Share-Based Compensation Plans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended					24 Months Ended		12 Months Ended									3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Mar. 02, 2013	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2012 Stock Options [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Stock Options [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Stock Options [Member] item	Aug. 31, 2010 Stock Options [Member]	Aug. 31, 2013 Performance Awards [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Performance Awards [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Performance Awards [Member]	Aug. 31, 2013 Performance Awards [Member] 3 Years Or Less [Member]	Aug. 31, 2013 Performance Awards [Member] 3 To 5 Years [Member]	Aug. 31, 2013 Performance Awards [Member] 3 To 5 Years [Member] Minimum [Member]	Aug. 31, 2013 Performance Awards [Member] 3 To 5 Years [Member] Maximum [Member]	Aug. 31, 2013 Fiscal 2013 Executive Award [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Fiscal 2012 Executive Award [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Fiscal 2011 Executive Award [Member] employee	Aug. 31, 2013 Fiscal 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan Award [Member]	Mar. 02, 2013 Fiscal 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan Award [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Fiscal 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan Award [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Fiscal 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan Award [Member]	Mar. 02, 2013 Management Stock Loans [Member]	Aug. 31, 2013 Management Stock Loans [Member]	Aug. 31, 2013 Unvested Share Awards [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Unvested Share Awards [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Unvested Share Awards [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Executive Leadership Award [Member] employee	Aug. 31, 2013 Client Partner And Consultant Award [Member] employee H	Aug. 31, 2012 Client Partner And Consultant Award [Member] employee	Aug. 31, 2011 Client Partner And Consultant Award [Member] employee	Aug. 31, 2012 Tranche 1 [Member] Stock Options [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Tranche 2 [Member] Stock Options [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Tranche 3 [Member] Stock Options [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Tranche 4 [Member] Stock Options [Member]	Aug. 31, 2013 Adjusted EBITDA [Member] Fiscal 2013 Executive Award [Member] item	Aug. 31, 2012 Adjusted EBITDA [Member] Fiscal 2012 Executive Award [Member] item	Aug. 31, 2013 Adjusted EBITDA [Member] Tranche 1 [Member] Fiscal 2013 Executive Award [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Adjusted EBITDA [Member] Tranche 1 [Member] Fiscal 2012 Executive Award [Member]	Aug. 31, 2013 Adjusted EBITDA [Member] Tranche 2 [Member] Fiscal 2013 Executive Award [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Adjusted EBITDA [Member] Tranche 2 [Member] Fiscal 2012 Executive Award [Member]	Aug. 31, 2013 Adjusted EBITDA [Member] Tranche 3 [Member] Fiscal 2013 Executive Award [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Adjusted EBITDA [Member] Tranche 3 [Member] Fiscal 2012 Executive Award [Member]	Aug. 31, 2013 Productivity Practice Sales [Member] Fiscal 2013 Executive Award [Member] item	Aug. 31, 2013 Productivity Practice Sales [Member] Fiscal 2012 Executive Award [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Productivity Practice Sales [Member] Fiscal 2012 Executive Award [Member] item	Aug. 31, 2013 Productivity Practice Sales [Member] Tranche 1 [Member] Fiscal 2013 Executive Award [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Productivity Practice Sales [Member] Tranche 1 [Member] Fiscal 2012 Executive Award [Member]	Aug. 31, 2013 Productivity Practice Sales [Member] Tranche 2 [Member] Fiscal 2013 Executive Award [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Productivity Practice Sales [Member] Tranche 2 [Member] Fiscal 2012 Executive Award [Member]	Aug. 31, 2013 Productivity Practice Sales [Member] Tranche 3 [Member] Fiscal 2013 Executive Award [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Productivity Practice Sales [Member] Tranche 3 [Member] Fiscal 2012 Executive Award [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Vesting Date 1 [Member] Fiscal 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan Award [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Vesting Date 2 [Member] Fiscal 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan Award [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Vesting Date 3 [Member] Fiscal 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan Award [Member]	Aug. 31, 2013 Scenario, Forecast [Member] Performance Awards [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares available for granting		526,000
Shares remaining in employee stock purchase plan		569,000
Period which common stock price must average over specified levels									5 days
Period to achieve specified levels of common stock price												3 years		3 years	5 years
Percent of shares which will vest												100.00%	50.00%
Percent of performance award to be granted									25.00%	50.00%																																														25.00%
Shares granted																		24,045
Amortization period																		1 year 2 months 12 days
Unrecognized compensation cost																									$ 100,000
Number of tranches							4																													3	3							3		3
Shares authorized to be issued																68,085	106,101	72,134																										6,808
Shares to vest after meeting certain requirements																																				15,887	24,757								10,610
Adjusted EBITDA																																						33,000,000	26,000,000	40,000,000	33,000,000	47,000,000	40,000,000
Productivity Practice sales																																															23,500,000	20,500,000	26,500,000	23,500,000	29,500,000	26,500,000
Life of performance awards																6 years	6 years
Shares vested		37,975																	12,524	18,003	171,414																24,757							6,808	21,220
Compensation cost		3,589,000	3,835,000	2,788,000	168,000	820,000			2,504,000	3,188,000	827,000							300,000					500,000	498,000	383,000	340,000	411,000	500,000
Transfer of common stock shares as payment on the loans	3,300,000																						3,300,000
Vesting date																																																					Aug. 31, 2012	Mar. 02, 2013	Aug. 31, 2013
Grant date fair value of common stock						$ 8.43		$ 5.28	$ 16.03	$ 9.55	$ 11.34											$ 5.28
Contractual life																						4 years
Exercise price		$ 11.25	$ 11.25																													$ 9.00	$ 10.00	$ 12.00	$ 14.00
Stock options exercised
Whole-share grant per eligible director																									50,000
Vesting period of awards																									1 year
Shares issued under terms of the award																									30,672	37,975	37,960
Fair value of shares awarded																									400,000
Cost of common stock issued from treasury																									400,000	500,000	600,000
Weighted-average vesting period for recognition																									3 months
Total recognized tax benefit from unvested stock awards																									100,000
Intrinsic value of unvested stock awards																									500,000
Target number of shares for Executive Leadership Award																												72,134
Granted as fully vested shares																												48,049	2,000
Value of shares granted and fully vested																													15,000
Number of individuals who qualified for award																		3										3	6	3	8
Threshold of cumulative sales over the career in order to receive common stock																													20,000,000
Threshold of consulting hours performed over the career in order to receive common stock																													1,500
Price of common stock as a percent of the average fair market value		85.00%
Shares issued to employee stock purchase plan participants		45,845	55,423	49,962
Cost basis of shares issued to employee stock purchase plan participants		600,000	800,000	700,000
Cash proceeds from employee stock purchase plan participants		$ 495,000	$ 435,000	$ 328,000