Operating Segment Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenue	$ 17,151,941	$ 16,518,827	$ 13,409,411
Segment income and reconciliation of income before income tax
Total segment income	736,179	715,194	490,930
Reconciling items:
Distressed customer charges	(16,014)
Stock-based compensation expense and related charges	(81,405)	(76,230)	(104,609)
Stock-based compensation expense and related charges	(81,409)
Amortization of intangibles	(16,825)	(22,051)	(25,934)
Restructuring and impairment charges		(628)	(8,217)
Settlement of receivables and related charges		(13,607)
Loss on disposal of subsidiaries		(23,944)	(24,604)
Other expense	(8,943)	(2,986)	(4,087)
Interest income	2,041	3,132	2,956
Interest expense	(106,129)	(97,693)	(79,168)
Income before income tax	508,900	481,187	247,267
Total assets	7,803,141	7,057,940
DMS
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenue	7,476,730	6,018,332	4,223,955
Segment income and reconciliation of income before income tax
Total segment income	455,596	389,188	248,967
Reconciling items:
Total assets	3,002,982	2,417,256
E&I
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenue	5,080,417	5,180,011	4,407,013
Segment income and reconciliation of income before income tax
Total segment income	105,583	199,731	186,335
Reconciling items:
Total assets	1,157,464	1,194,774
HVS
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenue	4,594,794	5,320,484	4,778,443
Segment income and reconciliation of income before income tax
Total segment income	175,000	126,275	55,628
Reconciling items:
Total assets	970,819	1,232,378
Other Non-Allocated Assets
Reconciling items:
Total assets	$ 2,671,876	$ 2,213,532