Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Jan. 03, 2015	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Revenues:
System sales	$ 945,858us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	$ 847,809us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	$ 902,799us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
Support, maintenance and services	2,366,959us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNet	1,992,830us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNet	1,707,329us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNet
Reimbursed travel	89,886us-gaap_ReimbursementRevenue	70,109us-gaap_ReimbursementRevenue	55,308us-gaap_ReimbursementRevenue
Total revenues	3,402,703us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	2,910,748us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	2,665,436us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Costs and expenses:
Cost of system sales	314,089us-gaap_CostOfGoodsSold	302,374us-gaap_CostOfGoodsSold	427,456us-gaap_CostOfGoodsSold
Cost of support, maintenance and services	200,402us-gaap_CostOfServices	142,239us-gaap_CostOfServices	125,433us-gaap_CostOfServices
Cost of reimbursed travel	89,886us-gaap_CostOfReimbursableExpense	70,109us-gaap_CostOfReimbursableExpense	55,308us-gaap_CostOfReimbursableExpense
Sales and client service	1,395,568cern_SalesAndClientServicesExpense	1,173,051cern_SalesAndClientServicesExpense	1,020,640cern_SalesAndClientServicesExpense
Software development (Includes amortization of $103,447, $94,688 and $81,731, respectively)	392,805	338,786	301,370
General and administrative	246,869us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	308,177us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	163,567us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Total costs and expenses	2,639,619us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses	2,334,736us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses	2,093,774us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses
Operating earnings	763,084us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	576,012us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	571,662us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Other income, net	11,090us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense	12,042us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense	16,046us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense
Earnings before income taxes	774,174	588,054	587,708
Income taxes	(248,741)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(189,700)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(190,476)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Net earnings	$ 525,433us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 398,354us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 397,232us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Basic earnings per share	$ 1.54us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 1.16us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 1.16us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Diluted earnings per share	$ 1.50us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 1.13us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 1.13us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	342,150	343,636	341,861
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	350,386	352,281	351,394

Sales and client service expenses include salaries of sales and client service personnel, depreciation and other expenses associated with our managed service business, communications expenses, unreimbursed travel expenses, expense for share-based payments, sales and marketing salaries and trade show and advertising costs.

No definition available.