Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010
OPERATING ACTIVITIES FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS:
Net income	$ 951	$ 827	$ 771
Income from discontinued operations	(13)	(4)	(12)
Income from continuing operations	938	823	759
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	401	379	292
Provision for deferred income taxes	(16)	140	68
Provision for bad debts	(1)	6	6
Share-based compensation expense	89	80	102
Amortization of discount on convertible debt	0	0	29
Asset impairments and other non-cash items	20	2	13
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains) before taxes net	8	4	(10)
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions:
(Increase) decrease in trade accounts receivable, net	(45)	140	8
Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue	97	(128)	94
Decrease in taxes payable, net	(46)	(8)	(18)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other	6	6	(42)
Increase (decrease) in accrued salaries, wages and commissions	58	(62)	34
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities	(4)	(5)	1
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES - CONTINUING OPERATIONS	1,505	1,377	1,336
INVESTING ACTIVITIES FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired, and purchased software	(387)	(252)	(617)
Purchases of property and equipment	(72)	(92)	(79)
Proceeds from sale and divestiture of assets	7	13	0
Capitalized software development costs	(180)	(170)	(188)
Purchases of marketable securities	(108)	(209)	0
Proceeds from the sale of marketable securities	207	9	0
Maturities of marketable securities	80	19	0
Other investing activities	(2)	(18)	(4)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES - CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(455)	(700)	(888)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS:
Dividends paid	(192)	(82)	(83)
Purchases of common stock, including accelerated share repurchase	(1,053)	(235)	(227)
Debt borrowings	476	260	744
Debt repayments	(599)	(273)	(1,205)
Debt issuance costs	(2)	0	(6)
Proceeds from call spread option	0	0	61
Exercise of common stock options and other	40	10	11
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES - CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(1,330)	(320)	(705)
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS BEFORE EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH - CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(280)	357	(257)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(67)	89	104
CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES - DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	(27)	4	24
CASH PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES - DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	4	16	0
NET EFFECT OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(23)	20	24
(DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(370)	466	(129)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD	3,049	2,583	2,712
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	$ 2,679	$ 3,049	$ 2,583