Segment Information 1 (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013
Segment information
Revenue	$ 1,069		$ 1,095
Income from continuing operations before interest and income taxes	313		219
Reconciliation of segment profit to income from continuing operations before income taxes
Segment profit	313		219
Software development costs capitalized	0		(23)
Share-based compensation expense	20		20
Other expenses, net	12	[1]	115	[2]
Interest expense, net	14		11
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	299		208
Purchased Software Products [Member]
Reconciliation of segment profit to income from continuing operations before income taxes
Amortization of intangible assets	28		28
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Reconciliation of segment profit to income from continuing operations before income taxes
Amortization of intangible assets	15		14
Internally Developed Software Products [Member]
Reconciliation of segment profit to income from continuing operations before income taxes
Amortization of intangible assets	39		38
Mainframe Solutions [Member]
Segment information
Revenue	614		619
Expenses	235		243
Income from continuing operations before interest and income taxes	379		376
Segment operating margin	62.00%		61.00%
Depreciation	12		14
Reconciliation of segment profit to income from continuing operations before income taxes
Segment profit	379		376
Enterprise Solutions [Member]
Segment information
Revenue	368		378
Expenses	325		351
Income from continuing operations before interest and income taxes	43		27
Segment operating margin	12.00%		7.00%
Depreciation	7		8
Reconciliation of segment profit to income from continuing operations before income taxes
Segment profit	43		27
Services [Member]
Segment information
Revenue	87		98
Expenses	82		90
Income from continuing operations before interest and income taxes	5		8
Segment operating margin	6.00%		8.00%
Depreciation	0		0
Reconciliation of segment profit to income from continuing operations before income taxes
Segment profit	5		8
Total Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment information
Revenue	1,069		1,095
Expenses	642		684
Income from continuing operations before interest and income taxes	427		411
Segment operating margin	40.00%		38.00%
Depreciation	19		22
Reconciliation of segment profit to income from continuing operations before income taxes
Segment profit	$ 427		$ 411

[1] Other expenses, net consists of approximately $9 million of costs associated with the Fiscal 2014 Plan, certain foreign exchange derivative hedging gains and losses, and other miscellaneous costs.

[2] Other expenses, net consists of approximately $117 million of costs associated with the Fiscal 2014 Plan, certain foreign exchange derivative hedging gains and losses, and other miscellaneous costs.