Abstract: An open framework to interface at least one business applications and content management in a media production and distribution environment utilizes a standard messaging protocol and a reliable communication bus. The business application creates a work package in a workflow by sending appropriate messages to a workflow engine. The workflow engine generates a work package template corresponding to the intake work orders at the business application. Devices connected to the communication bus are managed and their respective services are exposed to the workflow engine through the illustrative embodiment of the present principles of managed device interfaces. The work package enables the triggering of a complex sequence of actions via the standard messaging protocol.