Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenue:
License	$ 225.0	$ 234.6	$ 644.2	$ 613.9
Maintenance	272.3	259.3	807.4	765.6
Professional services	50.9	46.0	155.7	123.6
Total revenue	548.2	539.9	1,607.3	1,503.1
Direct and allocated indirect segment operating expenses	335.5	352.4	1,007.7	967.4
Segment operating income	212.7	187.5	599.6	535.7
Unallocated operating expenses	(50.9)	(48.1)	(161.7)	(144.7)
Other income (loss), net	(3.5)	1.7	(9.9)	(3.5)
Earnings before income taxes	158.3	141.1	428.0	387.5
Enterprise Service Management [Member]
Revenue:
License	133.7	148.9	398.2	393.4
Maintenance	147.7	139.9	434.5	413.4
Professional services	50.9	46.0	155.7	123.6
Total revenue	332.3	334.8	988.4	930.4
Direct and allocated indirect segment operating expenses	256.1	263.2	763.8	717.0
Segment operating income	76.2	71.6	224.6	213.4
Mainframe Service Management [Member]
Revenue:
License	91.3	85.7	246.0	220.5
Maintenance	124.6	119.4	372.9	352.2
Total revenue	215.9	205.1	618.9	572.7
Direct and allocated indirect segment operating expenses	79.4	89.2	243.9	250.4
Segment operating income	$ 136.5	$ 115.9	$ 375.0	$ 322.3

Segment operating income.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Direct segment operating expenses includes expenses that are directly allocated to particular segments and are controllable by segment management.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The sum of total indirect expenses that primarily includes operating expenses not specifically identified to a particular segment or controllable by segment management.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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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

Revenue earned during the period relating to consideration received from another party for the right to use, but not own, certain of the entity's intangible assets. Licensing arrangements include, but are not limited to, rights to use a patent, copyright, technology, manufacturing process, software or trademark. Licensing fees are generally, but not always, fixed as to amount and not dependent upon the revenue generated by the licensing party. An entity may receive licensing fees for licenses that also generate royalty payments to the entity.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(e))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

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- Definition

Revenue derived from maintenance services provided under contracts or arrangements with clients. For example, it may include the maintenance of software, plant and equipment, and facilities.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

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- Definition

The aggregate amount of income or expense from ancillary business-related activities (that is to say, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business).

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 5

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

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- Definition

Aggregate revenue recognized during the period (derived from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an entity's earning process). For financial services companies, also includes investment and interest income, and sales and trading gains.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 5

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

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- Definition

Revenue from providing technology services. The services may include training, installation, engineering or consulting. Consulting services often include implementation support, software design or development, or the customization or modification of the licensed software.

+ References

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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 97-2

-Paragraph 63

-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 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 985

-SubTopic 605

-Section 25

-Paragraph 76

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6753075&loc=d3e132428-111767

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