

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- Definition

The amount of the prior service cost or credit recognized in net periodic benefit cost relating to benefit changes attributable to plan participants' prior service pursuant to a plan amendment or a plan initiation.

+ References

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- Definition

An amount calculated as a basis for determining the extent of delayed recognition of the effects of changes in the fair value of assets. The expected return on plan assets is determined based on the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets and the market-related value of plan assets.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 30

-Glossary Expected Return on Plan Assets

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6512136

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 60

-Glossary Expected Return on Plan Assets

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6512171

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (h)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920

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- Definition

The increase in a defined benefit pension plan's projected benefit obligation or a defined benefit postretirement plan's accumulated postretirement benefit obligation due to the passage of time.

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+ Details

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- Definition

The total amount of net periodic benefit cost for defined benefit plans for the period. Periodic benefit costs include the following components: service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets, gain (loss), prior service cost or credit, transition asset or obligation, and gain (loss) due to settlements or curtailments.

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- Definition

Amount of other defined benefit plan costs.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of net gain (loss) recognized in net periodic benefit cost due to settlements and curtailments. Curtailments result from an event that significantly reduces the expected years of future service of present employees or eliminates for a significant number of employees the accrual of defined benefits for some or all of their future services. Settlements result from an irrevocable action that relieves the employer (or the plan) of primary responsibility for a benefit obligation and eliminates significant risks related to the obligation and the assets used to effect the settlement. Examples of transactions that constitute a settlement include, but are not limited to, lump-sum cash payments to plan participants in exchange for their rights to receive specified benefits and purchasing nonparticipating annuity contracts to cover vested benefits.

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- Definition

The actuarial present value of benefits attributed by the pension benefit formula to services rendered by employees during the period. The portion of the expected postretirement benefit obligation attributed to employee service during the period. The service cost component is a portion of the benefit obligation and is unaffected by the funded status of the plan.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (h)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Service Cost (Component of Net Periodic Pension Cost)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6525008

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920

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- Details

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- Definition

The amount of pension benefit costs recognized during the period for (1) defined benefit plans and (2) defined contribution plans. For defined benefit plans, pension expense includes the following components: service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets, gain (loss) on plan assets, prior service cost or credit, transition asset or obligation, and gain (loss) due to settlements or curtailments. For defined contribution plans, the pension expense generally equals the firm's contribution to employees' accounts (if the firm contributes) during the period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 70

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414718&loc=d3e28014-114942

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (h)

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