In order to achieve and to manage the VE dynamic reconfiguration, it is necessary to minimize the VE reconfiguration time, as one of the dynamic reconfiguration factors. The paper presents the concept of the two userinterface architectures, based on the BM_Virtual Enterprise Architecture Reference Model (BM-VEARM), and their role in VE operations: the “direct” communication architecture (DCA) and the “virtual” communication architecture (VCA) as well as an implementation. The developed implementation is based on basic available technologies capable of representing the phenomena. In the case of our study, the DCA implementation consists of face-to-face communication through the well known videoconferencing software MSN Messenger. The end-user can hear and see an interlocutor (human, person) on the computer screen. The VCA is based on a MS Agent technology interface.The end-user can not see or hear the human interlocutor because he is “masked” by one of the chosen software agents. In the application, called E-Mask, the end-user always sees the same software agent/mask and hears the same voice (mask’s). It is expected that the set-up time, i.e. the end-user adaptation time, will be similar with or without a change in the interlocutor during a conversation when using the VCA. A comparison of the two proposed architectures is made.
