Accounts payable Accounts receivable Income taxes payable Non-current income taxes payable Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid-in Capital Non-cash stock compensation expense Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs Share issuance costs Tax benefit on exercise of options Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Amendment Flag The amortization of capital government grants which are amortized and recognized in earnings over the grant period. Amortization of grants Total Assets Total Assets ASSETS Total current assets Total current assets Current Assets: Other Assets: Short term investments - available for sale Noncurrent capital government grants, which are amortized and recognized in earnings over the grant period. Non-current government grants Cash acquired with subsidiary undertaking Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents Ordinary shares Ordinary shares, par value Ordinary shares, shares authorized Ordinary shares, shares issued Ordinary shares, shares outstanding Ordinary shares, par value 6 euro cents per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 60,323,300 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2011 and 60,247,092 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2010 Total comprehensive income Total comprehensive income Comprehensive Income: Gross revenue Direct costs Reimbursable expenses Reimbursable expenses Costs and expenses: Total costs and expenses Total costs and expenses Current Fiscal Year End Date Deferred taxes Payments on account Deferred tax asset Non-current deferred tax asset Deferred tax liability Non-current deferred tax liability Depreciation and amortization Stock Options Document - Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document - Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Information [Line Items] Document Information [Table] Document Period End Date Document Type Net income per Ordinary Share: Earnings Per Share, Basic Basic Earnings Per Share, Diluted Diluted Net income per ordinary share Effect of exchange rate movements on cash Entity Central Index Key Entity [Domain] Entity Registrant Name Equity Component [Domain] Tax benefit from the exercise of share options Intangible assets Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment Goodwill Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Goodwill Income before provision for income taxes Income before provision for income taxes Income Statement [Abstract] Income Taxes Income taxes receivable Non-current income taxes receivable Provision for income taxes Provision for income taxes Decrease in accounts payable (Increase)/decrease in accounts receivable (Increase)/decrease in accounts receivable Increase/(decrease) in income taxes payable Increase/(decrease) in payments on account Changes in assets and liabilities: The net change during the reporting period in the value of other current liabilities. Increase/(decrease) in other current liabilities Increase in other receivables Increase in other receivables The net change during the reporting period in the value of prepaid and other current assets. Increase/(decrease) in prepayments and other current assets Increase/(decrease) in prepayments and other current assets (Increase)/decrease in unbilled revenue (Increase)/decrease in unbilled revenue The net change during the reporting period in the value of other noncurrent assets. Increase in other non current assets Increase in other non current assets The net change during the reporting period in the value of other noncurrent liabilities. Increase in other non current liabilities Interest expense Interest expense Interest income Legal Entity [Axis] Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Current Liabilities: Other Liabilities: Net cash provided by financing activities Net cash provided by financing activities Cash flows from financing activities: Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities Cash flows from investing activities: Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities Cash flows from operating activities: Net income Net income Other receivables Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] Income from operations Income from operations Basis of Presentation Non-current other assets Adjustment that results from the process of translating the impact of long-term funding into the functional currency of the reporting entity, net of tax. Currency impact of long term funding (net of taxation) Currency translation adjustment Other liabilities Non-current other liabilities Share issuance costs Share issuance costs Purchase of subsidiary undertakings Purchase of subsidiary undertakings Purchase of property, plant and equipment Purchase of property, plant and equipment Purchase of short term investments Purchase of short term investments The total of the amounts paid in advance for capitalized costs that will be expensed with the passage of time or the occurrence of a triggering event, and will be charged against earnings within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, and the aggregate carrying amount of current assets, as of the balance sheet date, not separately presented elsewhere in the balance sheet. Current assets are expected to be realized or consumed within one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer). Prepayments and other current assets Repayment of other liabilities Sale of short term investments Proceeds from exercise of share options Property, plant and equipment, net Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Restructuring charges Restructuring charges Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Retained earnings Retained Earnings Revenue: Net revenue Net revenue Business Segment Information Selling, general and administrative expense Share-based compensation expense Shares, Issued Ending Balance (in shares) Beginning Balance (in shares) Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Statement [Line Items] Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Statement [Table] Total Shareholders' Equity Ending Balance Beginning Balance Total Shareholders' Equity Shareholders' Equity: Exercise of share options (in shares) Exercise of share options Trading Symbol Unbilled revenue Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment Diluted Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares outstanding: Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Basic