Methods, systems, apparatus and computer-readable media are disclosed for creating and using self describing events in automation. A first exemplary method is disclosed that includes querying a plurality of managed components, receiving a response, and processing each response to select event types as triggers for steps in an automated workflow using attributes of events as arguments to workflow steps. This method further discloses the monitoring, detection, and processing of events defined in the workflow. Processing of an event includes creating a machine readable data payload containing event information including the event type, event attributes, and a grammar to which the event conforms. Using the provided grammar, components in the automated workflow can interpret the data payload and perform the actions defined in the automated workflow. Other methods, apparatus, systems and computer readable media are disclosed for presenting event information.