diff --git a/watcher/applier/actions/base.py b/watcher/applier/actions/base.py
index 4286b104b..6bffa5044 100644
--- a/watcher/applier/actions/base.py
+++ b/watcher/applier/actions/base.py
@@ -129,3 +129,8 @@ class BaseAction(loadable.Loadable):
     def validate_parameters(self):
         self.schema(self.input_parameters)
         return True
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def get_description(self):
+        """Description of the action"""
+        raise NotImplementedError()
diff --git a/watcher/applier/actions/change_nova_service_state.py b/watcher/applier/actions/change_nova_service_state.py
index 50017c156..201a3c5fe 100644
--- a/watcher/applier/actions/change_nova_service_state.py
+++ b/watcher/applier/actions/change_nova_service_state.py
@@ -101,3 +101,9 @@ class ChangeNovaServiceState(base.BaseAction):
 
     def post_condition(self):
         pass
+
+    def get_description(self):
+        """Description of the action"""
+        return ("Disables or enables the nova-compute service."
+                "A disabled nova-compute service can not be selected "
+                "by the nova for future deployment of new server.")
diff --git a/watcher/applier/actions/migration.py b/watcher/applier/actions/migration.py
index eb742fae6..663f84f30 100644
--- a/watcher/applier/actions/migration.py
+++ b/watcher/applier/actions/migration.py
@@ -172,3 +172,7 @@ class Migrate(base.BaseAction):
     def post_condition(self):
         # TODO(jed): check extra parameters (network response, etc.)
         pass
+
+    def get_description(self):
+        """Description of the action"""
+        return "Moving a VM instance from source_node to destination_node"
diff --git a/watcher/applier/actions/nop.py b/watcher/applier/actions/nop.py
index 59ad241f1..0a4969b18 100644
--- a/watcher/applier/actions/nop.py
+++ b/watcher/applier/actions/nop.py
@@ -65,3 +65,7 @@ class Nop(base.BaseAction):
 
     def post_condition(self):
         pass
+
+    def get_description(self):
+        """Description of the action"""
+        return "Logging a NOP message"
diff --git a/watcher/applier/actions/resize.py b/watcher/applier/actions/resize.py
index ea9df82fb..920c62fb4 100644
--- a/watcher/applier/actions/resize.py
+++ b/watcher/applier/actions/resize.py
@@ -104,3 +104,7 @@ class Resize(base.BaseAction):
     def post_condition(self):
         # TODO(jed): check extra parameters (network response, etc.)
         pass
+
+    def get_description(self):
+        """Description of the action"""
+        return "Resize a server with specified flavor."
diff --git a/watcher/applier/actions/sleep.py b/watcher/applier/actions/sleep.py
index abb83eab4..f472eeddc 100644
--- a/watcher/applier/actions/sleep.py
+++ b/watcher/applier/actions/sleep.py
@@ -66,3 +66,7 @@ class Sleep(base.BaseAction):
 
     def post_condition(self):
         pass
+
+    def get_description(self):
+        """Description of the action"""
+        return "Wait for a given interval in seconds."
diff --git a/watcher/tests/applier/workflow_engine/test_default_workflow_engine.py b/watcher/tests/applier/workflow_engine/test_default_workflow_engine.py
index fd72c3349..5452db890 100644
--- a/watcher/tests/applier/workflow_engine/test_default_workflow_engine.py
+++ b/watcher/tests/applier/workflow_engine/test_default_workflow_engine.py
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ class FakeAction(abase.BaseAction):
     def execute(self):
         raise ExpectedException()
 
+    def get_description(self):
+        return "fake action, just for test"
+
 
 class TestDefaultWorkFlowEngine(base.DbTestCase):
     def setUp(self):